Letters from the Veldt by Craig Stockings

Author:Craig Stockings [Craig Stockings]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Big Sky Publishing

British artillery (15-pounders) in action at Hartebeestfontein. Source: AWM 129020.

Pretoria, South Africa. The scene in the occupied municipal square in celebration of the British capture of the city. Source: AWM A05479.

The fall of the Transvaal capital did not, contrary to the hopes and expectations of many British officers, signal the end of Boer resistance.16 Rather, there remained around 6,000 Boers determined to fight on in the Transvaal under Lois Botha and Koos de la Rey. For two days the Boer leaders debated what to do. Some argued for negotiations, but Christian de Wet’s recent success in the Orange Free State encouraged them to fight on.17 The Boers thus dug in on three nearby ranges – Diamond Hill, Tigrapoort and Klapperkop-Bapsfontein (between Pretoria and the new Transvaal capital of Machadodorp), with outposts as close as a few kilometres from Pretoria on the hills overlooking the Kamelfontein valley. Lord Roberts knew these remaining commandos must be destroyed, but by now his troops were in poor shape. Few units could muster even half their strength, and the loss of horses had been horrific. Nonetheless, plans were made and new orders were drafted.18 Meanwhile, Hutton took the chance to parade his men through Pretoria, a prize he described as worth the effort and the cost it had taken to possess. Yet, like his men, even the indomitable Hutton was wearying of the exhausting advance from Bloemfontein and the war in general. In stark contrast to his earlier excitement he confided in Eleanor that he had ‘no wish to be employed permanently out here’.19

June 10th, 1900, KAMEEL DRIFT BIVOUAC (10 miles northeast of Pretoria)

I sent you two letters upon the 6th instant, through Mr Bennet Burleigh the correspondent of the Daily Telegraph and an old friend of mine. I hope they have reached you, as in them I gave you an account of our share in the operations leading up to and including the occupation of Pretoria.

All I send you is in pure faith and trust that Providence and the General Post Office may deliver the same into your hands later if not sooner. We are beginning to despair of ever getting our mails. There are rumours of bags of mails awaiting us, but as food and clothing are absolutely required for the stomachs and backs of the whole army, which are in the one case partially empty, and in the other case in great measure bare, our letters are not likely to find their way to us yet awhile.

Today is Trinity Sunday, and several of my staff rode in with me to the Cathedral Service, believing it to be at 11.00 am, whereas it took place at 10.00 am, so that, to our great annoyance, we only arrived in time to see the congregation – a very large one – disperse.

The bishop is Dr Bousfield, whom I remember well in ‘81. He was formerly Rector of Andover, and was a really good stamp of priest. The last time I was at the service in

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.