At the end of the 19th Century there was a bitter war in the south of Africa between the ‘Boers’ - Dutch settlers - and members of the British Empire. This happened in the north of what we now know as South Africa - in the two Boer States, Transvaal and the Orange Free State, and the British colonies of Natal and Cape Colony. From every part of the Empire, including Deloraine Tasmania, men took part in the conflict.
In 1886 the discovery of gold at Witwatersrand in the Transvaal initiated a rush of foreigners to the mines. These were mainly British and members of the Commonwealth. The Boers - resented this, calling them “uitlanders". The uitlanders were seen as invaders and denied the vote. With the murder of Tom Edgar - an Englishman - by the Johannesburg police (ZARPS), the image of the Transvaal could not be any worse.
The (so called) uitlanders complained to the British authorities in the Cape, and during the New Year celebrations of 1895-96, Leander Starr Jameson led a raid from Rhodesia into the Transvaal in hopes of creating a uitlander revolt. This failed dismally.
By 1899 negotiations at Bloemfontein had collapsed and the Boers had had enough of the pressure the British were placing them under. The British government on their part were being manipulated by various vested interests within South Africa, statesmen like Alfred Milner and the "gold bugs", men like Cecil Rhodes and Alfred Beit.
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| Cecil Rhodes |
On the 11th October 1899 Boers from the Orange Free State and the Transvaal attacked and laid siege to the the towns of Mafeking, Kimberley and Ladysmith.
By December the British were ready to mount two expeditions, to relieve Kimberley and Ladysmith with the intention that the war would be over by Christmas. However, the Boers had other plans.
Between the 10th and 17th December the British suffered three devastating and humiliating defeats at Stormberg, Magersfontein and Colenso. This became known as the "Black Week" and with other costly battles such as the crossing of the Modder River and Spion Kop, British commanders were slowly realising just how tough the Boer commandos were and how adept they were with modern weapons and the use of terrain.
The rifle crack of the Mauser had sent a wave of outrage and patriotic fervour right across the empire, from Britain, South Africa, Canada and Australia young men volunteered to join in the good fight and defeat the dastardly Boers.
1899.
H Company, Deloraine.
The Tasmanian Infantry Regiment militia had existed in the state from 1878 (originally called the Tasmanian Volunteer Rifle Regiment), it was formed into three battalions, 1st Battalion in Hobart, 2nd Battalion in Launceston and the 3rd Battalion in Burnie. Deloraine fell into the 2nd Battalion and were part of H Company, which also included the towns of Westbury, Longford, Chudleigh and Cressy.
The Launceston Examiner - 9th November.
"It was with the deepest regret the residents of this district read of the British reverses in South Africa, and the cable message telling us of France's joy at our temporary downfall, and Russia's hostile attitude, must cause every thinking person to pause a moment and think of what the present trouble may grow to.
It now behoves us as Britishers to rally round the 'old flag' and show those nations that we are not only prepared to send our unit to the seat of war, but that we are also prepared to defend our own homes, or, if necessary, to follow our comrades to the front.
Ernest A. Woodberry
Ex-Lieutenant, H Company,
Deloraine."
In at the beginning.
The first clash of arms in this second Boer War was at Talana Hill, it was a pyrrhic victory for the British as they could not hold back the Boer advance into Natal, the position at Dundee was now untenable.
The Launceston Examiner, Tuesday 5th December 1899;
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| The retreat from Dundee |
"The Camp At Dundee.
Deloraine Monday.
An item of war news has been received from Mr Phil Farrell, formerly of Deloraine. It is dated 'The Camp, Dundee, 16/10/99', and written in lead pencil, and very hurriedly. He had evidently joined the volunteer forces of Natal, and states they were in a very tight place, and expected to be attacked that night or early in that morning.
It was estimated that there were 16,000 Boers in the vicinity. They had just got orders to move on, and he gave the note to a man going through the town to post, as they expected to be attacked next day: and although there were plenty of reinforcements en route, it was felt that there would be a lot of mischief done before their arrival. In fact, he said, the British were not ready for war.
Accordingly to the detailed report in today's 'Examiner', Dundee was evacuated a few days later, the troops and people marching in a body to Ladysmith, which they reached safely after 36 hours' journey, very weary and exhausted, having been out for two wet nights without shelter".
1900.
A battle of words broke out in the pages of the "Examiner", beginning on the 4th January "Christiana" wrote;
"Sir, Herewith I beg to return the copy you sent me of Kipling's jingle. That, you will say, concerns the business manager; but I will seize this opportunity and ease my mind with a few words concerning this miserable war.
I am a woman, an Englishwoman, and one who loves her country with a deep and true affection. Love of country is a good sentiment, but there is a higher and nobler one - the love of honour, truth, justice, and that 'righteousness that exalteth a nation'.
So on behalf not only of myself, but of many of your readers, I will state that no amount of popular clamour, no skill in the 'art of putting things', no plausibility of statement, no casuistry in argument, will shake our conviction that this is a most unrighteous war, a war of greed and grab".
After refuting claims of being a "little Englander", being "unEnglish" and accusing the Examiner of being a bloodthirsty colonial newspaper, Christiana continued;
"Nothing to my mind is more remarkable than the tone of savagery displayed in a portion of the colonial press towards the brave defenders of the two little republics......Considering that we in Tasmania do not know one of these peasant farmers, have never seen them and can look for no advantage from all this prodigious amount of blood shedding.
Take back then your bonnie barrack room ballad and let me recall some line of solemn warning, no less true than beautiful, lest we forget, as we seem to be doing".
The editor of the Examiner was the first to have his say;
"We publish our correspondent's letter as a matter of courtesy, but it might be asked what the 'brave defenders of the two little republics' are doing on British soil, harrying British homes, and besieging British towns? Surely her hatred of war and all appertaining thereto must have blinded her to one of the most prominent facts in connection with the campaign".
Many letters followed, mainly denouncing the pro Boer sentiments of Christiana, Mr Bill Adkins of Deloraine wrote on the 6th January;
"Re Christiana's letter which appeared in your issue of Thursday, I shall sum her up simply by saying 'she don't know where she are', and it would only be a waste of time to enter into an argument with such a person.
It is a thousand pities she was not in that truck that carried so many helpless women and children from the Transvaal, and who received so many insults at the hands of the Boers. She might have had a different tale to tell now.
Enclosed is 1s for the 'jingle' cold hearted Christiana returned, also 2s 6d for one copy, which please send on to Bill Adkins".
On the 19th January "Pax" of Deloraine wrote;
You might raise some other quibble in order to save your skins. The man who excuses the Boer cruelties to women on the grounds that the artificial respect for the sex is the result of artificial civilisation might well do as you are doing - hide his name for very shame.
Lecture At Deloraine.
The Daily Telegraph - 12th February.
The Deloraine Town Hall was well filled by an appreciative audience on Wednesday evening last who had assembled to hear Rev. W. J. Eddy's lecture on 'Briton v. Boer,' which was delivered by the Rev lecturer in his usual attractive manner. The proceedings commenced with songs by various local talents, Mr H. Sherriff singing 'Home boys, home', and Miss Abey rendering 'The Pardon Came Too Late', and others also gave patriotic songs.
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| Rev. Walter J. Eddy |
After the singing, the lecture, illustrated by lantern slides representing South African scenes, was delivered. Photos of numerous prominent figures in the present war were shown, those of popular favourites, such as General White and Colonel Baden-Powell, being heartily cheered in fact the lecture was frequently interrupted by vigorous and spontaneous applause, which was frantic when views of the Tasmanian contingents were thrown on the screen.
As a contrast, President Kruger's photo, was noted by a silence which might almost be felt. The lecture closed with the National Anthem. The proceeds, which must have been considerable, were divided between the Baptist Church and the Imperial Patriotic Fund.
Feeling in the country - Deloraine.
The Examiner - 26th February.
"The Patriotic Fund Committee met yesterday afternoon at the Council Chambers, and the secretary reported that the subscriptions were coming in freely, the amount to date on hand and promised being £105.
The Union Jack Society is making a systematic cavass of the district, and up to the present has collected upwards of £16. Next week a meeting will be held at Chudleigh to form a branch there.
Last evening upon the arrival of the train news was received to the effect that Ladysmith had been relieved and Cronje and a large army of Boers captured. Needless to say, the excitement was intense, everyone thinking that the end of the war was near. The committee who had the pyrotechnic display in hand decided to wait for confirmation of the report, and this morning's paper proved that someone had been a bit previous, although the news is good on the whole.
Such reports have had a bad effect on the community, causing many of us to indulge in much talk and congratulations all round. The young folks, however, took the news in earnest, and soon had a bonfire blazing, and, with a supply of fireworks, had a good time, indulging to their hearts' content in cheers for the British and groans for the Boers".
The Relief Of Ladysmith.
The Northwestern Advocate & The Emu Bay Times - 3rd March.
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| The Relief Of Ladysmith |
"Deloraine.
The relief of Ladysmith was the cause of general rejoicing here yesterday. Processions formed by the children attending the various schools marched through the town with flying banners, cheering as only young Tasmanians can.
Mr R. P. Furmage provided them with tea and lollies. At noon several shops were closed, and last night bonfires were burning and a good time was spent. But in the midst of all expressions of regret were heard that Major Cameron is a wounded prisoner in the hands of the Boers."
The Second Contingent.
The Tasmanian Mail - 5th March.
"The men who have volunteered for service are now in barracks undergoing a strict course of drill. They are a strong body of men, and are said to be better marksmen that the previous 80 who left the colony. Their ages range from 19 to 35 years, and only one member of the detachment is married."
From Deloraine there was;
Sergeant J. Stagg
Corporal (soon to be Sergeant) C. Beresford
Private J. W. Johnson
A Report From Sergeant Beresford.
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| SS Moravian leaving for South Africa |
The Daily Telegraph - 20th March.
"Sergeant Cyril Beresford, son of Superintendent Beresford, of Deloraine and Westbury Police, makes lengthy reference in letters to the voyage of the SS Moravian, he writes;
We left Melbourne on the 23rd January, receiving a splendid send off by the Melbourne folks. After leaving port we all had to buckle down to work. The duties of guard were then commenced. The guards were mounted with eighteen men, a sergeant, and a corporal, and had to do twenty four hours - two hours on and four hours off.
The duties of the sentries to see that the horses were kept alright. The New South Wales men had to do duty on every other day. Those men who were not on guard were put through a series of drill, doing about five hours with the rifle, and one hour physical exercise".
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| Bushmen and their kit |
He goes on the mention the other duty rosters such as first parade, meal times for both men and horses, drill and inspections.
"When the officers have finished their night rounds a lot of the snoring ceases and the fellows start their pranks. This consists of imaginary drilling in the bunks. Sometimes they get up and go round the various bunks of their companions, and if the unfortunate occupants are asleep they suffer with black faces and sometimes the expression 'God speed and safe return' with hideous caricatures. This generally leads to ill feeling. On Sunday there are two church parades and holy communion.
On the 14th February we met HMS Tartar, she brought dispatches which were the means of our altering course, we also received the news that the besieged cities had not been relieved.
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| HMS Tartar |
February 21st, we found Cape Town a magnificent place only for the dust, which is blinding. The Table Mountain is very pretty, and to see the nightcap come over it at dusk is a wonderful sight. Shortly after landing we got orders to proceed inland, and are now at Green Point. We have about 4000 men in our camp, and at drilling they move like clockwork.
Among those with us are several wounded, mostly shot in the leg, but not seriously, and it is surprising to see how eager they are to go to the front again. Among them are some of the Black Watch who fell in the engagement when General Wauchope met his fate (Magersfontein, 11th December 1899). As the first Tasmanian Contingent have been mounted we have to follow suit, and as our fellows are mostly good horsemen I have no doubt they will acquit themselves in the saddle.
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| Green Point Camp |
We have just received orders to be in readiness to entrain for farther inland. I expect up to the firing line. Before I close I must not omit to mention the hospitality of the Cape Town people. We were lavished with all good things, and besieged for the buttons on our uniforms".
News From The Front.
The Daily Telegraph - 24th April.
"Writing from Victoria West, South Africa, dated 21st March, Private L.W Johnstone, late of Deloraine, says;
'At 4 o'clock yesterday morning we were routed out for a quick march to a village nine miles from here. It was rough travelling, but we got over it in two hours. We did some skirmishing in the forenoon, and lay in the trenches during a terrible thunderstorm in the afternoon.
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| Australians on the march |
A thunderstorm here is a different kind of thing to those we have experienced in Tasmania. The Boer's did not come near enough to us to get a shot at them, and at 6 o'clock in the evening we were ordered back to camp, which we did not reach until 9.
For outpost duty we have 4 hours on and 2 hours off, so while I have a little time I am writing instead of sleeping. One of our chaps fired two shots at some natives who were running in to get away from the Boers, and who did not understand the sentry's challenge. I was nearly shot myself by mistake through getting first into the trenches on a night alarm, and being mistaken for a Boer when the others arrived. Having discontinued shaving, I have a good crop of whiskers; some of the fellows call me 'The Nigger', others 'The Jap.'
The Duke Of Edinburgh's Own Volunteers are camped with us here. One of them tried to shoot their major the other night. Our guard collared him and put him in the guard tent until morning when he was forwarded to the Cape. I was one of those who helped to wait on Cronje and his four thousand Boers. From the latter I got several little things, a beautiful belt and a great number of badges. I have been offered a good price for them, but I would not part.
Lord Kitchener was here one day. He is a very plain man with none of the colonial 'side' about him. A nephew of Lord Roberts is with us. He is a splendid fellow. This is a strong climate, from 105 to 112 degrees (42c) in the shade in the day and the coldest hole I was ever in at night. You cannot get warm, try how you will. I have been ill with dysentery, but not as ill as some of the others. Remember me kindly to all at home".
The Relief Of Mafeking.
The Examiner - 24th May.
"Deloraine.
Some of the residents of Deloraine did not forget to give the youngsters another shilling for their crackers and their squibs, and helped to build a bonfire on the green. The result was that last evening the children formed a procession and marched through the town singing patriotic songs and cheering Baden-Powell to the echo.
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| The Deloraine memorial to Baden-Powell and Mafeking |
They adjourned to the parade ground, where fireworks were distributed ad lib, a large quantity being supplied by the warden (Dr Cole). After giving the youngsters a real good time, which doubtless will plant a loyal spirit in their hearts and make them feel they are 'soldiers of the Queen,' a great number of adults wended their way to the town hall to take part in the social.
Dancing was kept up till a late hour, and all seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Outside the hall the street was illuminated with Chinese lanterns and torches, and presented a pretty sight".
Pretoria and Johannesburg Fall.
The Examiner - 1st June.
"In The Country - Deloraine.
There was great excitement here on the receipt of the news that Pretoria had been abandoned. This evening bells are ringing, guns and fireworks being discharged, and everyone is jubilant. A patriotic meeting was held at the Deloraine Hotel, when the Queen, Lord Roberts and Kitchener, and Major Cameron were toasted.
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| The Deloraine Hotel |
Patriotic songs were sung, and a splendid speech was given by Mr R.P Furmage, who said that the war had wiped out seven years of insults which he endured in South Africa".
Poking fun at the celebrations, The Mercury - 9th June.
"Deloraine was lively for a couple of evenings last week, for we had hardly recovered from the stir caused by the receipt of the news that Johannesburg was captured, when along comes word that Pretoria was abandoned by the Boers, who, led by old Kruger, were like the swine of old, rushing headlong down to the sea as if the Devil was after them, if not in them.
News like this was not to be taken quietly, or even with a semblance of decorum, and it was not long before several local residents were filled with enthusiasm and other stuff, calculated to make a man feel happy as if he had just won first prize in a 'Tattersall' sweep, and speeches were frequent, and painful, and free.
But by the time the principal actors in this demonstration drama - it wouldn't be polite to call it a farce - had got their heads again to fit their hats, news was to hand that the Boers were still alive and kicking in Pretoria. However, something must be done to keep up the war excitement, and a meeting was held here on the 4th, and a committee, comprising five clergymen and 20 laymen, appointed to carry out a big demonstration when peace is declared".
Died From Disease.
Zeehan And Dundas Herald - 16th June.
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| A military hospital, South Africa |
"Private R.P Pitt of Tasmania, at Norvalspont, of enteric fever.
Private Ronald Philip Pitt was the second son of Mr Frank Pitt, an old and respected resident of Deloraine, and a grandson of the late Mr H. A. F. Rooke, of The Retreat, Deloraine.
Deceased was a fine manly fellow of five and twenty and served in the Deloraine Company of the Defence Force for some time. After leaving Deloraine he was for about two years at Queenstown, and subsequently came on to Zeehan, where he was employed at the mine.
When applications were invited for volunteers for South Africa he was among the first to tender his services, but not being a member of the local company he was not accepted. But on the second contingent being sent and Captain Morrisby becoming aware of the identity of young Pitt, he strongly recommended him for service, and Mr Pitt was duly enrolled".
Arrival of the Imperial Bushmen.
The Examiner - 12th July.
"Corporal H. R. Reynolds, of Deloraine, a member of the Tasmanian section of the Imperial Bushmen's Regiment, writes from the SS Manhattan, dated 4th June.
We are arrived at Beira, after waiting outside the bar from 8am until 3pm for the tide. We got close up to the pilot barge, and they sent two blacks in a small boat for a pilot, about 12 miles each way. It was wonderful to see the pace they came back at after pulling hard for 24 miles. There were about 15 ships of one sort or another, consisting of two English gunboats, one Portuguese gunboat, nine transports, and various other vessels.
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| H. R. Reynolds |
On Thursday we received word to go on to Durban. The New South Welshmen and Victorians are camped about 11 miles out of Beira, there being in all about 3000 troops - 1000 Imperial Yeomanry, 1500 Australian Bushmen and 500 New Zealanders, besides artillery. The other Bushmen - the 3rd Contingent - are about 100 miles inland. All aboard are pleased with our move, hoping to soon be in active work with General Buller.
We arrived at Port Natal at 7am, and hardly dropped anchor before the news came that Pretoria had fallen. Everyone aboard was more disappointed than glad, because we cannot help looking on it as the practical end of the war. All are waiting to hear what our next move is, there are 15 transports besides our own, and one lying close to us has Boer prisoners aboard.
9th June. We are still out at Port Natal, we are feeling very sick of the ship and longing to have a go at the Boers. We hear they are still anxious to fight it out to the bitter end, let them. They are only putting a rope around their own necks, as the saying is. One must admire the way they are willing to fight and die for their country, even when they must see it is a hopeless task they are setting themselves".
Trooper Johnstone Writes Home From The Front Line.
The Northwestern Advocate & The Emu Bay Times - 22nd September.
"Trooper A. A. Johnstone, of the Imperial Bushmen, writes to his mother at Deloraine.
Slabbet's Pass, 13th August. Since I last wrote to you, from Lindley, I have had a great deal of experience in warfare and am lucky to say I came through it all without one scratch as I told you in my last letter, which I hope got to you safely.
I told you about the two days fighting before we got to Lindley. Our forces consisted of Australians, two companies of the Staffordshires, S. and W. Australians and Tassies. When we got to Lindley, General Paget who was guarding the town, told us that we had just arrived in time to save him; later, and he would have had to surrender.
The day before we relieved him the Boers had him hard pressed; their guns were too long range for his. They nearly got into the British trenches. They were dressed in Yeomanry uniforms taken from prisoners. The British thought they were their own men, but rushed the trenches and kept them back as soon as they discovered who they were. We stayed in Lindley two days.
On the 1st July another Tasmanian and myself were sent with a dispatch to General Clements, a distance of 10 miles. We left Lindley at 5pm. I had a good horse, and I did not spare him I can tell you. When we were about 5 miles darkness came on, we then camped until daylight. We then struck the trail of the convoy, and followed the marks. There were about 400 wagons and four miles of convoy, so it is easy to trace them.
We got to General Clements camp at 8am. We stayed with the Brigade going towards Bethlehem; that was one week I was with General Clements, while with him I was attached to Brabant's Horse, they have done so much good work during the war, we had a scrap every other day until we got within 5 miles of Bethlehem.
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| Patrolling with Brabant's Horse |
On the 7th July we started off again and moved to the right flank of the town. We had gone about 3 miles when the Boers opened a fearful rifle fire on us; then we galloped with the guns to a suitable position and got 6 guns at work - four 12 pounders and two 13 pounders - with two lyddite guns. These guns throw 50lb each time they fire; it's a glorious sight to see the shells burst on the kopjes.
They use these guns to to move the Boers out of their positions; the other guns cannot get at them. I have seen what I longed to see now. It was wonderful to see the Royal Irish charge the kopjes. They had to go over a lot of burnt ground, so the Boers shot the poor fellows as they liked; they killed eight and wounded 25. I think that was all the casualties we had getting in.
They captured one of the Boer guns and a lot of ammunition. The enemy could not get away with it quick enough; the Royal Irish were too soon on them; I rode over the field after it was over, it was a pitiful sight. One poor man, just as he got to the top of the kopje was shot dead, he had his bayonet fixed ready for a charge. Another poor fellow was lying down, and by all appearances had just lifted his head to see them when he was shot through the head.
On 4th July the fight ended, and at 3pm we entered the town. At 4pm I went with the Captain and Major around the town getting all the arms we could find, and any house that was empty we broke in. On the 9th July General Paget came to Bethlehem with the Australians, so I joined them again. We stayed in Bethlehem one week, and then joined Hunter's Brigade, who came into town four days after General MacDonald of the Highland Brigade (The Black Watch); they are a fine lot of fellows.
On the 15th July we left Bethlehem with 3 brigades. We travelled about 10 miles when we came across De Wet's commando. We got around them and cut them off, but he was very cunning and got away that night. Next morning we divided the Tassies, Yorks and Staffords under General Barton, and started with the enemy convoy for Winburg, a distance of 60 miles, which took us a fortnight there and back. On the road we passed through Senekal each way, when we got back the British had captured 8000 Boers.
We stayed at Slabbet's Pass until General Paget came along, he had 2800 prisoners with him, and we went to escort the prisoners to Winburg. They were all riding with the exception of 400, who were in wagons.
I have never regretted coming, as I have seen a great deal since leaving Tasmania. I have not seen any papers up here, I hope to see Pretoria and Kimberley and other places before long. Len Hutton (Sheffield) met his brother as soon as we arrived at Kroonstad, he had a great surprise as he thought Jack was shot. The latter was with the 2000 prisoners released from Pretoria. He joined our contingent.
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| Dennis Gleeson |
We have one of our sergeants down with fever. Dennis Gleeson was taken with rheumatism, and poor Arthur Viney got hurt with a horse, he was left with Gleeson in the Winburg Hospital. I think the war is near at an end. I was talking to one of the Boer prisoners, and he said there was not much fear of them trying to escape as they were quite sick of the war. You cannot trust them, they are a fearful looking race of men, old and young fight; there are some as old as eighty years of age amongst them.
At Winburg we were served out with remounts from the Boer horses, while picking them out the Boers were looking on, and it was laughable to see them jabbering on to each other. I am in splendid health. Love to all at home".
Corporal H. R. Reynolds Writes From The Front.
The Examiner - 18th October.
"Corporal H. R. Reynolds, of Deloraine, writing from Smaldeel, on the main line of rail, August 12th, gives an outline of the doings of the Imperial Bushmen subsequent to their entry into Bethlehem.
The letter follows the lines of others that have been already published. Speaking of the power of lyddite, he says in regard to the fighting at Slabbert's Nek; 'One lyddite shell hit right on one man and blew him to atoms. They say the Boers found one of his feet and buried it. It was all they could find. One of our men picked up part of his chin with the beard on it, and the spot was one mass of churned up clothes and earth.'
Describing a scene at Senekal Corporal Reynolds writes; 'We arrived here as escort to 2500 of the Boer prisoners who surrendered with Prinsloo at Fouriesburg, and General Paget allowed the women to come into camp to see their husbands and brothers. It was a very touching scene. Naturally we came in for some hard looks and words, but they never thought of the soft nosed explosive, and poisoned bullets they fired at us.
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| Boer Prisoners |
Trooper Brown has a bandolier taken from them in which two clips (10 rounds) of bullets were poisoned and rolled in paper to prevent it being rubbed off. These are the men their women folk ask us to let loose, and it is they who, in many cases, edged them on to fight. In talking to some of the prisoners I find they are glad the war is nearly over, or at least that they have done with it.
But if they are half as bad as they look one cannot believe what they say. They are without doubt, the lowest cast of men I ever saw, with very few expectations, and by all accounts they are even more ignorant than they look".
Trooper Johnstone at the Battle of Warmbaths.
The Northwestern Advocate & The Emu Bay Times - 26th October.
"Trooper A. A. Johnstone writes to his brother in Deloraine;
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| Christian De Wet |
Waterfall, 20th September. Just a few lines to tell you how I'm getting on. I have written several letters since I have been on the battlefield. The last was at Bethlehem and told of my experience travelling 4000 miles in the Orange Colony after De Wet, the great guerilla leader as he is called. They are right, for he is a slippery customer.
After the capture of Prinsloo, we went to Smaldeel and took a train to Pretoria and arrived on the 16th August, I was pretty taken aback with it; I expected to see a large town, but I do not think it's much bigger than Devonport. There are some beautiful buildings and some very inferior, and it is very sandy and dusty; in fact, these towns seem to be all alike.
Before leaving to go north after the Boers we marched past Lord Roberts, and he congratulated us for our work in the field. When out 12 miles from Pretoria we came on Boers again behind kopjes, the same as they were in the Orange Colony. They will not come out into the open to fight; they only stayed about 4 hours and had one big gun that threw a 40lb shell. We had 440 Yeomanry with us from Pretoria who had not been in action before, and were put in advance.
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| Boer commando in action |
When we came to a safe distance from the kopje we waited with the guns until the Yeomanry went about 4000 yards the other side of the hills through the pass. The Boers opened fire on them and cut some of them off. We could see them from where we were standing galloping away, the Boers after them. Then the British open fire with pom poms, also with rifles and supporting guns. We were about 100 yards away from them.
The shells are mostly fired at the big guns, you can hear them whistling through the air before they reach their destination. If they burst they bury in the ground to a depth of 3 feet. But our artillery knocks them out when they find where the Boers have their guns placed; they can get the range on the second shot, and soon blew up the Boers guns and made them retire.
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| British Artillery in action |
We continued to march through the pass on to Waterval. Our Sergeant Major and six men went onto a small hill ahead of the main body. The Boers again opened fire on them, and they had to take cover inside a kaffir kraal, that is a kaffirs house built with sods and thatched with grass. We had to gallop hard to save them from being taken prisoners. The Boers seeing us coming opened fire, we exchanged a few shots with them at about 1500 yards distance. There were 20 Boers and only 16 of us.
We saved our own men from being taken then we retired to camp for the night, next morning at 2 we followed them up, travelling until 9, then came onto them again. We were in advance when they open fire upon us, and as they were up trees we could not see them for some time. When we dismounted and took cover behind some rocks we saw one man up a bushy tree; he shot one of the Wiltshires and wounded another, then one of the same regiment shot him dead and he fell among the limbs of the tree, the Boers then retired.
We had three casualties on our side. We found two Boers dead and one wounded, the wounded man said it was one of those 'horrid bushmen' that had shot him in the neck, they do not like us chaps because we get after them so quickly. This place is called Hammon's kraal, General Baden-Powell came up with his brigade, nearly all cavalry, a lot of them were with him at Mafeking. Going on another 4 miles one of our chaps, Cooper, was wounded. We camped for the night and next day moved onto Pienaar's River.
I stayed back with eight other Tassies while General Baden-Powell marched to Warmbaths, galloping most of the way. We stayed at Warmbaths for five days. On the 1st September 20 of the Tassies and 10 others went on patrol duty through a pass, and we ran right into the Boer lines. They opened fire on us. There were four men in advance, and three out of the four were wounded. It was the hottest corner any of our troops have been in yet.
I thought it was all up for us that time, we had to gallop for dear life as the Boers tried to cut us off. We had a 6 mile gallop to reach safety. I think the war will be over soon as they have been defeated in every battle, they are cowardly fellows. I do not intend to stay here after the war is over, as it will be very unsettled for a long time".
Trooper Johnstone.
The Northwestern Advocate & The Emu Bay Times - 19th November.
"Trooper Johnstone writes to his sister in Deloraine;
Transvaal, 29th September. I received your letter dated 29th May on September 20th, being the long wished for and welcome letter. I am glad to hear you are all well. As the Boers have captured two lots of mail going from Pretoria to Cape Town I expect some of my letters are among them, as I have written as often as possible.
Since my last letter we've been out to Crocodile River under General Plumer. We expected when we got there to have a great battle, but to our surprise the Boers had cleared out. We only had a few snipers left to annoy us in a farmhouse. They were instantly fired on, one being killed and another wounded in the shoulder. We captured 15 of the Boers and burnt several houses. We brought them back to Waterval and then went onto Hammon's Kraal after Erasmus, a Boer commander.
We have about 4000 cavalry, and 150 infantry, and two big guns, two batteries and Canadian battery guns, so we expect to give them a good shaking up. We went with Plumer to Syuvrand Kraal, again we were close on the Boers. They were forced to leave cattle and sheep on the road as they went; they also left women and children in wagons. It is distressing to see them.
We rushed them along 5 miles further and had a little rifle shooting and a few shells when our General sent out to tell them to surrender. Erasmus came in under a white flag, and said he would surrender providing Botha had resigned. Paget gave him 6 days to find out if he had resigned, so we have been resting.
If they do not surrender we are going to burn all farm houses as we go along and take the women and children to Pretoria. I met Morris Best (Sheffield) at Kroonstad, he said he'd had the fever but was all right. If I am spared to return home I will be able to tell you many interesting tales and of the rough times since leaving old Tassie".
Deloraine, ready and willing to fight!
The Tasmanian Mail - 26th December.
"It is understood that more than one of our local brave defenders have volunteered for South Africa. I am at least in a position to say that Private Leslie Johnstone has done so, and he is very anxious to go. This is as it should be, for there are men in Deloraine ready and willing to fight where fighting is to be done, and if the Government would liberally assist the formation of a cavalry corps there would, as I once before mentioned, be no difficulty in raising a hundred good horsemen in this and the neighbouring districts.
As for some of our 'life loyalists', we might mount them on he-goats to guard their own firesides while they indulge in jingoistic blow."
1901.
The Mercury - 5th January.
"Ulverstone. Our correspondent writes;
John Miller, of Deloraine, who has been selected for the contingent now forming for South Africa, passed through here today for Hobart".
Mr Griffin, a man with a grievance.
The Daily Telegraph - 12th March.
"May I crave space in the columns of 'the people's paper' to ventilate a people's grievance? Much discontent exists in Hobart over the appointment of Sub-Lieutenant Brent, a 'raw recruit', over the heads of men who have seen active service. Well, the Hobart people are not alone in their discontent.
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| Sgt. James Shaw |
We want to know, and mean to know, why Sergeant James Shaw, of the Australian Imperial Bushmen, who, at great risk of life and limb, rescued a comrade in arms (Trooper Littlejohn), under a hail of Boer bullets, between Lindley and Kroonstad, in July last, and was allowed to return to his native place last week a limping invalid without so much as a DSM, if not a VC, to adorn his manly chest.
Sergeant Shaw might not be a member of Tasmania's pseudo-aristocracy, but he is as good a man, in everything that is manly, as anyone who can justly lay claim to such a distinction. It was with extreme pleasure some time back I read in a letter from my nephew, Trooper J.T. Griffin, the following sentence; 'Jim Shaw is the best man among us. He is a dashing, daring horseman, always there when wanted.'
Yes he was always there when wanted until a bad fall from his horse injured one of his knees and he was invalided home. And what a homecoming Shaw's was! Not a soul to meet him, and bid him welcome (his family no longer live in the area) at the local railway station of all those 'stay at home soldiers'? Who indulge in such talk, but were not talking any when Shaw and his comrades volunteered for South Africa.
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| Trooper James Griffin |
Shaw has to go to the Launceston Hospital for a couple of months, and may get leave to return to South Africa, when fit again for active service. Perhaps some day we shall know more about why his bravery was not rewarded, as it most certainly should have been.
D. D. Griffin, Deloraine, 11th March."
Trooper J.E. Warburton, Killed In Action.
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| Trooper J. E. Warburton |
The Northwestern Advocate & The Emu Bay Times - 15th May.
"Lieutenant Colonel E. T. Watchorn, who is in command of the fifth and sixth Tasmanian contingents, has cabled to the Minister of Defence that Trooper J. E. Warburton, of Westbury, died of his wounds yesterday. Trooper G. E. Saunderson (Penguin) and the deceased were yesterday reported wounded".
Troops Return.
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| Sgt. H.F. Davis |
The Northwestern Advocate & The Emu Bay Times - 29th July.
"The Premier is advised from the staff office, Adelaide, that the following members of the Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen are returning from South Africa on board the troopship Britannic".
Those from Deloraine were;
Sergeant H. F. Davis
Trooper D. Gleeson
Trooper A. A. Johnstone.
Waratah.
The Mercury - 21st August.
"A crowd assembled at the railway station to welcome home three more of our returned troopers, namely Troopers Green, Haynes and Kenworthy. A very hearty reception was given to them. Lieutenant Jones welcoming them for the townspeople, and in the evening a banquet was tendered them. Farrier Sergeant Shaw of Deloraine was also a guest, and a most enjoyable evening was had".
H Company Training.
The Examiner - 6th September.
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| Training with a Maxim Gun |
"Captain Heritage visited the Deloraine detachment of H Company, Second Battalion, which is now under under the command of Lieutenant Drew, of Westbury. The men of the Deloraine detachment are attending drill better now than they have been for some time past. The Maxim gun attached to the headquarters company was used at the rifle butts on Saturday afternoon, the squad in charge of the weapon being instructed in ball firing".
H Company, Equipement Missing!
The Daily Telegraph - 17th September.
"Second Battalion Tasmanian Infantry Regiment.
Headquarters, Launceston .
17th September 1901.
Whereas certain of the arms and equipment on charge to the Deloraine detachment H Company have not yet been returned to store in accordance with orders issued on 28th August, 1901.
Notice is hereby given to all persons who may have any Government or regimental property on charge to this detachment in their possession that they are to return the same forthwith to Major C. J. L. Smith.
Any person failing to comply with the above will be proceeded against under the Defence Act.
By order,
Francis B. Heritage, Captain Adjutant".
Memorial For Private Pitt.
The Daily Telegraph - 4th December.
'The comrades of H Company, Deloraine of the late Roland Pitt, who died of enteric fever in South Africa, have procured an enlarged photograph of their late comrade, which is to be hung in the Public Reading Room. The enlargement will be shown at the Industrial Exhibition here next Wednesday".
1902.
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| A "Rice" Blockhouse. |
At this point in the war a system of blockhouses, interlocked with barbed wire fences was completed, and columns of mounted infantry were used to "steamroller" the Boers into them. Many were caught but the Boer "Bittereinders" fought on tenaciously. Also, the terrible conditions in the British concentration camps had embarrassed the military authorities (approximately 1 in 4 inmates had died), but this was not a deliberate act, the camps were to improve dramatically but the damage was done, 47,900 people died.
Hay for South Africa.
The Mercury - 3rd April.
"Messers. Bloch and Co., of Deloraine, were the contractors for supplying 1000 tons of hay, which has been obtained through Messers. Morgan and Co, of Hobart. There exists at present some uncertainty as to whether the whole 1000 tons can be placed on board the Englishman. If any hay is left behind it will be sent on by the next transport".
On the 31st May 1902 the Boers surrendered.
H Company Honours Returned Servicemen.
The Daily Telegraph - 30th June.
"A social to welcome home several returned troopers from South Africa was held at Deloraine on Thursday night. The troopers were welcomed by the Warden and Mr M'Donough on behalf of the citizens of Deloraine, and by Major Smith and Lieutenant Learoyd, on behalf of the Company.
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| Deloraine Town Hall, now the Little Theatre |
During the evening presentations were made to the members of H Company, of the Second Battalion, who went to South Africa, and to Major Smith on his retirement from the Company.
Those who received presentations were; Sergeants Beresford and Stagg, Privates H. Wilkinson, A. Johnstone, D. Gleeson, and L. Johnstone. There were about 15 returned troopers present. Dancing was kept up until 3 in the morning, Major Smith and Lieutenant Learoyd acting as masters of ceremonies, and Mr George W. Cameron as secretary of the entertainment".
Lieutenant Learoyd took command of H Company in October 1902.
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| The Deloraine Mafeking Memorial Plaque and Tree |
