Topic: BW - NSW - Lancers
Boer War - New South Wales
New South Wales Lancers
DAILY LIFE IN CAMP
Daily Life in Camp
[From: Town and Country Journal, 10 February 1900, p. 38.]
The full story is transcribed below.
Daily Life in Camp
CONSTANT SKIRMISHES.
EFFECTS OF SHELL FIRE.
DE AAR (SOUTH AFRICA). January 4, 1900.
Right along the western frontier the various British columns seem to have decided to mark time until the arrival of Lord Roberts, who is expected at the front next week, and no general advance may be looked for at least a fortnight.
At Modder River I found the Boers still busy shifting their guns into more commanding positions, and now and again blazing away in an apparently aimless way with their "Long Tom," while we reply with our 4.7 navel gun "Joe Chamberlain." No damage was done on either side worth mentioning. The whole of the Highland Brigade is absolutely disheartened at its constant losses and rebuffs, and it will take a brilliant victory to put the old time life into them.
Lieutenant Osborne and his men of the New South Wales Lancers have established quite a reputation at Modder. They were perpetually sent out to draw the enemy fire, and are known at the front as "The Fighting 28." At Enslin, where the bulk of the Australian troops are stationed, constant sorties are made, with the view of ascertaining the Boer position, and though nothing has been heard of them in the fighting line an yet, our men are doing very arduous and useful work, scouting, piquet and reconnaissance duty fully occupying their time. Colonel Hoad, of Victoria, command the whole of the Australian contingent at Enslin, which includes the Victoria M.A., 125; Victorian Infantry, 126; West Australian Infantry, 125; South Australian Infantry, 125; N.S.W, Infantry, 125; and Tasmanian Infantry, 87. Captain Legge and Lieutenant Logan and Dover are getting into excellent form and the men are well. There is some talk of the Australian Infantry being kept on lines of communication, and strenuous efforts are being made to mount the NSW men, who can all ride, and would prove very valuable as a mounted regiment. I believe that Sir Alfred Milner has received the suggestion favourably, much to the delight of our boys, who are anxious to be in the thick of it.
Note: HH Spooner died of enteric fever (typhoid) at Deelfontein few months after writing this article.
Further Reading:
New South Wales Lancers, Roll of Honour
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: The NSW Lancers, South African War, Daily Life in Camp
Posted by Project Leader
at 12:01 AM EAST
Updated: Saturday, 8 May 2010 7:16 PM EADT
