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These documents may be of interest. They were compiled by Captain Walter Congreve just before the Battle of Colenso. Walter Congreve was born on 20 November 1862. After attending Harrow School, he spent two years at Pembroke College, Oxford, before entering the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where he shared rooms with Douglas (later Field Marshal Earl) Haig. On completion of his time at Sandhurst he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in The Rifle Brigade on 7 February 1885. At the outbreak of the South African War in 1899 he was the District Musketry Officer at Aldershot but immediately gave up the post in order to join 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (2 RB), in South Africa. However, by the time of his arrival at Durban on 23 November, 2 RB was already besieged as a part of General White’s force at Ladysmith. Being at a loose end, he was attached to the staff of 4 Infantry Brigade, and then to General Buller’s Headquarters as a press censor.On 15 December 1899, Congreve together with others, including Lieutenant the Hon. F.H.S. (Freddie) Roberts of The King’s Royal Rifle Corps, took part in a gallant attempt to rescue the guns of the 14th and 66th Batteries, Royal Field Artillery, at the Battle of Colenso. Two out of twelve guns were recovered. Congreve, Roberts and five others were awarded Victoria Crosses. The documents are all written on official embossed blue foolscap paper.
The first document is dated Frere, 13th December 1899, and written and signed by Congreve. I have had to adjust the contrast to make them legible.



The next document, written on the 14th December is a notice of instructions of all correspondents to be circulated and initialled.







The remainder is an undated comprehensive list of correspondents who have been authorised to forward Press Messages

Amazing documents, Paul.

This advertisement published by the The Warwick Trading Company (cinematographers at the front), reproduces the "Official List" of War Correspondents, as issued at Headquarters, South Africa.

The inclusion of an advertisement for the film of Lords Roberts and Kitchener at Kroonstad suggests that this was printed during late May or early June 1900.





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