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....Sergeant David Boyd, of the London Scottish Volunteers, who was with the 3rd Volunteer Service Company, Gordon Highlanders, in South Africa, has been invalided home, and is at present on a visit to Aberdeen. Sergeant Boyd was run over by an ox waggon on 10th November, and from the effects of this terrible injury he has not altogether recovered. Sergeant Boyd belongs to Glasgow, but has been in business in London for some time. When the last company of Gordon Volunteers was called up for service, he went out to the front as sergeant in the London Scottish section. He was with the company during the recent "trek" through the Transvaal, when the Gordons came in for a good deal of arduous work. The 2nd Gordons, to which the Volunteer company was attached, formed part of Colonel Colenbrander's column, which started from Warmbaths, and marched through the heart of the Transvaal. The Gordons had to march on an average about 20 miles a day through the bush veldt, and, as Sergeant Boyd describes them, the bushes were full of thorns. The column was for three months on the trek, and reached a point in Bechuanaland about 218 miles from Mafeking. They had of necessity to cross the Crocodile River into Bechuanaland for fresh supplies. After being re-fitted, the column marched back to Pietersburg. The Volunteer Company of the Gordons kept up splendidly, and Sergt. Boyd has formed a very high opinion of the Aberdeen men, in command of whose section he was latterly placed. He thought highly of the men of the 1st V. B Gordon Highlanders. During the trek they had no engagements, but there was plenty of sniping, and a large number of prisoners was taken. Sergeant Boyd is home on sick furlough, and deeply regrets having had to leave the Volunteer Company. The company is now with the 1st Gordons.
The Aberdeen Journal, Tuesday 30th January 1902