TOPIC:

HELLO MEMBERS
I PICKED THIS GROUP UP LAST YEAR AT THE CHILLIWACK GUN SHOW.
CASEY





HERE IS A COPY OF PTE. JAMES SINCLAIR’S DIARY


304 PTE. JAMES SINCLAIR RCD ( ROYAL CANADIAN DRAGOONS )
NORTH-WEST REBELLION YORKTON COY INF.
SOUTH AFRICA – BOER WAR
CAPE COLONY, O.F.S., JOHANNESBURG,
DIAMOND HILL AND BELFAST.
BORN ORKNEY ISLANDS SCOTLAND
LIVING IN YORKTON NWT CANADA
RANCHER

P1
LEFT YORKTON ON DEC 27TH 1899.
ACCEPTED AND SWORN IN .
IN WINNIPEG AT 3 O’CLOCK ON THE 28TH

APRIL WED 11TH
WE SAW A BOER FLAG FLYING FROM THE VARANDA OF A LITTLE HOUSE .
AT ONE OF THE STATIONS THIS EVENINGTHE RAILWAY PORTER AND SOME OF OUR BOYS
WENT OVER AND PULLED IT DOWN RIPPED IT UP.

APRIL 12TH THUR

STILL PASSING THROUGH A COUNTRY VERY MUCH THE SAME AS THE CAPE ALL
RED SAND. I DON’T THINK I SEEN ANY GRASS YET. THERE ARE BUSHES GROWS A KIND OF SHUB WHICH COVERS THE GROUND AND THE SHEEP, GOATS, MULES, EVEN THE HORSES SEEM TO LIKE IT AND LIVE ON IT
WE FED AND WATERED THIS EVENING AT A PLACE CALLED DE AAR JUNCTION.
WE BRANCH OFF HERE AND TRAVELED ON A SOUTH EASTERLY DIRECTION.
EVERY HERE AND THERE THE YOUNG KAFFIRS WILL RUN A LONG IN THE TRACK ASKING FOR PENNIES. A GOOD MANY OF THEM SIMPLY DRESSED IN NATURES GARB .
CAPT. GREENWOOD WHO WENT UP WITH OUR BOYS ON SUNDAY PASSED US ON A TRAIN BOUND FOR THE CAPE THIS MORNING. HE IS SICK AND IS ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL.
THE COUNTRY LOOKS BETTER THE MOUNTIANS ARE NUMEROUS MOST OF THEM HAVING FLAT TOPS
WITH BROAD VALLIES BETWEEN INHABITAD BY LARGE FLOCKS OF SHEEP, GOATS AND OSTRICHS.THERE ARE VERY FEW HOUSES TO BE SEEN BETWEEN STATIONS.
THE MEDICAL MAJOR CAME TO OUR CAR JUST NOW AND TOLD US NOT TO DRINK ANY WATER OR AS LITTLE AS WE COULD HELP. FOR IN A CAMP OF TWO HUNDRED MEN THERE WERE DIEING AT THE RATE OF FIVE A DAY. OF ENTERIC FEVER
ANOTHER RED CROSS TRAIN JUST PULLED IN AHEAD OF US. THREE GIRL NURSES HAVE LOTS OF PLUCK
I NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE THAN I DO A PRESENT.
WE PASSED A TRANPORT OF FIFTEEN WAGGONS AND SIXTEEN OXEN TO A WAGGON THIS AFTERNOON. WE SAW THE BRIDGE ACROSS THE ORANGE RIVER WHICH WAS BLOWN UP BY THE BOERS
IT IS QUITE A WRECK.
APRIL 13TH FRIDAY

WE GOT OFF THE TRAIN THIS MORNING AT A PLACE CALLED SPRINGFONTEIN AND TO OUR SURPRISE
WE CAUGHT UP TO B SQUADRON FELLOWS WHO CAME AROUND HERE LAST NIGHT HAVING MARCH
OVER FORTY MILES HAD LEFT THE DAY BEFORE US.
A REPORT ARRIVED IN TODAY TO THE EFFECT THAT A FIGHT WAS GOING ON WHERE B SQUADRON CAMPED THE NIGHT BEFORE THEY ARRIVED HERE AND SOME OF THE REGULARS HAVE JUST MARCHED
OUT WITH AN ESCORT FROM B SQUADRON C.M.R. . WE ARE ABOUT SEVENTY MILES FROM BLOEMFONTEIN WHERE LORD ROBERTS IS AND WHERE THE FINAL STAND IS SUPPOSE TO BE MADE.
ONE OF THE CORPRALS ON OUT POST DUTY WENT UP TO THE MAJOR AND REPORTED SAYING THAT
THREE MEN IN CIVILIAN CLOTHING WERE CRAWLING INTO A TRENCH NEAR HIS POST
WE ARE LOOKING FOR TROUBLE IN GOOD SHAPE NOW . THE MAJOR TOLD THE CORPS ON
JUST NOW THAT IF ANY YHOSE MEN APPROACHED HIS POST TO HALT THEM AND IF THEY DID NOT STOP AT ONCE SHOOT THEM FOR THEY ARE NOTHING BUT SPIES . SOME OF FELLOWS BROUGHT IN TWO PRISONERS WITH THERE HORSES AND RIFLES ONE HAD A MAUSER AND THE OTHER A MARTINE HENRY.



APRIL 14TH SATURDAY

TWENTY MEN OF THE SECOND TROOPS LEFT LAST NIGHT AND DID NOT RETURN UNTILL TODAY AT NOON THEY ARE AFTER A BOER. FIFTEEN MILES OUT IN THE COUNTRY LT. YOUNG TOLD THE BOYS HE WOULD GIVE FIVE POUNDS TO THE MAN WHO CAUGHT THE BOER AND THE BIRD HAD HOWEVER FLOWN BEFORE THEY GOT THERE AND THEY HAD ALL THE TROUBLE FOR NOTHING.


APRIL 15TH SUNDAY

WE GOT SADDLED UP 9 O’CLOCK THIS MORNING AND STARTED THERE WAS NOT MUCH ALONG THE WAY. WE HAD THE FIRST OF B AHEAD AND THEM CAME SECOND AND THEM THE MAIN BODY. I WITH ANOTHER FELLOW BY THE NAME OF BROWN WERE THE CONNECTING LINK BETWEEN THE MAIN BODY
AND ADVANCE, GUARD WE HAD TO HELP BOTH PARTIES IN SIGHT AND SIGNAL BETWEEN.
WE CAMPED TONIGHT BESIDE A POOL OF WATER ABOUT SEVENTEEN MILES ON OUR WAY.
OUR OUT RIDERS CAPTURED A LITTLE KAIFER WHO WAS BROUGHT INTO CAMP ON HIS HORSE
CHARGED WITH SPYING ON OUR TROOPS.
WE ARE AN ESCORT ON ABOUT 100 MEN AND RICHARDS LIGHT HORSE ARE BRINGING UP THE REAR.


APRIL 16TH MON
I’AM WRITING NOW BY CANDLE LIGHT. WE STARTED ABOUT EIGHT O’CLOCK THIS MORNING AND I RODE WITH THE ADVANCE GUARD IN THE FORENOON AND IN THE AFTERNOON FLANKING PATROL AND HAD A LOVELY RIDE AWAY OUT IN THE COUNTRY. CAMPED ABOUT FOUR O‘CLOCK. THE ROAD IS FAIRLY LINED WITH DEAD HORSES AND MULES ALSO CARTRIDGE SHELLS.





APRIL 17TH TUE

IT RAINED DURING THE NIGHT THE ROAD ARE ALL WET THE CAMP IS JUST A FRIGHT. OUR HORSES ARE RATHER TIRED WE ARE GIVING THEM A REST. GOT ORDERS TO SADDLE UP AFTER DINNER AND MOVE OUT AT TWELVE OCLOCK. WHEN WE HAD GOT A MILE ON OUR WAY AN ORDERLY RODE UP AFTER US WITH AN ORDER FOR US TO RETURN TO CAMP WE RETURNED AND ASK NO QUESTION AS QUESTION WERE STRICKLY OUT OF QUESTION HERE

APRIL 18TH WED

RAINED ALL EVENING AND PART OF THE NIGHT AND THE GROUND AROUND EDINBURGH
HERE IS ALL WET; JUST LIKE THE NORTHWEST 15 YEARS AGO. EVERY TIME YOU SEE A THUNDER CLOUD
JUST LOOK OUT. WE ARE GOING TO MAKE A START FOR BLOEMFONTEIN. TOMORROW AT LEAST THAT IS THE LATEST. A FEW OTHER BOERS ARE BEING DRIVEN IN THIS DIRECTION. THE SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN BUILDING BARB WIRE FENCES AROUND HERE AND FIXING UP A HOUSE WITH A LOFT.
HOLES AND THREE MAXIM GUNS. THERE WERE 1100 HUNDRED SOLDIERS CAME OFF THE TRAIN HERE AND MARCHED OUT WEST TO MEET THE SUPPOSED ENEMY. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF FIGHTS HERE AND CAN SEE SHELLS ALL OVER THE GROUND. SOME OLD SNIDER BUT MOST OF THEM LITTLE MOUZERS. A SOLDIER CUT HIS THROAT TODAY AT THE STATION.

APRIL 19TH THURS

I AM WRITING THIS AT A NOON CAMP WE STARTED TODAY ABOUT HALF PAST TEN. HAD TO TRAVEL VERY SLOWLY ON ACCOUNT OF THE BAD ROADS AND THE HEAVY TRANSPORT –CAN’T KEEP UP. WE PASSED THROUGH SOME BOER POSITIONS THIS AFTERNOON STONE WALLS ARE BUILT ON THE SIDE OF STEEP ROCKEY HILLS, WITH FRAGMENTS OF SHELLS FLYING ALL AROUND.
THERE IS A GUARD OF IMPERIAL TROOPS AT EVERY RAILWAY BRIDGE.

APRIL 20TH FRIDAY

WE DID NOT GET INTO CAMP UNTIL ELEVEN O’CLOCK AND A GOOD MANY OT THE HORSES WERE PLAYED OUT. WHEN EVER A HORSE GETS A BAD BACK A RIDER HAS TO WALK & NEARLY THIRTY.

WE HAD A GOOD DRY DAY YESTERDAY & MADE VERY GOOD TIME, WE MAY CATCH UP TO ROBERTS FORCES TONIGHT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF HILANDERS CAMPED HERE & IT IS REFRESHING TO HEAR THE PIPES THIS MORNING AT NIGHT NOW WE PUT OUR OVERCOAT ON & ROLL IN A BLANKET WITH OUR HEAD ON OUR SADDLE. WE ARE NOW WITH IN TEN MILES OF BLOEMFONTEIN & IT IS NEARLY TWO O’CLOCK. MAJOR WILLIAMS HAS JUST RECEIVED A TELEGRAM TO TRY AND GET THERE BY SIX O’CLOCK TONIGHT. AND MOST OF OUR HORSES ARE PLAYED OUT- I THINK MY PLUG CAN MAKE IT. THERE IS A LOT OF GRASS AROUND HERE AND THE GROUND IS RED CLAY.







APRIL 21ST SAT

WE ONLY MADE SIX MILES YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, BUT ARE STARTING AT HALF PAST NINE THIS MORNING & EXPECT TO GET THERE IN GOOD TIME.
NOON, WE HAVE MARCHED THROUGH BLOEMFONTEIN AND ARE RESTING NORTH OF IT. THE FIRST CONTINGENT IS CAMPED BUT WE HAVE ONLY SEEN ONE OF THEM AS WE ARE GOING FIVE MILES FURTHER ON THERE IS NOT MUCH CHANCE OF SEEING MORE OF THEM AT THIS TIME.

WE HAVE JUST GOT AN ORDER TO GO OUT WITH THE RIGHT TO A PLACE FIFTEEN MILES AWAY WHERE THE BOERS ARE IN POSSESSION OF THE BLOEMFONTEIN WATER WORKS; WE EXPECT TO SEE FIGHTING ABOUT TOMORROW NIGHT OR NOON DAY. WE STRIPPED OUR SADDLES OF EVERYTHING IN THE SHAPE OF GEARING AND SOME OF OUR CLOTHING & EACH MAN ONLY HAS ONE CHANGE, & OVERCOAT, WATERPROOF BLANKET.








APRIL 22ND SUN

REVELLARY AT FOUR O’CLOCK THIS MORNING; WE HUNTED A CAMP GROUND LAST NIGHT AFTER DARK. AS I WROTE THE ABOVE WE HEARD THE BOER GUNS & GOT THE ORDER TO MOUNT NOW AT FOUR O’CLOCK WE HAVE HAD OUR FIRST BRUSH UP WITH THE ENEMY. WE ACTED AS SCOUTS & WERE FIRST FORMING UP WHEN A SHELL FROM THE BOER POSITION ON THE HILLS EXPLODED ABOUT SEVENTY FIVE YARDS FROM US AND THE FIRST TROOP WENT AWAY ACROSS A CREEK & WERE CUT OFF. WE THEN RODE NEAR THIS ENEMY’S POSITION IN EXTENDED ORDER AND THE BULLETS WHISTLED PAST US, LEUTENANT YOUNG’S HORSE GOT WOUNDED IN THE FOOT AND OUR TROOP’S SERGANTS HORSE WAS SHOT IN THE FOOT. THE BULLET PASSED BETWEEN MY HORSES’S HEAD & MYSELF, IT IS A QUEER SENSATION TO BE UNDER FIRE AND TO HEAR THE BULLETS WHIRL PAST YOUR HEAD EVERY MINUTE HOWEVER NONE OF US WERE HIT.WE THEN DISMOUNTED & ADVANCED A LITTLE AND LAY DOWN, WE THEN OPENED FIRE ON A HOUSE, A HOUSE ABOUT SIXTEEN HUNDRED YARDS AWAY, SIMPLY TO DRAW THE ENEMIES ATTENTION FROM THE FIRST TROOP, IT WAS SUCCESSFUL FOR THEY ALL MOUNTED & CAME BACK ON THE RUN. ONE HORSE WAS SHOT DEAD & ANOTHER SHOT THROUGH, BUT SEEMS ALL RIGHT. WE THEN RETREATED TO A CAMP AT A DAM ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY. IT SEEMS STRANGE THAT EVERYONE OF B SQUAD ESCAPED WITHOUT A MAN BEING HURT, FOR THE BULLETS FELL AROUND US LIKE RAIN. WE EXPECT TO LEAD THE ADVANCE TOMORROW.









APRIL 23RD MON

WE ARE JUST HAVING BREAKFAST EVERY MAN IS IN GOOD SPIRITS; STILL WE ARE WAITING FOR ORDERS & IT IS ABOUT TEN O’CLOCK A NUMBER OF THE MOUNTED MEN & THE POM POMS OR ONE POUND MAXIMS , THESE GUNS WERE IN ACTION NEAR US LAST EVENING AND THE BOERS WOULD BE SURPRISED.
HAVE STARTED THERE IS A RUMOR TO THE EFFECT THAT THE BOERS HAVE LEFT THEIR POSITION AND RETREATED FURTHER BACK. WAR IS AN AWFUL THING, BUT FULL OF THINGS WHICH FACINATE MOST OF PEOPLE .

SOME OF THE IMPERIAL TROOPS WHICH WE SAW LAST NIGHT WERE LOUD IN THEIR PRAISES OF THE CANADIAN MOUNTED RIFLES, THEY SAID THAT WE JUST LOOKED LIKE A SQUAD ON PARADE RIDING AROUND AMID A SHOWER OF BULLETS AT WALK, AND THEN CHANGING BY GROUPS ABOUT & MARCHING BACK THROUGH. IT IS NEARLY DINNER TIME & WE ARE OUT LETTING OUR HORSES GRAZE. WE GOT AN ORDER LITTLE WHILE AGO TO UNSADDLE &WILL NOT START UNTIL WE HEAR THE GUNS OF THE ARTILLARY.

THE BOERS HAVE EVIDENTLY LEFT THE HILL WHERE THEY WERE LAST NIGHT; & OUR TROOPS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE THEM.WE STARTED AT HALF PAST TWO & HAVE NOW AT SUNSET JUST WITNESSED AN ENGAGEMENT FROM THE TOP OF THE HILL. OUR SCOUT DREW THE ENEMIES FIRE FROM A LITTLE HILL & SHORTLY AFTER THERE SUPPORT GALLOPED DOWN; WE WERE HALTED WHERE WE ARE NOW & HAD A BIRDS EYE VIEW OF THE RUSH; A PERSON CANNOT WITNESS A FIGHT WITHOUT WISHING TO BE INTO IT. THEY ARMY SOON TOOK THE HILL BUT WE HAVE NOT GOT PERTICULARS YET. WHILE WE HAVE BEEN STANDING HERE MEN, TRANSPORTS & HORSES HAVE BEEN POWERING ON & MANY OF THE FAMOUS IMPERIAL REGMENTS.

APRIL 24TH TUE

HAVE GOT NO PARTICULARS OF LAST NIGHTS ACTION YET. STARTING JUST GETTING SADDLED UP & AS I AM UP THROUGH & THE MOSE BAG IS ON MY HORSE. I THOUGHT IT A GOOD TIME TO SCRIBBLE A FEW LINES IF I AM GOING TO KEEP THIS THING UP I MUST TAKE EVERY CHANCE.
WE EXPECTED TO LEAD THE ATTACK YESTERDAY BUT AS WE DID NOT WE MAY TODAY, OUR EARLY START THIS MORNING MEANS SOMETHING. WE ARE DISMOUNTED NOW AT ELEVEN O’CLOCK & ARE ON THE RIGHT WING FLANKING PATROL OR SCOUTS. WE HAVE JUST HEARD THE ENEMIES GUNS AHEAD OF US & ON OUR LEFT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MAIN BODY. THERE IS AN ARMY COMING WITH US TODAY WHICH WOULD SOON WIPE OUT THE BOERS IF THEY COULD ONLY GET AT THEM; THE BOERS HOWEVER TAKE UP THEIR POSITION ON A HILL AND MAKE A LITTLE STAND THEN RETIRE TO ANOTHER. WE ARE DRIVING THEM BACK TO THE MAIN BODY. IT IS RATHER INTERESTING WORK TO RIDE UP IN SINGLE LINE FROM 20 TO 6OO YARDS APART & THREE MILES AWAY FROM THE MAIN BODY. OUR WORK IS TO GO INTO HOUSES & FIGHT IF THEY RESIST UNTILL OUR SUPPORT COMES UP & IF THEY ARE TOO MANY FOR US, GALLOP OFF. IT IS A QUEER SENSATION TO RIDE UP TO A HOUSE EXPECTING EVERY MINUTE TO GET SHOT AT. NOON, A SCOUT PASSED US A LITTLE WHILE AGO WITH THE REPORT THAT WE HAD SUROUNDED THREE DEVISIONS OF BOERS. WE ARE FEEDING OUR HORSES ON A LITTLE RANGE OF GROUND WHERE THE GRASS IS GOOD. OUR BIG GUNS ARE SHELLING THE ENEMY ABOUT HALF A MILE TO OUR LEFT WHILE A POM POM IS GOING IN FRONT OF US.WE CAN SEE ABOUT THREE MILES ALONG THE ROAD FROM HERE & THE WHOLE COUNTRY HALF A MILE WIDE IN SOME PLACES NOT INCLUDING SCOUTS ARE LINED WITH CALVARY & INFANTRY.

APRIL25TH WED

MORNING, WE PASSED OVER THE PLACE WHERE THE FIGHTING WAS GOING ON YESTERDAY & THERE WERE TWO BOERS LYING ON THE HILL SIDE BY SIDE, TWO OF THE WERE ALSO DEAD BUT BURIED BEFORE WE CAME UP.
WE HAD JUST UNSADDLED OUR HORSES LAST NIGHT WHEN WE GOT AN ORDER TO TAKE UP A POSITION ON THE TOP OF A HILL WHEN THE BOERS WERE EXPECTED WE SADDLED UP & IN A FEW MINUTES WERE GALLOPING ALONG OVER THE HILLS & ROCKS IN A SOUTH EASTERLY DIRECTION, WE LINKED ALL OUR HORSES TOGETHER AT THE FOOT OF A HILL & CLIMBED UP TO THE TOP OF IT, IT WAS DARK & THE HILL WAS ROUGH BUT WE GOT THERE & PUT UP OUR BEST WORK. WE WERE THEN STATIONED AT POINTS ABOUT 20 YDS APART AND EACH MAN HAD TO STRING THEN HIS OWN POSITION; WE HAD TO BE AT OUR POST TWO HOURS & FOUR OFF.
THERE WERE TWO HELIGRAPHS WORKING ON THIS HILL LAST NIGHT IT SEEMED STRANGE TO SEE THEM READING THE LIGHT FLASHES AT A DISTANCE OF MANY MILES OFF.THEY REPORTED SHORTLY AFTER WE WERE POSTED THAT ABOUT THREE THOUSAND BOERS HAD LEFT A POSITION TO THE S.E. & WERE MOVING IN A N.W. DIRECTION, THIS ONLY HELPS TO KEEP US FROM GOING TO SLEEP ON OUTPOST. I AM SCRIBBLING THIS FROM A POSITION ON THE TOP OF THIS HILL & WATCHING THE ARMY MOVE FROM THEIR NIGHT CAMP. I WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO DESCRIBE THE BIRDS EYE VIEW.
NOON, WE ARE FEEDING OUR HORSES ON THE BANKS OF A LITTLE CREEK, JUST SOUTH IS A BOER HOUSE ON FIRE; THE ADVANCE GUARD MAKES A POINT TO BURN EVERY BOER HOUSE EXCEPT THE BOSS HAS A PASS. IT SEEMS A SHAME TO SEE THE WOMEN STANDING OUT SIDE WHILE THEIR HOUSE GOES TO ASHES.
WE ARE THE REAR GUARD TODAY & HAVE TO TURN ROUND & FACE THE REAR EVERY TIME THE TRANSPORT STOPS. WE HAVE NOT HEARD THE GUNS IN ADVANCE TODAY YET, BUT EXPECT TO SOON AS WE GENERALLY OVER TAKE THEM IN THE AFTERNOON.
OUR TRANSPORT HAS BEEN STOPPED ALL AFTERNOON BUT NO BOERS ARE IN SIGHT.WE STOPPED NEAR A BURNING HOUSE & CAUGHT ALOT OF BOER HORSES. ONE WOMAN QUITE A GIRL WHOSE HUSBAND WAS SHOT WHEN SURROUNDED IS AT THE HOUSE SHE IS GOOD LOOKING & SPEAKS GOOD ENGLISH. JUST BEFORE THE HOUSE WAS SET ON FIRE THIS MORNING ONE OF THE MEN WAS SHOT & ONE TAKEN PRISONER. AS I WAS STROLLING AROUND THIS HOUSE I CAME ACROSS A DECAPES FOR A 12 GUN WHICH I INTEND TO TAKE HOME. THERE IS SOME TALK OF US GOING BACK TO BLOEMFONTEIN & I WILL BE GLAD AS WE CAME THROUGH THERE ON THE FLY & DID NOT STOP FOR OUR MAIL.
THE BOERS HAVE GONE SOMEWHERE BUT THEIR WHERABOUTS ARE NOT KNOWN TO US, THEY HOWEVER LEFT THE WATERWORKS.
IT IS LOVELY WEATHER NOW JUST LIKE JUNE IN THE NORTH WEST WITHOUT MOSQUITOES.

APRIL 26TH THURS

WE LEFT CAMP AT ABOUT TEN O’C LOCK TODAY. WE WERE THE EXTREME REAR GUARD AND THE SECOND TROOP; THIRTY OF US WERE EXTENDED IN SINGLE LINE ACROSS THE REAR OF THE TRANSPORT FOR TWO MILES. WE MARCHED ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF AND THEN GOT ORDERS TO RETURN AS THE WHOLE

---

WAS COMING BACK WE THEN ACTED AS ADVANCE GUARD TO OUR LAST NIGHT CAMP, WHERE WE ARE AT PRESENT.
THE BOERS HAVE EVIDENTLY GIVEN US THE SLIP THIS TIME. WE HAVE HAD ORDERS TO UNSADDLE OUR HORSES AND MAY BE HERE FOR THE NIGHT.



APRIL 27 FRI

WE CAMPED ON OUR OLD CAMP GROUND LAST NIGHT AND SHORTLY AFTER WE GOT THERE, LORD ROBERTS PULLED IN ALONG SIDE OF US. ONE OF THE FELLOWS AN AMERICAN WHO HAD BEEN IN THE CUBAN WAR CAME OVER TO OUR LINES AND TOLD US ABOUT THE BRUSH WHICH I DESCRIBED ON MONDAY. THEY WERE THE FELLOWS WHO CHARGED THE HILL AND LOST AN ACTING COLONAL AND TWO PRIVATES. THE BOERS WERE DRESSED LIKE THE IMPERIAL TROOPS IN KAIKI AND . WE STARTED ON THE ROAD FOR BLOMFONTEIN ACROSS COUNTRY WITH AN ORDER TO DRIVE OFF ALL CATTLE, HORSES, SHEEP & TAKE ANY THING WE WANTED FOR FOOD. IF WE FOUND ANY AMMUNITION IN A HOUSE WE WERE TO BURN IT. AND SOON AT NOON WE HAVE BURNED ABOUT EIGHT OF THEM. IT SEEMS HARD LINES TO GO THROUGH A HOUSE DESTROYING THINGS WHILE WOMAN & CHILDREN ARE CRYING AROUND YOU.
I GOT FOUR HENS AT THE LAST PLACE AND OUR TROOP TOOK A NEW SET OF HARNESS & A COVERED RIG, A FINE CLASS AFFAIR. AND TO MAKE THINGS BETTER THE OFFICER ASKED ME TO DRIVE IT IN TO TOWN & I AM SITTING IN IT AS I WRITE THIS.

APRIL 28 SAT

CAMPED LAST NIGHT NEAR A LARGE FARM HOUSE WHICH WAS LOUTED LATELY BUT THE RED BRICK WALLS STAND AS THEY WOULD NOT BURN. THERE ARE SOME OTHER HOUSES NEAR ACROSS A LITTLE CREEK HAD NOT BEEN TRICKED BUT WERE BURNED THIS MORNING. AMONG THE SPOILS WHICH WE FOUND IN THE HOUSE NEAR THE CAMP LAST NIGHT WAS A LARGE QUANTITY OF WHEAT & BRAN. THERE WAS AN ORCHARD BUT MOST OF THE FRUIT WAS GONE. HOWEVER WE GOT A LOT OF ORANGES THIS MORNING. I ALWAYS MAKE A B LINE FOR THE ORCHARD NOW WHEN WE STOP AT A FARM HOUSE.
WE HAVE CAMPED AT A LARGE DAM JUST BEFORE DARK.


APRIL 29 SUN

I WAS ON PICKET LAST NIGHT WE ARE HEADING FOR BLOEMFONTEIN NOW & NOT MORE THAN FOUR OR FIVE MILES FROM IT; BUT STILL WE MAY NOT GO THERE. IF ANY TROUBLE STARTS BACK IN THE HILLS WE MAY GET. ORDERS TO TURN BACK I AM RATHER ANXIOUS TO GET TO THE RAILWAY TO GET THIS MAIL AS I HAVE GOT NO MAIL FROM HOME YET.
NOON. NOTHING OF ANY IMPORTANCE THIS FORENOON, ONLY A RIDE ABOUT THREE MILES TOWARDS BLOEMFONTEIN. WE ARE CAMPED NOW WITHIN ABOUT TWO MILES OF IT. BUT AS WE HAVE GOT ORDERS TO UNSADDLE WE MAY NOT START FROM HERE TONIGHT. SOME OF THE WAGGONS HAVE GONE ON TO THE TOWN & MAY BRING OUT OUR MAIL.

APRIL 30TH MON

GOT ELEVEN LETTERS BUT ONLY MANAGED TO READ ONE OF THEM WHEN WE WERE ORDERED TO MOUNT & HAD TO WAIT TILL NIGHT TO READ THE REST. WE CAMPED AT FISHERS FARM SEVEN MILES NORTH OF BLOEMFONTEIN TONIGHT & WERE PLEASED TO SEE A & C SQUADRON THE YORKTON BOYS HAVE NOT BEEN UNDER FIRE YET BUT ARE ALL WELL.

MAY 1 TUE
NO TIME TO WRITE

MAY THE 2ND WED

I HAVE BEEN ON OUTPOST DUTY ALL NIGHT WITH FOUR OTHERS AND HAD NO SLEEP. I AM SITTING ON A HILL ABOUT A MILE FROM THE CAMP. WE CANNOT SEE THE CAMP THE PLACE WHERE OUR OUTFIT CAMPED LAST NIGHT LOOKS DESERTED, WE HAD TO STAND & HOLD OUR HORSES ALL LAST NIGHT. WE SAW ABOUT 20 BOERS AT ONE TIME NOT MORE THAN 200 YDS FROM US BUT AS WE WERE ON THE SIDE OF THE HILL THEY DID NOT SEE US. AT ANOTHER TIME A MOUNTED BOER GALLOPED PAST NOT MORE THAN 20 YDS FROM US. PAGE HAS JUST ARRIVED & TOLD US THAT THE OUTFIT RETIRED AT 2’OCLOCK THIS MORNING THEY WERE BEING SURROUNDED. THEY CALLED IN ALL THEIR OUTPOST BUT WERE UNABLE TO FIND US & SAID HE HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR US ALL NIGHT. AS WE RODE BACK WE PASSED 20 MOUNTED BOERS NOT MORE THAN A MILE FROM US BUT AS WE WERE ONLY 5 IN NUMBER THEY COULD NOT MAKE US OUT. THEY DISMOUNTED & HAD A LOOK AT US & MUST HAVE TAKEN US FOR THEIR MEN AS THEY MOUNTED & RODE ON.

MAY 3RD THUR

EVENING; I AM WRITING BY THE LIGHT OF A CANDLE OUTSIDE IN A CAMP. WE HAVE HAD A PRETTY HARD DAY & I NEVER GOT TIME TO WRITE UNTIL NOW. WE LEFT CAMP AT DAY LIGHT AND WHEN WE HAD ADVANCED ABOUT A MILE THE MAJOR TOLD US THAT WE WERE ON THE LEFT FLANK OF THE GENERAL . MOVE FOREWARD AND WE WOULD HAVE A FIGHT. WE FOUND SOME BOERS ON A LITTLE HILL AND SURROUNDED THEM AND TOOK SOME PRISONERS, THEN WE ADVANCED TO LARGE HILL ON EACH SIDE AND AS WE WERE SUPPORT OF THE ADVANCE GUARD WE GOT THROUGH BETWEEN THE TWO HILLS AND THE ADVANCE GUARD ABOUT FIFTY YARDS AHEAD OF US OPENED FIRE ON ABOUT 200 BOERS MOUNTED JUST THEN THEY OPENED ON US FROM BOTH SIDES AND WE WERE FORCED TO RETREAT BETWEEN A TERRIBLE CROSS FIRE, FOR 200 YARDS. THEN DISMOUNTED AND TOOK COVER. I FIRED 40 SHOTS AT THEM. I THINK TWO OF THE C.M.R. WERE WOUNDED BUT NO ONE KILLED. THE BOERS ON ONE SIDE OF US WERE SHOOTING AT US AT A RANGE OF ABOUT 200 YDS. THEY MADE VERY POOR SHOOTING INDEED.
WHEN OUR GUNS GOT INTO ACTION THEY HAD TO SHOOT OVER OUR HEADS, & IT WAS A TREAT TO HEAR THE POM POM SHELLS FROM TWO GUNS, & ONE COLT GALLOPING GUN HANDLED BY CV HOWARD & THREE.THE FULISATED LASTED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR & A HALF WHEN THE BOERS RETREATED & WE MARCHED THROUGH THE PASS & CAMPED FOR THE NIGHT. ONE OF THE FELLOWS IN 8 OF 73 SHOT HIMSELF THIS MORNING.

MAY THE 4TH FRI

WE ARE IN REAR OF THE TRANSPORT TODAY & AS I AM LYING IN THE GRASS HERE ABOUT THREE MILES FROM LAST NIGHTS CAMPING PLACE & HEAR SHOOTING AHEAD, WE WILL NOT HOWEVER UNTIL NIGHT.
NOON. WE ARE NEAR THE SPOT WHERE THE BRUSH WAS & THEY SAY THAT A FEW LEDITE SHELLS SCATTERED THE BOERS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BOERS WOUNDED IN A HOUSE NEAR HERE, RESULTS OF THE ACTION YESTERDAY. WE ARE GUARD ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACK NOW.







MAY THE 5TH SAT

CAMPED LAST NIGHT ON OUTPOST IN REAR OF THE TRANSPORT, BUT MUST GO TO THE FRONT TODAY & SEE SOME MORE SERVICE. THE RUNNINGTON SCOUTS WHO ARE LOOTING THE BOERS AHEAD OF OUR COLUMN ARE A BRAVE LOT OF FELLOWS, A GOOD MANY OF THEM CAN TALK DUTCH & KNOWS THE COUNTRY WHICH IS A GREAT ADVANTAGE.
TWO OF THEM RUN ACROSS TWO WOUNDED BOERS YESTERDAY, ONE OF THE BOERS TURNED & FIRED AT THEM, WHEN ONE OF THE SCOUTS JUMPED FROM HIS HORSE & SHOT THE BOER RIGHT THROUGH THE EYE. THE OTHER BOER ESCAPED.
EVENING; BY THE CAMP FIRE, WE HAD A HOT WITH THE BOERS THIS AFTERNOON & ONE OF THE 2ND TR FELLOWS HAD HIS HORSE SHOT UNDER HIM.WE DROVE THE ENEMY INTO THE BED OF A RIVER & TURNED OUR POM POM ON THEM AT ABOUT 200 YDS BUT DID NOT SEEM TO MOVE THEM VERY MUCH. B SQUAD THEN DISMOUNTED & WENT DOWN THE HILL; SENT OUT SCOUTS BUT STILL WE COULD NOT DRAW THEIR FIRE. THEN THE GENERAL TOLD OUR LEUTENANT TO TAKE TEN OF HIS MEN & GO DOWN TO THE EDGE OF THE BUSH & THEN SEND ONE MAN TO LOOK ALONG THE RIVER & TRY & LOCATE THE ENEMY. HE EXPLAINED THE DANGER OF THE POSITION BUT SAID THEY MIGHT ONLY BE TAKEN PRISONER. OUR OFFICER MUST HAVE HEARD ME BLOWING ABOUT MY PLUCK FOR HE ASKED ME IF I WOULD. I OF COURSE SAID VERY GOOD & WENT BUT DID NOT FIND BOERS. I WALKED UP ALONG SIDE OF THE RIVER WITH MY RIFLE COCKED DETERMINED TO HAVE THE FIRST SHOT. AFTER A WHILE I HEARD SHOTS UP THE RIVER & WENT UP TO TRY & LOCATE THEM. I THEN WENT BACK & WHEN I GOT TO OUR TROOP THEY WERE UNDER A HOT FIRE. WE THEN ADVANCED & OUR HORSES WERE BROUGHT UP WE MOUNTED & TRIED TO CROSS THE RIVER BUT HAD TO DISMOUNT AGAIN & FIRED ACROSS BEFORE WE DISMOUNTED. ONE OF OUR HORSES WAS SHOT BUT SOME OF THE MEN WERE HURT.
WE CROSSED STORMED ANOTHER POSITION & THEN CAMPED WHERE WE ARE TONIGHT. THE CANADIANS SEEM TO HAVE A CHARMED LIFE.

MAY THE 6TH SUN

GOT OUT AT HALF PAST THREE THIS MORNING BUT WE ARE NOT 800 YDS FROM OUR LAST NIGHTS CAMPING PLACE. AT TEN O’CLOCK OUR GUARD ARE MOVING TODAY WITH US, WE ARE IN THE MAIN BODY. WE CANNOT ADVANCE UNTIL THE ARE A LITTLE WAY AHEAD.
WE HAVE FOUND TEN DEAD BOERS, THE RESULT OF YESTERDAY AFTERNOONS ACTION. STRANGE WE DID NOT LOOSE A MAN. THEY REPORTED TROOPS HAD THE ENEMY ENGAGED ABOUT TWO MILES DOWN THE RIVER. THEY LOST ABOUT EIGHT MEN.I HAVE JUST HEARD THE FIRST SHOT TODAY AWAY ABOUT THREE MILES AHEAD. I GUESS WE WILL MOUNT SOON.
WE HAVE HAD A FAST RIDE FOR ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MILES, AND AS THE BOERS HAD TEN HOURS START ON US, WE DID NOT GET UP TO THEM. WE WENT INTO A LITTLE TOWN ALONG THE RAILWAY & HAVE BEEN THERE ALL AFTERNOON & WILL BE ALL NIGHT. THE RETREATING BOERS WENT THROUGH THIS PLACE LAST EVENING & ATE THE PLACE OUT. MANY OF THEM MOVED OUT & LEFT THEIR PLACES JUST AS THEY STOOD. WE OF COURSE WENT THROUGH THE HOUSES AND I GOT A GOOD SHIRT A THING I NEEDED VERY MUCH. WE GOT A GOOD MANY OTHER THINGS IN THE SHAPE OF GRUB.







MAY 7TH MON

NOON, WE HAVE JUST GONE THROUGH SOME BOER HOUSES & TURNED EVERYTHING UPSIDE DOWN. WE FOUND A LARGE BOX OF DYNAMITE AND EXPLOADED IT. I GOT SOME PAPER & ENVELOPES SOMETHING I NEEDED, WE ALSO GOT A GOOD MANY TRINKETS & SOME FODDER FOR OUR HORSES. IT SEEMS STRANGE TO SEE ONE OF THE FELLOWS PLAYING “SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN” ON AN ONTARIO ORGAN IN A BOER HOUSE, WHILE THE OTHER FELLOWS WERE GOING THROUGH. ARRIVED IN CAMP JUST AT DARK.

MAY 8TH TUES.

WE GOT OUT THIS MORNING AT HALF PAST FOUR B & D SQUADRON LOCATED THE BOER POSITION ON THE RIGHT WING LAST EVENING AND GOT PEPPERED WITH SHELL FROM A LONG RANGE ONE OF THE FELLOWS WAS STRUCK ON THE HEAD WITH A SHELL WHICH TORE HIS HAT BUT DID NOT KILL HIM. WE WILL BE HERE ALL DAY AS A RESERVE BUT WILL NOT ATTACK THIS POSITION UNTILL WE GET HEAVIER GUNS. WE GOT SOME MAIL SENT OUT TONIGHT AT FOUR O’CLOCK.

MAY THE 9TH WED.

STILL IN CAMP SEVENTY OF OUR FELLOWS WENT OUT ON PATROAL TODAY, BUT AS MY HORSE WAS SICK, I HAD TO STAY IN CAMP. THEY TRIED TO GET ANOTHER HORSE FOR ME BUT COULD NOT.
THE BOERS WE REPORTED TO HAVE RETREATED BUT IT IS NOT CONFIRMED.
NOON. OUR FELLOWS HAVE RETURNED AND WE HAVE TO SADDLE UP & MOVE FORWARD. THERE ARE PLENTY OF BOERS. IT WAS A GRAND SIGHT THIS AFTERNOON TO SEE ALL THE ARMY MOVING FORWARD WITH THE WAR BALOON IN THE REAR ATTACHED TO A BIG WAGON BY A LONG ROPE. LORD KILSHTENCE IS WITH US TODAY.
IT IS NEAR SUNSET & WE ARE AWAY AROUND ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENEMY, THERE IS ANOTHER BODY ON THE RIGHT & THE MAIN BODY IN FRONT WITH ALL THE HEAVY GUNS. I DON’T SUPPOSE THEY WILL BEGIN THE ACTION UNTIL TOMORROW BUT ONE CAN’T TELL,
THE BOERS ARE VERY STRONG & HOLD A GOOD POSITION: SOME THINK THAT THE COMING BATTLE WILL DECIDE THE WAR.

MAY 10TH THUR.

IN ACTION NO TIME TO WRITE.

MAY 11TH FRI.

HAD A SCRAP YESTERDAY AND B SQUAD WERE RIGHT IN IT. WHILE WE WERE DISMOUNTED ENGAGING THE ENEMY. THEY CAME DOWN ON OUR LEFT FLANK AND FIRED ON THE LANCERS WE HAD A GOOD CHANCE, BUT TOOK THEM FOR OUR OWN MEN UNTIL THE LANCERS CHARGED THEM. IT WAS PERHAPS THE WILDEST SIGHT THAT WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR.
CAMPED LAST NIGHT WHERE THE INSKILLENHAD BEEN LED INTO A TRAP BY THE BOERS IN THE AFTERNOON . ABOUT 30 DEAD HORSES MARKED THE PLACE ALL CLOSE TOGETHER. THEY LOST 10 KILLED & 30 WOUNDED. THE KAFFIR HUTS NEAR WAS CROWDED WITH THEM. THE DOCTOR ME THAT SOME OF THEM WOULD DIE DURING NIGHT.
THE BOERS RETREATED. MARCHED ALL DAY BUT DID NOT SEE ANY BOERS, THEY SEEM TO BE RETREATING FAST.
MAY 12TH SAT.

STARTED THIS MORNING AT ABOUT HALF PAST SIX. GOT SOME FOOD FOR OUR HORSES AT A FARM, & I GOT A PAIR OF HENS; WE HAVE TO KEEP THEM OUT OF SIGHT. IF THE COLONAL KNEW, BUT STILL WE EAT THEM.
ALL THE C.M.R. ARE MARCHING TOGETHER NOW & WE ARE NEAR THE BOARDER OF THE TRANSVAAL. WE HAVE JUST COME TO A PLACE WHERE THE BOERS WERE SUPPOSED TO MAKE ONE OF THEIR STRONGEST STANDS, BUT THERE IS NOT A BOER IN SIGHT.
GOT INTO KROONSTAD TONIGHT WHERE THE BOERS WERE EXPECTED TO MAKE ONE OF THEIR BEST STANDS. THEY BLEW UP THE RAILWAY BRIDGE ACROSS THE RIVER BEFORE THEY LEFT AND THE IRISH BRIGADE WHO ARE FIGHTING WITH THE BOERS RAIDED THE STORES IN THIS TOWN. THE IRISH WERE GLAD TO SEE US.

MAY 13TH SUN.

ARE CAMPED HERE TODAY & WILL BE HERE ALL DAY. MY HORSE IS ON THE SICK LIST. CHARLIE PETERSON & PETER MC NICHOL ARE HERE VISITING NOW. JACK DE BALANHART IS SICK & IS BACK IN THE AMBULANCE. CHURCH PARADE THIS EVENING AT 3 O’CLOCK.
ABOUT TWO HUNDRED OF THE BOERS CAME TO CAMP & GAVE UP THERE ARMS TODAY. THE RAILWAY BRIDGE HERE WILL NOT BE REPAIRED JUST NOW; THEY ARE RUNNING TEMPORARY BRIDGES ACROSS ALL THE CREEKS AT A DAM.

MAY 14TH MON

THE CANADIAN INFANTRY CAME TO THE CAMP LAST NIGHT, BUT THE CAMP IS SO LARGE THAT THEY ARE FIVE MILES AWAY.
THE CL CAME HERE THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT TWENTY OF THE IMPERIAL WHO WERE OUT ON FORAGING EXPEDITION WERE FIRED ON BY ABOUT SEVENTY BOERS FIVE MILES FROM HERE. TWO MEN WERE KILLED & AN OFFICER WOUNDED & TWO TAKEN PRISONERS. SOME TWENTY OF A SQUADRON C.M.R. WERE ORDERED OUT AT ONCE, BUT THE ENEMY WERE GONE.

MAY 15TH TUE.

TURNED OUT A 4 O’CLOCK & SADDLED UP BUT GOT ORDERS SHORTLY AFTER TO UNSADDLE LAY AROUND CAMP ALL DAY. SOME OF OUR FELLOWS HAS A PASS TO GO TO TOWN; WE CANNOT GO OUT WITHOUT A PASS. THERE IS SOME TALK OF THE WAR BEING OVER. THEY SAY THE BOERS ARE TRYING FOR PEACE.

MAY 16TH WED.

STILL IN CAMP WE ARE ALL ABOUT TIRED OF IT. THE BOERS ARE STILL GIVING THEMSELVES UP. ALL THE BEST HORSES ARE PICKED OUT OF THE C.M.R. FOR A HUNDRED MILE RIDE BEGINNING AT 5 O’CLOCK TONIGHT. MY HORSE HAS A SADDLE GALL ON HIM & CAN’T GO. THERE ARE ABOUT SEVEN OUT OF OUR TROOP.THEY DON’T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING OR WHAT FOR. WE ARE ALL ABOUT TIRED OF THE CAMP.



MAY 17TH THUR

STILL IN CAMP. WE LET OUR HORSES OUT ON THE GRASS NOW WITH TWO MOUNTED MEN & LIGHT
DISMOUNTED TO LOOK AFTER THEM. THE GRASS IS GETTING QUITE DRY. FIVE OF US FROM EACH TROOP WAS PICKED OFF TODAY FOR CAMP POST TONIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO A POST ON A HILL ABOUT A MILE & A HALF FROM THE CAMP FOR TWENTY FOUR HOURS.

MAY 18 FRI.

OUT ON POST WE PUT IN A GOOD NIGHT LAST NIGHT =TWO HOURS ON & SIX OFF. WE HAVE HAD QUITE A PLEASANT TIME TODAY WRITING LETTERS & SLEEPING. THIS IS AWAY AHEAD OF THE CAMP. WILL BE RELIEVED TONIGHT BUT I WISH MY TURN WOULD CONTINUE IT IS PLEASANT TO BE OUT OF THE CROWD IF ONLY FOR A DAY.

MAY 19TH SAT.

WE ARE STILL CAMPED HERE. I DO WISH THEY WOULD SEE FIT TO MAKE AN MOVE EVEN IF WE DON’T GET OUR MAIL. OUR HORSES & MEN THAT WENT AWAY ON WEDNESDAY RETURNED TODAY WITH TWENTY FOUR BOER PRISONERS, THEY FOUND THEM IN FARM HOUSES. SOME TALK OF A MOVE TOMORROW.
THEY ARE BUSY REPAIRING THE RAILWAY CROSSING ON THE RIVER HERE, AND THE BLASTING REMINDS ONE OF BIG GUNS.

MAY 20TH SUN.

MOVE ON SUNDAY AS USUAL. A STRANGE EXPERIENCE THIS MORNING. WE GOT OUT ABOUT HALF A MILE FROM THE CAMP. WHEN C & D SQUADRONS FORMED UP ON OUR LEFT & TOW SQUADS OF ML ON OUR RIGHT- A & B SQUADS FACING OUR FRONT THE FOUR TROOPS OF EACH SQUAD LINED UP. GENERAL HUTTON THEN RODE UP INTO THE SQUARE WITH HIS STAFF & CHAPLAIN LANE, AND WE HAD CHURCH SITTING IN OUR SADDLES, ARMED TO THE HILT, EACH MAN CARRYING TWO HUNDRED ROUNDS. CLOSING THE SERVICE BY SINGING GOD SAVE THE QUEEN. THEN THE GENERAL ADDRESSED US, HE TOLD US THAT WE WERE AGAIN ON THE MOVE NORTH. WE MAY DO SOME FIGHTING SOUTH OF THE VAAL RIVER & MIGHT NOT:THEN WE WOULD BE IN TOUCH WITH GENERAL FRENCHES COLUMN & ON THE RIGHT FLANK OF THE ENEMY AS BEFORE. WE ARE CARRYING TWO DAY’S GRUB, UNSADDLED ABOUT HALF AN HOUR. NEAR A LITTLE CREEK & NEAR A DAM & MAY STOP FOR THE NIGHT.













MAY 21ST MON.

ON THE MOVE THIS MORNING AT EIGHT. WE EXPECTED TO FIND BOERS IN A POSITION ABOUT FOUR MILES FROM CAMP, BUT DID NOT FIND ANY. CAMPED FOR A FEW MINUTES FOR DINNER NEAR A LARGE DAM. THE COUNTRY IS PRETTY DRY NOT VERY MUCH GRASS & THE FROST ARE MAKING IT WITHER FAST. CAMPED TONIGHT NEAR SOME HOUSES BUT THERE IS AN ORDER NOW AGAINST LOOTING & BURNING. SOME OF THE BOY’S HAVE GOT A BEE HIVE SO WE ARE IN FOR SOME HONEY. I AM SITTING NOW WATCHING OUR THREE HORSES EATING GRASS, WHICH IS VERY GOOD WHERE WE ARE CAMPED TONIGHT. THE BOERS WERE AROUND HERE YESTERDAY. THERE IS A RANGE OF HILLS ABOUT THREE MILES NORTH OF HERE WHERE OUR NEXT SCRAP MAY BE. WE DON’T EXPECT MUCH FIGHTING NOW ON THIS SIDE OF THE VAAL RIVER.
IT IS FINE TO SEE ALL OUR GUNS DRAWN UP IN A LINE & TRAINED ON THE HILL IN CASE OF A SUDDEN ALARM. OUR OFFICERS FOUND A LARGE GRAIN SACK FULL OF TOBACCO & SOME OTHER STUFFWHICH THE BOER ARMY USED AS HARD TACK IN A HOUSE NEAR HERE. WE DIVIDED UP WITH THE MEN.

MAY 22ND TUES

TEN O’CLOCK AND WE WERE SADDLED BY DAYLIGHT. WE GOT AN ORDER TO UNSADDLE & GRAZE UNTIL HALF PAST NINE. WE ARE ON SHORT ALLOWANCE AS OUR TRANSPORT DID NOT COME IN LAST NIGHT.
NOON. WE HAVE JUST CLIMBED A ROCKY HILL & GOT INTO A POSITION WHICH THE BOERS HAVE BUILT.
& ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUPY. WE HAVE HOWEVER GOT HERE FIRST AND SECOND OF 73’S & HAVE GOT ORDERS TO HOLD IT AT ANY COST. IT IS A SPLENDID POSITION; ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED FEET ABOVE THE PLAIN, ALL BUILT UP WITH ROCK BREAST WORK. IF THE BOERS DRIVE US OUT OF HERE, THEY WILL HAVE A HOT TIME, BUT DON’T THINK THEY WILL TRY. WE CAN SEE THE HILLS AROUND THE VAAL RIVER FROM HERE.

MAY 23RD WED.

REVALRY THIS MORNING AT HALF PAST ONE. WE MARCHED IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION. NOW AT EIGHT O’CLOCK WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY BOERS. LORD ROBERTS HAS SENT TO KRUGER ASKING HIM TO SURRENDER AT ONCE & HE WILL MARCH 4000 MOUNTED MEN INTO PRETORIA TO TAKE POSSESSION & NOT MOLEST ANYTHING; BUT IF HE WON’T THE WHOLE ARMY WILL MARCH UP THROUGH THE TRANSVAAL & BURN & DESTROY EVERYTHING.
WE MAY BE ON THE MOVE FOR PRETORIA’S SOON, STILL IN CAMP.














MAY THE 24TH THUR.

STARTED AT DAYLIGHT TODAY AND WAS IN THE SADDLE ALL DAY & DID NOT FEED OUR HORSES TILL AFTER DARK. ARE CAMPED TONIGHT ON THE VAAL RIVER AND GENERAL FRENCH & PART OF HIS CAVALRY IS ACROSS. THE SCOUTS SAY THIS IS THE ONLY CROSSING THAT IS NOT GUARDED. SO WE HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO OUT PLAN THE BOERS WHO ARE MAKING A STAND ON THIS RIVER. WE CELEBRATED THE 24TH TODAY WITH A VENGANCE.






MAY 25TH FRI.

ON OUT POST ALL NIGHT, BUT I HAD A GOOD SLEEP AS I WAS ONE PICKED EARLY IN THE EVENING. THE REASON FOR OUR EARLY MOVE ON WEDNESDAY WAS THAT THE BOERS WERE MAKING A STAND ON THE RAILWAY TO MEET THE INFANTRY & WHEN DAYLIGHT CAME THEY FOUND THAT THEY WERE NEARLY SURROUNDED, SO THEY MADE A HASTY RETREAT ACROSS THE VAAL. I THINK THE GENERAL EXPECTED FIRE WORKS YESTERDAY TO CELEBRATE THE 24TH; BUT WE MAY HAVE THEM TODAY INSTEAD. TEN O’CLOCK HAVE CROSSED THE VAAL AND ARE POSTED ON A HILL OVER LOOKING THE FORD TO PROTECT THE TRANSPORT. A NUMBER OF MASURE RIFLE SHOTS WERE FIRED AWAY TO OUR FRONT THIS MORNING; BUT WE HAVE HEARD NOTHING SINCE. WE ARE ABOUT A MILE INTO THE TRANSVAAL. WE MOVED ABOUT FOUR MILES ALONG THE RIVER THIS MORNING, AFTERNOON TAKING POSSESSION OF A POSITION AS WE WENT ALONG, BUT SAW NO BOERS.
WE ARE PRETTY SHORT OF GRUB TONIGHT NOW & GENERALLY HAVE TO RUSTLE A LITTLE.WE HAD HALF A GOAT BETWEEN FOUR OF US TONIGHT & SOME OF THE FELLOWS IN THE TROOP KILLED AN OX SO WE HAVE HAD A FEAST.


MAY 26YH SAT.

EIGHT O’CLOCK WE ARE STILL IN CAMP BUT SADDLED & READY TO START AT A MOMENTS NOTICE. MOST OF THE TRANSPORT ARE ACROSS THE RIVER. WE ARE ON A HILL AWAY TO THE LEFT OF THE COLOMN. NO BOERS IN SIGHT BUT THE OFFICERS HAVE GOT A NOTICE THAT THERE ARE SOME BEHIND US. COLONAL SHRON WHO IS IN CHARGE OF US HAS BEEN IN COMMAND OF M I THROUGH FIVE CAMPAIGNS HE KNOWS ALL THE ROPES. I GOT TEN ORANGES OFF A TREE THE OTHER DAY & GOT ALL MY HANDS HURT WITH THORNS. THERE WAS QUITE A RUSH ON IT AS THERE WAS ONLY ONE. WE HAVE BEEN LEFT FLANKING PATROL ALL AFTERNOON BUT WE HAVE NOT MADE MANY MILES TODAY. WE HAVE BEEN REINFORCED BY ANOTHER BRIGADE. COLONAL HAMILTON OUR TRANSPORT DID NOT GET UP TONIGHT SO WE HAD TO FALL BACK ON A BOER PIG, BUT A FEED OF FRESH PORK WITHOUT BREAD OR BISCUIT DON’T GO VERY GOOD. WE USED UP A BOER WAGON FOR FIRE WOOD THE FRONT & TWO HUBS MADE A FIRE WHICH WILL LAST ALL NIGHT. WE ARE ON OUTPOST AGAIN WE CAN SEE THE BOER CAMP FIRES ABOUT A MILE AWAY.




MAY 27TH SUN.

WE STARTED AT SUNRISE & MARCHED DOWN TO THE SQUADRON. WE THEN CROSSED BEHIND THE TRANSPORT & TOOK THE RIGHT SIDE. THERE WERE GUNS AHEAD KEEPING UP A SHELL FIRE ALL AFTERNOON. WE ARE CAMPING TONIGHT NEAR THE BOERS CAMP AGAIN & ONE OF OUR POM POMS WAS THROWING SHELLS INTO THEIR CAMP WHEN WE CAME UP.









MAY 28TH MON.

WE ARE UNDER A HEAVY SHELL FIRE AS I WRITE THIS BUT ARE COVERED FROM THE ENEMIES FIRE JUST NOW BY A HILL. WE ARE DISMOUNTED WAITING THE ORDERS TO ADVANCE.
WE ARE NOT HALF A MILE FROM THE ENEMIES GUNS NOW BUT THEY CANNOT BEAR ON US. WE HOWEVER HAD TO RIDE ABOUT A MILE UNDER A HEAVY SHELL FIRE TO GET HERE. A NUMBER OF 1-2 LB SHELLS BURST AMONG US & AS WE NEARED THE COVER TWO POM POMS WERE TURNED ON US AND I CANNOT DESCRIBE THE WHISTLE AND CRASH OF SHELLS. HORSES PLUNGING THROUGH THE DUST, BUT SO FAR AS I KNOW NONE OF THE C.M.R. HAVE BEEN HIT YET TODAY.
WE ARE WITHIN ABOUT TEN MILES OF JOHANSBURG, AND ALL THE HILLS ARE SAID TO BE FULL OF BOERS. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY; AND THROUGH THE SMOKE OF THE PRAIRIE OR VELT- FIRES AS THEY CALL THEM. ONE CAN SEE AT LEAST HALF A DOZEN SMOKE STACKES OF GOLD MINES, SOME OF THEM HAVE STEAM UP & SEEM TO BE WORKING. OUR OWN GUNS ARE AT LEAST HALF A MILE IN REAR OF US & THERE IS SOMETHING GRAND IN THE SCREAM OF THEIR SHELLS AS THEY FLY OVER OUR HEADS ON THEIR MESSAGE OF DESTRUCTION AND DEATH.
MY HORSE PLAYED RIGHT OUT AS WE WERE GETTING UNDER COVER OF THE HILL SO I HAD TO WALK IN.

















MAY 29TH TUE.

THE SUN IS NOT UP YET, AND IT IS RATHER COLD, BUT AS WE EXPECT HARD FIGHTING TODAY, I THOUGHT I HAD BETTER PUT IN YESTERDAY & AFTERNOON. WE GOT ORDERS TO CLIMB THE HILL IN FRONT OF US, LEAVING OUR HORSES WITH THE HORSE HOLDERS AT THE BACK. WHEN WE REACHED THE TOP A FEW RIFLES SHOTS WERE FIRED. AT US, AND THEN OUR ARTILLERY GOT A POSITION ON OUR LEFT AND STARTED SHELLING THE BOERS TO OUR RIGHT THIS ARTILLERY LASTED ALL AFTERNOON WE FIRED UNTILL AFTER DARK AND WE JUST LAY AMONG THE ROCKS, AND WATCHED THEM FROM OUR HIGH POSITION. WE COULD SEE JUST WHAT THEY WERE DOING ON BOTH SIDES. ONE OF THE BOER GUNS WAS A BIG AFFAIR USING BLACK POWDER AND A POUND SHELL; SOME OF THEM HIT PRETTY CLOSE TO OUR GUNS, BUT I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH DAMAGE WAS DONE.
WE GOT ORDERS JUST AT DARK TO HOLD THE HILL ALL NIGHT AND AS ARCHIE AND I HAVE BEEN ON GUARD FOR TWO NIGHTS IN SUCCESSION WE WERE ALLOWED TO SLEEP AND BUNDLE TOGETHER IN A NATURAL BED BETWEEN TWO HIGH ROCKS; IT WAS RATHER NARROW; BUT AS WE WERE TIRED WE HAD A GOOD SLEEP. THE MAJOR SAID “THAT ONE MAN WOULD HAVE TO WALK OUT UNDER COVER OF THE NIGHT; FIVE HUNDRED YARDS TOWARD THE ENEMIES POSITION LAST NIGHT & SEE IF THE WERE ADVANCING.” I ASKED AND GOT LEAVE TO GO. I WENT AWAY OUT NEAR THEIR POSTION BUT DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING.
WE CAN SEE THE BOERS THIS MORNING IN THE SAME POSITION ABOUT A MILE AWAY. ONE OF OUR MAXIMS HAS JUST STARTED ON THEM AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WINDING UP A BIG CLOCK. THE BOERS HAVE ONLY FIRED A FEW RIFLE SHOTS AT OUR SCOUTS. BUT HAVE NOT RETURNED THE MAXIM FIRE YET. WE EXPECT THEY WILL SHELL OUR POSITION TODAY, SO WE ARE GETTING THE BEST POSITION WE CAN. THE ARTILLERY HAS STARTED AGAIN THIS MORNING AND HAS BEEN GOING BACK STEADY EVER SINCE WE GOT OUR ORDERS, BUT WHEN WE HAD GOT OUT ABOUT HALF A MILE, AND BEEN SHELLED; WE AGAIN GOT ORDERS TO RETURN AND HOLD THE SAME POSTION, AND THE RETREAT OF THE OTHER TROOP ACROSS THE RIVER. THERE WAS ONLY ONE SMALL BRIDGE, AND IT TOOK THEM SOME TIME. THE BOERS KEPT SHELLING THEM AT THE BRIDGE A MILE IN OUR REAR; AND THE SHELLS PASSED RIGHT OVER OUR HEADS.
WE GOT AN ORDER TO RETIRE & HOLD THE BRIDGE UNTIL THE LAST OF THE TROOPS GOT THROUGH. JUST AS WE LEFT THE COVER OF THE HILL THEY TURNED THE POM POMS ON US, BUT NONE OF B WAS HIT. AN AMBULANCE HAS JUST PASSED WITH TWO OF THE C.M.R. WOUNDED. ONE HAS A BAD WOUND IN THE SIDE CAUSED BY THE FRAGMENT OF A SHELL.
B SQUAD WAS THE LAST TO RETIRE ACROSS THE BRIDGE. I SUPPOSE THE BOERS THOUGHT THEY WERE DOING IT WHEN THEY SAW US SKIP, BUT OUR COLONAL TOLD US WE WERE ONLY KEEPING THEM ENGAGED UNTILL LORD ROBERTS CAME UP WITH THE HEAVY ARTILLERY. JUST AS WE CROSSED THE BRIDGE WE HEARD THE FIRST REPORT OF ONE OF THE LARGE NAVAL GUNS. IT ONLY TOOK IT A FEW MINUTES TO SILENCE ALL THE BOER ARTILLERY. WE MADE A LONG FLANK MOVE TONIGHT AND MOST OF THE HORSES WERE PLAYED OUT.










MAY 30TH WED.

WE ARE CAMPED NEAR THE PLACE WHERE SURRENDERED TO THE BOERS. IT IS RATHER A GOOD LOOKING PLACE. THERE GOLD MINES ALL AROUND HERE SOME PLACES THE MINES ARE SO THICK THEY LOOK LIKE TOWNS.
WILL MC KEN AND I GOT A PIG BETWEEN US TODAY. MY HORSE IS DEAD PLAYED OUT & I AM BEHIND WITH THE TRANSPORT. A GOOD MANY OF OUR HORSES ARE ON THE SHELF NOW PLAYED OUT.
OUR ADVANCE GUARD CAUGHT SOME BOER PRISONERS & PART OF A CONVOY.

MAY 31ST THUR.

WE ARE CAMPED A FEW MILES N.W. OF JOHANSBURG, AND AS THINGS ARE MOVING NOW WE MAY BE HERE FOR A FEW DAYS.
OUR BOYS HAVE BEEN ON GUARD OVER THE PRISONERS, THERE IS FIFTY-EIGHT OF THEM IN A FARM HOUSE NEAR THE CAMP. ONE OF OUR WAGON S WITH THE COLONAL DROVE INTO JOHANSBURG TODAY. THE WAR SEEMS TO BE AT A STAND STILL NOW, FOR SOME REASON NOT KNOWN TO US. ORDERS TO MARCH AGAIN TODAY.

JUNE 1ST FRI.

THREE OF OUR FELLOWS OF SECOND TROOP WENT TO THE FIELD HOSPITIL THIS MORNING. THE FOURTH TROOP OF B CAN NOT MUSTER MORE THAN HALF THEIR MEN, THE FELLOWS FROM THE WEST SEEM TO STAND IT BEST.
A GUARD OF LANCERS TOOK OUR PRISONERS INTO JOHANSBURG TODAY.
NOON. WE HAVE MARCHED ABOUT SEVEN MILES TO THE N.E. AND ARE CAMPED AGAIN. GENERAL HUTTON FORMED US ALL UP JUST BEFORE WE CAMPED TODAY, AND PRAISED US FOR HOLDING THE HILL THE OTHER DAY UNTIL GENERAL FRENCH GOT HIS CALVALRY AND CONVOY ACROSS THE BRIDGE ON THE

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RIVER. HE SAID, ‘IT WAS VERY PLUCKILY DONE UNDER SUCH HEAVY SHELL FIRE AND REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT ON THE C.M.R. AND THEIR COUNTRY.’ HE ALSO SAID’ THAT THROUGHT THE WHOLE CAMPAIGN THE C.M.R. HAD PROVEN THEMSELVES MEN.’

JUNE 2ND SAT.

SOME SAY THIS MORNING THAT PRETORIA HAS SURRENDERED, BUT IT IS NOT CONFIRMED. WE ARE STILL CAMPED HERE AND WILL REMAIN FOR TODAY.
THE BOYS HAD A WASHING TODAY. WE HAD A FINE STEER THIS MORNING WHICH WE COOKED LAST NIGHT. AND ALL KINDS OF EATABLES OUT OF A MARKET GARDEN NEAR HERE [FOR WE HELPED OUR SELF TO THINGS LIKE THAT}, AND A PIECE OF THE PORK WHICH WE GOT DURING THE NIGHT. I AM ON GUARD AS WE HAVE TO PRESENT ARMS TO ALL CO’S.

JUNE 3RD SUN.

STARTED AT HALF PAST SIX THIS MORNING; SURE START ON A SUNDAY.
WE ARE ON THE WAY TO PRETORIA NOW; WILL NOT GET THERE UNTIL TOMORROW NIGHT. HARDLY KNOW WHETHER WE WILL HAVE A POSITION OR NOT.
I WAS SENT BACK TO THE TRANSPORT WITH A MESSAGE AND AS I HAD TO WASTE SIX HOURS ON THEM I COULD NOT CATCH UP TO MY TROOP AGAIN. MY HORSE IS PLAYED OUT, WE ARE MOVING IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION TODAY, FLANKING AROUND PRETORIA.

JUNE 4TH MON.

I HAD TO CAMP ALONG THE ROAD LAST NIGHT WITH THREE OTHERS WHO LIKE MYSELF HAD FALLEN BEHIND AND COULD NOT CATCH UP.
MY HORSE PLAYED DEAD OUT AFTER DARK. LAST NIGHT AND AS THERE WERE HORSES ABOUT EVERY 50 YDS WHICH HAD BEEN LEFT TO DIE. I BEGAN TO LOOK ABOUT FOR A REMOUNT & DARK AS IT WAS FOUND ONE WHICH CARRIED ME TO CAMP & MAY HOLD OUT FOR A FEW DAYS. WE FOUND AN ORCHARD NEAR OUR CAMP LAST NIGHT & ARE LOADED DOWN WITH ORANGES WE CARRY LEMONS.
WE FOUND SOME FRUIT GROWING ON TREE’S [LIKE ORANGE TREES] AS LARGE AS CITROUS, THEY TASTED ALRIGHT.
JACK DE BALINHARD WAS RAISED FROM PRIVATE TO THE RANK OF SERGENT AT A

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BOUND YESTERDAY, WE ARE ALL PLEASED AS JACK IS A FAVORITE. THERE WERE A FEW SHELLS FIRED AT OUR ADVANCE GUARD LAST NIGHT. GENERAL FRENCH IS JUST PASSING THROUGH OUR CAMP WITH A LARGE BODY OF CALVARY & ARTILLERY. WE ARE ABOUT 18 MILES NORTH WEST OF PRETORIA & THE COUNTRY AROUND IS VERY MOUNTAINIOUS. WE HAVE JUST GOT A HELOGRAPH MESSAGE THAT LORD ROBERTS HAS GOT INTO PRETORIA THIS MORNING & WE ARE CAMPED NOW AT NOON. ON OUR WAY THERE. WE CAN HOWEVER HEAR BIG GUNS IN THE DISTANCE & THAT DOES NOT SOUND IF THE WAR WAS OVER YET. WE PASSED A HILL TODAY WHERE FRENCH SHELLED THE BOERS LAST NIGHT & IT IS REPORTED THAT 30 WERE KILLED. MY NEW HORSE IS STILL WITH ME.

Very Nice Casey.......

Not a common pair and especially with his diary which makes things even better.......

Mike

Thank you for posting this. This is my great Grandfather. His father, Robert Sinclair Sr. brought the family to Canada from Eday Island, Orkney Scotland on September 15, 1884. They boarded the ship "Siberian" at Glasgow to set sail for Canada. They arrived in Yorkton on October 12, 1884. The family consisted of Robert, 54 years of age, his wife Mary, 49; Betsy 19 years old, Robert 18 years, James 15, William 11, and Barbara 8 years old.
For their parts in helping qwell the Northwest Rebellion, Robert Jr and James were granted a military bounty land warrant.

Here are some photos

In later life in Manitoba

My Grandfather Leslie (back left); my Great Grandfather James (right); my Father Harvey (very front)