TOPIC:

An absolutely superb and fascinating thread.

Below is a table published in "The Homeward Mail" (12 Aug 1899) showing Transport sailings for 18 Aug 1899 to 17 Feb 1900, as scheduled before the outbreak of hostilities in South Africa.
It includes only six sailings to/from Natal & Cape Colony (two unconfirmed - see notes at bottom of table).

In the event, 216 voyages were undertaken during the period 1 Jul 1899 to 31 Mar 1900.



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The above document was drawn up two months before the ABW started but numerous references are made to reservists. I thought reservists only came back into action some time after the war broke out and Her Majesty had got round to deciding and proclaiming there was a national emergency.

No. 20 - Aurania

Cunard Steam Ship Co., Ltd.

Master: J. King / A. McKay / T. Stephens / J. Stevens
Chief Officer: E.T. Richardson
Chief Engineer: A. Duncan
1st Officer: J. Firth / A.H. Rostron / F. Spedding
2nd Officer: W.H. Fry / D. Miller
3rd Officer: NONE
2nd Engineer: A. Adam / C. Forrest
3rd Engineer: G. Campbell / H. Davys
Purser: G.W. Clarke
Surgeon: A.H. Edwards / G.B. Harrop / T.A. Kennedy


Admiralty Return, 13 Aug 1903

Date of Admiralty agreement: 1 Oct 1899
20th Transport to be engaged by the Admiralty (which unusually tallies with the assigned number)

Period of engagement: 6 Oct 1899 to 31 Dec 1902

Total days at sea: 569
Total numbers transported to South Africa: 578 officers, 33 warrant officers, 16,526 men, 21 horses
Total numbers transported from South Africa: 540 officers, 12,933 N.C.O.'s & men, 13 women & children, 21 horses
Total cost (hire, fittings, coal and port dues): £429,520




.Oct 1899 - Jun 1900



.Raphael Tuck & Sons Empire Postcard No. 306




.Image originally posted by Paul Dunn










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No. 7 - Ionian

ENGAGED TWO WEEKS AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES AND ISSUED WITH "No 7", WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ASSIGNED TO JELUNGA

Allan Line Steam Ship Co., Ltd.

Master: J. Brown
Chief Officer: W.P. Harris
Chief Engineer: R. Lockhead
2nd Officer: W. Anderson
2nd Engineer: J. Law
3rd Engineer: J. Hurst


Admiralty Return, 13 Aug 1903

Date of Admiralty agreement: 14 Jun 1902
108th Transport to be engaged by the Admiralty

Period of engagement: 19 Jun 1902 to 31 Dec 1902

Total days at sea: 115
Total numbers transported to South Africa: 56 officers, 17 warrant officers, 4,804 men
Total numbers transported from South Africa: 102 officers, 4,919 N.C.O.'s & men, 59 horses
Total cost (hire, fittings, coal and port dues): £84,096







.Photograph previously posted by djb






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No. 24 - Orient

Orient Steam Navigation Co., Ltd.

Master: A.J. Coad / F.W. Kershaw / F.S. Symons
Chief Officer: W.J. Cullimore / P.N. Layton / E.J. Taylor / R. Watt
Chief Engineer: D.A.S. Lee
2nd Officer: W. Baynhan / M.B. Sayer / H.G. Staunton / J. Withers
3rd Officer: J. Burn / W.H. Cooper / F. St G. Wise
2nd Engineer: L.M. Falkner / H.R. Miller / J. Robertson
3rd Engineer: W.J. Anderson / G. Brown / R. Snaddon
Purser: G.E. Murdoch
Surgeon: F.C. Blackistow / H.A. Hinds / A.C. Stevenson


Admiralty Return, 13 Aug 1903

Date of Admiralty agreement: 7 Oct 1899
35th Transport to be engaged by the Admiralty

Period of engagement: 13 Oct 1899 to 10 Nov 1902

Total days at sea: 567
Total numbers transported to South Africa: 374 officers, 12 warrant officers, 8,651 men, 16 horses
Total numbers transported from South Africa: 398 officers, 9,461 N.C.O.'s & men, 6 women & children, 36 horses
Total cost (hire, fittings, coal and port dues): £309,246



.Oct 1899 - Jun 1900




. The 5th Victorian (Mounted Rifles) Contingent embarking at Melbourne, 15 Feb 1901









. Wounded soldiers embarking for England on the Orient (Dennis Edwards, Cape Town 1900, p. 41)





."This is the Transport Orient No 24 at Southampton carrying the usefully labelled G. W. Brown" (previous post by Paul Dunn)








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