TOPIC: Journel of Corpl. Spencer, Arthur. No.1128

Sorry if I have put this in the wrong place. Perhaps it can be moved if necessary.

I hope this will be of interest to some. I will do this in several posts so I don't have so much typing to do in one go.

This is the journal of my great grandfather Arthur George Spencer, Corpl with the 1st volunteer Brigade. Lincoln Regiment. Number 1128
I remember him fairly clearly, he died when I was a 10 year old.

Wednesday January 29th 1902----Volunteered for service in S Africa.
Thursday January 30th 1902

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Went to Lincoln for inspection. (he was living in Gainsborough at the time)
Saturday February 22nd 1902

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Left Lincoln 7-30 and arrived at Southampton Docks 2-15. Embarked on the Tintagel Castle 2-20 left the docks at 2-25 same day. Corporal of the Ships Guard from 5-30 Saturday night until 2pm Sunday 23rd,02. was sea sick Sunday 23rd and Monday 24th 1902. Rough voyage up to now.
Tuesday February 25th 1902
Wednesday February 26th 02----Wrote letter to Annies home & Sisters, not posted until Friday
February 28th 1902
Friday February 28th 02----Reached Las Palmas at 11-30 coaled and left again at 8-15 same day
Sunday March 2nd 1902---Corporal of ships Guard & Picquet from 10AM until 10AM Monday 3.3.02 Slept on Forecastle on Sunday for first time at night
Monday March 3rd 02

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Brought before the adjutant and complimented for good conduct and smartness as n.c.o.
Tuesday March 4th 02

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Had a salt water bath for the first time.
Wednesday March 5th 02---Salt water bath. Shaved myself for the first time.
Thursday March 6th 02----Salt water bath.

We will leave it here for now with him enjoying his salt water baths. More later.
Steve

Keep them coming Steve

I recently sent out a plea for help iro the movements of the Lincolns at Paardeberg - a little before your relatives time but nevertheless - your posts will provide context to my mans later movements.

Regards

Rory

Part two.
Some names are difficult to read so any that I am not sure of I will mark with a question mark in the hope that someone more familiar with them can provide corrections.

Sunday March 9th 02
Corporal of the Ships Guard from 10AM until 10AM Monday 10,02
Arrived at Cape Town Sunday March 16th at 8AM, left there same night and started up Country
sent a few lines to Annie from Wellington.
got two Boer prisoners on the train at De Aar
Monday 17th March 1902
had the carriage door torn off at Pisootfontain?? also left ten men and a sergeant of the Lincolns Monday 17th March
found out they were missing next morning Tuesday

(The next two pages seem to be out of order but as I am putting this as written I will keep them here.)

Miles travelled each day since leaving Southampton Docks
Date Miles Total
22.2.02 Left Ocean Quay
23 194
24 213 407
25 247 654
26 256 910
27 300 1210
28 307 1517
1.3.02 198 1715
2 300 2015
3 300 2315
4 300 2615
5 295 2910
6 297 3207
7 279 3486
8 282 3768
9 288 4056
10 288 4340
11 283 4627
12 275 4902
13 284 5186
14 284 5470
15 276 5746
16 to Cape town 200 miles
Total 5946

Passed the Grave of General Wachope on Monday March 17th 1902
Arrived at Bloomfontien Thursday morning 20/03/02 left the prisoners there
arrived at Kroonstead?? and left a draft of the Queens Thursday night 20/3/02
Arrived at Klif ?? River Friday Morning March 21st1-30PM had a stroll round the cemetery looking for the grave of H Wincup Camfud?? at Pretoria after the night stood in the grave yard and wrote these lines by the light of the moon. (which may explain why they are so hard to make out!)
Left Pretoria Saturday 22.3.02 went through Dasfoort?? Pass, made a halt for the night at west Fort, left there Sunday morning for Reitfontein?? arrived about noon had a swim in a branch of the Crocodile River.

More to follow.

Part three,

Had a walk from Reilfontein to Nitral Nec on Monday 23rd, saw the graves of the Lincolns & Scots Greys who fell in the Nec.
went for another swim in the river, had charge of the Baggage Waggon from Pretoria to Reilfontein. Stayed there until Tuesday 25th/02 Started away about 6AM
Camped about 5 miles from Camils drift for the night Arrived in Pretoria Thursday 27th.3.02 Slept in coal trucks same night started away about 2AM for Barbarton?? to relieve the Hampshire Regiment. stayed at Naterval ?? Cuder?? for the night left there early next Morning and reached Barberton Saturday afternoon.
The Hampshires left Barberton early Sunday morning and when about 5 miles out the train left the line greatest part of the men killed & wounded got orders to fill water bottles and go down to the scene of accident
got put on Ration Corpl for the detachment on Scots Hill Barberton.
Sunday March 30th 02----Corporal of the Regimental Guard
Tuesday Night 1/4/02--Outpost duty with three men. A shot fired from Blockhouse just missed my head.
Wednesday Night 2/4/02---Outpost duty again
Thursday 3/4/02--Cougill left me and went to Hospital Hill with 7 men & went on outpost again for twelve hours.
Friday night 4/4/02--Outpost again for 12 hours.
Saturday night 5/4/02--Outpost again for 12 hours.
Sunday Night 6/4/02-- Outpost again for 12 hours.
Monday 7/4/02-- received first letters from England. Outpost again at night/
Tuesday 8/4/02-- Cooked some Quaker Oats for breakfast. Went on outpost again at night.
Wednesday 9.4.02--washed my clothes before Breakfast. Went on Outpost again at night.
Thursday 10-4-02--Went on Outpost again at night.
Friday 11-4-02--- Outpost again

More to follow.

Part four.

Saturday 12.4.02---Marched 20 men from Scots Hill to Hospital Hill Barberton
Sunday 6PM 13.4.02---Took 3 men on Outpost for 24 hours. Pvte. G Mubbings, D Bigley, & S Blackbury
Monday 14th-4.02----Came off Outpost at 6.30PM
Tuesday 15th-4.02---took 3 men to clean out no 5 Blockhouse it being infested with live stock I have received 6 letters in South Africa up to now, one from Capt. Marshall, 1 from home, 1 from Nottingham, 1 from Kirton, 1 from Annie, 1 from Rhoda & Maud. I have sent 8 letters, 1 to Capt. Marshall, 1 home, 2 to Annie, 1 to Rhoda & M, 1 to J Button, 1 to J Riley & 1 to sisters. Wrote a letter to Annie, 1 to Home, 1 to W Lassman and 1 to Uncle Adlard on Wednesday 16.4.02
Thursday 17th 4-02---took 6 men on a sleeping post for 12 hours.
Friday 18th 4.02

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received orders to go over to Headquarters from Hospital Hill then on to Belgrave Camp Attached to the volunteers company and put in No 2 section
Sunday 20th 4-02----Marched to Barberton Church and attended service in full equipment 150 rounds of ammunition & loaded rifle
Monday 21st 4-02

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received a parcel of writing paper Envelopes & Stamps from sisters Eliza & Ada.
Tuesday 22nd 4-02---- Wrote a letter to Capt Marshall, 1 to sisters E & A and 1 to sister Emily. C Johns went in hospital Tuesday morning.
Wednesday 23rd 4-02---- Made two pockets and stitched them to my tunic.
Saturday 26th 4-02----first pay day in South Africa (word obscure) £2- 0s-0d
Sunday 27th 4-02----Marched to Barberton church in full equipment to attend divine service.
Monday 28th 4-02----taken ill with fever during the night.
Tuesday 29th.4.02---- taken before the doctor and sent in the convalescent Home. Had 2 Opium pills and milk for food. Temperature 102.6

More later.

Part 5.

Wednesday 30th 4.02

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had 2 carbonate of soda pills and boiled milk, Wrote a letter to Annie, 1 to Home & 1 to Victor Barrow. John Brown came to see me at night.
Received a packet of cigarettes from sisters Eliza & Ada on Thursday May 1st
Thursday May 1st 02

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wrote a letter to H. Millbourne, inspected by the doctor and put on Bovril, Bread & Milk
Friday May 2nd 02----Visited by the doctor and put on ration diet
Saturday May 3rd 02

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Ordered to be discharged in the afternoon by the doctor and to be relieved of duty for 3 days
Sunday 4th May 02

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Went to Barberton Chapel at 7 PM
Wednesday May 7th 02---got served out with helmet
Thursday May 8th 02----Pvte E. E. Wilson joined us at Barberton
Friday May 9th 02---Received orders to take charge of No. 7 Blockhouse for 7 days just outside Barberton
Saturday May 10th 02---Took men to No. 7 Blockhouse
Monday May 12th 02---Received a letter from Home 1 from Annie & 1 from sisters Notts
Tuesday May 13th 02---Wrote a letter home & 1 to Annie
Wednesday May 14th 02----Sent a photograph to sisters Eliza & Ada
Thursday May 15th 02---A draft of 124 men of the Lincolns came to Barberton
Whit Sunday 18th. 5. 02----Went to Barberton Chapel
Monday 19th 5. 02

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Corporal of the Camp Guard with 6 men. Received a letter from Home

More to follow.