....Mr G. H. Hadfield, of Atherton [Lancashire], has two sons employed on the Cape Government Railways, and in an interesting letter written by "Joe," at Beaufort West, on the 4th December, to his father, he says:—
...."You say in one letter that you always said your boys should serve the Queen. Perhaps you forget that this is a Government Railway, and everything is marked with a broad arrow, all the stationery is marked O.H.M.S., and Frank and myself, although not 'Soldiers of the Queen,' are Servants of the Queen. At this moment, 8-30 p.m., Frank is out on the road feeding the iron horse. He went out yesterday at 12 mid-day with a train of soldiers off to the front. The Shropshire Regiment was aboard the train, so you see we are all doing something to help on the campaign against Oom Paul. We have been doing what little we could to give Tommy Atkins a little comfort on his way to the front. We have raised subscriptions to the amount of £40, and with the money have purchased tobacco, &c. Every compartment of soldiers that has passed through here has had a small parcel placed in it. The parcels each contained half-pound tobacco, two packets cigarettes, two boxes matches, note paper, envelopes, and a black lead pencil. The soldiers seemed very glad to get them. We had a letter sent from Orange River, or else De Aar, by Lieutenant Stopford, of the Coldstream Guards, thanking the people of Beaufort West on behalf of his regiment. A few days later he was killed by a Boer shell. We had a slight accident about ten miles from here about a fortnight ago. A military train proceeding to the front collided with a train of empties. The military train had aboard the Naval Brigade and their equipment, including their "Long Toms" and ammunition. The engines were both thrown off the rails, and, well, beat a little. Two vans were smashed, but luckily no one was injured. We were called out at ten p.m. to the scene of the wreck to get the line cleared, which we did in about five hours. Meanwhile the Jack Tars and Marines had unloaded all their stores and carried them along the veldt for half a mile and loaded them into another train standing on the other side of the accident. They worked as only sailors can, carrying great heavy boxes, of "Kruger's Pills," as people call them, and finally dragging those great heavy guns along and lifting them bodily into the other trucks. In about a week after this, nearly ninety of these same men came through here wounded from the battles of Gras Pan and Belmont, where they distinguished themselves by their bravery. There are at present three or four trains running continually backwards and forwards between Cape Town and the fighting line, taking away the injured to the hospital at Wynburg. Each train holds about 92 patients, and is properly fitted with bunks and a kitchen, dispensary, and sleeping accommodation for the assistants and surgeons. I have spoken to many of the wounded; most of them seem cheerful, and many of them are anxious to have another 'go' at the Boers before the war is over."
The Leigh Chronicle, Friday 12th January 1900
