The South African War was declared in October, 1899, when I was a student of medicine in Edinburgh.
The reverses which followed in the last three months of the year determined the Government to call out the Reserves, and invite the services of Volunteers, both horse and foot.
At the end of December, 1899, a notice was posted in Edinburgh University to the effect that a few men were to be selected from the University Volunteer Corps (Queen’s Royal Vol. Batt. Royal Scots), of which I was a member, for active service. I put down my name, but was not one of those chosen. I then wished to try to enter the army as one of the University candidates, to whom commissions were being rather freely offered, but I was again unsuccessful, being rejected as medically unfit.
I had now given up hope of being able to go out, but the formation of a corps of mounted men, to be called the. Imperial Yeomanry, gave me another opportunity.
The Government made a request in the first instance for 5000 men, but this was afterwards changed to, I think, 15,000. Lord Chesham of Chesham, Bucks, as Colonel of the Bucks Yeomanry, issued a notice, which was posted up in all towns in Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire, asking for men who could ride and shoot, in order to form a regiment of Imperial Yeomanry, to be called the Xth Regiment, also known as 0 Chesham’s Yeomanry.”
This stirring appeal concluded with the words—“LET US BE READY BEFORE THE SHIPS!” in large type.
The headquarters for the different companies (afterwards called squadrons) of this corps were to be Buckingham for the 37th or 1st Bucks contingent; High,Wycombe for the 38th or and Bucks; Windsor for the 39th or Berks; Oxford for the 40th or Oxfordshire.
In the beginning of January, 1900, men desirous of enlisting began to flock to these various centres, where the riding and shooting and medical tests were to be passed, and on 1st January I proceeded to Buckingham with many others from the same district (Peterborough), and having succeeded in passing all three, the oath to serve the Queen was administered, and the tailor measured me for a suit of khaki. On the same day I telegraphed home “Accepted.”
A few days later the enrolled men were assembled at Buckingham and were addressed by Captain de Winton.
The class of men who offered themselves were the better sort of farmers, horse-dealers, etc., many of whom already belonged to the existing corps of Bucks Yeomanry, with one or two tradesmen and grooms, and a sprinkling of public school and University men, among whom I discovered three men who had been with me at Haileybury.
Captain de Winton spoke to us in a blunt but soldierly way, saying that he hoped we should work together to promote discipline and smartness, and that if we did, he was sure officers and men would pull well together. “ I’ll play up to you,” he said, “ but, by Jove, you must play up to me as well. I want no rot”
After this, the numbers of the 37th Company were made up, and those who remained over (of whom there were about 30, myself among them) were told to proceed at once to High Wycombe and report ourselves to Captain Lawson, who was to be in command of the 30th Company.
This we did, and having interviewed our officers (Captain Lawson and Lieutenants B___ , P____ , and M‘D___ ), we looked about for rooms in the town. I and a man named Godman (one of my three former school-fellows) decided to share a room at the Red Lion Hotel.
There were about 20 others in the same hotel, and we all remained at Wycombe for five weeks, getting leave for home about once a week, and going up to London any night we liked.
We started drilling at once, both on foot and on horseback. Rifles were served out, and several visits to the shooting range were made. We received our “fighting kit” by driblets, something in the way of uniform or accoutrements being served out every day.
We had the usual khaki pouched tunics, riding breeches laced up below the knee, khaki putties and brown boots, with spurs of a hunting pattern; helmets, slouch hats, and service caps; also khaki greatcoats, rifle and bayonet, bandolier, pouches, haversack, water bottle, and field glasses.
Each man had a brown canvas kit bag, about as large as an ordinary coal-sack, with his number on the outside in white paint (mine was 4969), which was filled with his personal effects, both private and those supplied by Government Among these were a blanket and waterproof sheet, warm shirts and socks, and other underclothes; sponge, towel, brushes, and shaving tackle; an extra suit of khaki, one extra pair of boots and shoes, one extra pair putties, and Balaklava helmet (a woollen sleeping cap).
Besides these, I had in mine my camera, writing case, knife and fork, etc.; carbon filter, meat lozenges, flannel trousers, and mufti coat; “housewife,” containing needles, cotton, scissors, pins, etc.; also a sovereign case, containing £5, stuffed into the pocket of a warm corduroy waistcoat.
Each man had also another similar sack, containing saddle, bridle, bits, horse-blankets, dandy-brush, curry-comb, etc.; a pot of dubbin, picketing peg and rope, nosebag, and string hay-bag.
At 3 a.m. on the 10th February, we turned out in full marching order, carrying our kit bags to the station. The morning was bitterly cold, but, in spite of this, the whole town assembled to see us off.
