Part 5: Billy on World Events - Beginning of the Boer War
December 1899 (last entry in the diaries)
Just now England, or rather the British Empire, is engaged in a
fierce and bloody war with the Transvaal and Orange Free State,
after considerable “argument” over the grievances of the
“uitlander” population which I thought to be merely the excuse for
England’s interference. The S.A.R. took the initiative by virtually
declaring war. The Orange Free State took the side of its sister
republic and with the two England has found a very stubborn enemy.
There have been several engagements. The Boers have overrun Natal
and shut up three English forces at Ladysmith, Mafeking and
Kimberly. Apparently they hold the upper hand yet. We have lost a
rare lot of men killed, wounded, missing. The latter term
apparently means taken prisoner. There have been exceptional losses
among officers. Two general have been killed (Penn-Symonds and
Wauchope) to say nothing of Colonels, Majors and “Subs”. General
White is in command at Ladysmith where he was forced to retire
after a battle, having apparently been caught in a trap by getting
in a valley with his troops, making fine targets for the Boers on
the hills. That also seems to have been the fate of other generals.
Generals Gatacre and Lord Methuen have both met with serious
reverses, the latter after two successful fights. But the hope of
England was centred on Sir Redvers Buller, the Commander in Chief
of the South African Field Force. The popular opinion was that when
Buller “struck the blow”, he would compensate for previous losses,
but to the intense surprise and mortification of everyone, news was
received about the defeat (in plain English) of his force at Moddar
River. Lost a lot of lives again and a battery of artillery (the
second we have lost). Since then no very important news has been
received except the terrible “lists”.
Colonel Plumer’s attempt to relieve Mafeking, 21 March 1899, from
H. W. Wilson, With the Flag to Pretoria: A History of the Boer War,
1899-1900, London, 1901. CHAPTER XXV.
Source: The Pine Tree Web, Photo credit.
But the last defeat has seemed to wake up the whole country. Lord
Roberts (who has lost his son) has been given command and Lord
Kitchener is to be Chief of Staff. Both are now en route (the
latter has just crushed Mahdism in the Soudan and killed the
Khalifa who with his dervishes died the death of brave men whether
they were good or bad).
A great many of the Army Reserve were called out early in the war.
Now all are ordered up, militia also. Further, the War Office,
apparently just realising the magnitude of their task, have
accepted help from the Volunteer Forces. having previously refused
it as far as English volunteers were concerned though there are
many colonials at the front. The work of selecting men from the
various corps is being pushed forward. There is also in formation a
regiment of yeomanry which I hear is to be 10,000 strong. The City
of London has gone ahead in the matter and is raising a force of
Volunteers already nicknamed “The Lord Mayor’s Own”. They will
equip and send them out free of charge to the War Department and
each man is to be given the freedom of the city. As might be
supposed, there’s no lack of candidates.