TOPIC:

Five columns of letters giving the experiences of Canadian soldiers in the fight at Paardeburg, where nineteen were killed and seventy wounded, were printed in yesterday's Star. (This date is not in Scrap Book) Below is a continuation of these interesting narratives from the firing line.

Pte. Jeffries of “E” Company, and a former member of the Royal Scots, writes as follows to a friend in this city in reference to the Battle of Paardeburg:

“I suppose you have heard by this time of the great loss of life, but it was a glorious day for us – it was a victory. We marched 12 ½ hours the night before the fight, without getting anything to eat, and went directly into battle. We fought for 12 hours. I can tell you I never thought I would come out alive. I had my helmet shot off in the advance, and my canteen perforated with a bullet. It was a close shave. On Monday we had a rest, but entered the battle again on Tuesday.”

In a letter addressed to his mother, Mrs A Sutherland, 20 St. Urbain Street, and dated Botherspur Drift, February 23, Private Sutherland of Company “E” and a former member of the Duke of York's Hussars says:

“Well mother what we were looking and hoping for has come at last. We have been in battle. After having covered a distance of 72 miles during the week commencing February 12, we arrived here on the 18th, and were just getting our blankets issued to us when an order came for us to get ready to meet the Boers. Each man was given a small glass of rum, and then we were brigaded with the Seaforth's and Gordon's, and told to prepare to attack. We got orders to cross the river, and as there were no boats, we had to swim it, fully uniformed and with our rifles in our hands. We got drenched through, and in this condition were put out in extended order on the other side, and advanced on the enemy. I wish you could have heard the bullets flying past us. The enemy were about 10,000 strong, but they had a fine position. We went into action at six in the morning, and advanced as far as the firing line. Our ambulance men had quite a hard time of it, one of them being killed. In the afternoon we got order to charge and we went at the Boers for all we were worth. When we finished it was eight o'clock in the evening, and many killed and wounded were laying on the field. The dead lay there all night, but next morning were picked up an buried. There were seventeen in all in our regiment. After a short rest an order came for another fight, and again we went at the Boers. This time the engagement was at Modder Spruit, and our losses were not quite as heavy, five only being wounded. “E” and “F” Companies got the worst of it. Tell the boys that the Canadians are all right, and that the men of “E” Company were right in the thick of the fight. We got it pretty bad, but our guys died like heros. We have been greatly praised by the General for our gallant conduct under fire.”

A note appended to the letter read as follows:

“All our wounded (64 in both battalions) have gone to Wynburg Hospital. They say here that the engagements were the worst of the present war, and that the Canadians made a gallant charge. Not a man stopped to think but each went at the Boers though they were going to dinner.”

The first reports from Paardeburg stated that Pte. Sutherland had been wounded: In his letter, however, he says: “I am writing you from the field in order to let you know that I am well.” He does not speak of being wounded.

Other men mentioned in Letter:

In his official service documents it is stated that he was wounded at “Cronjies Lager, February 27th 1900 – Invalided to England August 13th, 1900 - 7803 Private Angus Sutherland, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry – Re-Enlisted as 18 Sergeant Angus Sutherland 2nd Regiment of Canadian Mounted Rifles, December 9th, 1901)


Halifax N.S., March 30th: Police Officer Rudland has received a letter from his brother, Robert Rudland, of “H” Company. The letter is the latest yet received from the boys of “H” Company and gives a graphic account of the battles of Paardeburg, in which the Canadians played an important part. The letter is as follows.

PAARDEBURG, February 23rd:

Dear Brother: We left Belmont on Monday February 12th, and went to Gras Pan by rail. We Camped at Gras Pan one night, and marched toward Paardeburg the next morning at four o'clock. The march was a very tiresome one but we managed to make 76 miles in five days. Munnis' strength failed the second day of the march and he was left behind. (8119 Pte. M. Munnis or 8117 Pte. C.H. Munnis). On the night of Saturday the 17th, we marched all night and arrived here at 6 o'clock on Sunday, 20th all tired. We had just about arrived and were sitting down to a pint of coffee and a hard tack when orders came here for us to go to the front without delay. We forded Modder River.


in water, and marched forward two miles. The heat was intense, and we were obliged to lay in the hot sand for six hours with men dropping from exhaustion all around us. Then to make matters still worse, it rained for half an hour, and we were nearly frozen.

About 5 o'clock in the evening the colonel of the Cornwall regiment with which we were brigaded ordered the line to charge. We all charged up about 500 yards, and to within 100 yards, fire was directed on to us and bullets fell like rain, and we were expected to get through it. The colonel was killed in the charge. It was terrible. We lost a number killed and about 80 wounded. Billy Adams was shot through the left arm close to the shoulder, but he will soon be all right.

None of “H” Company was killed, a chap named Johnson was struck on the head, and he is not expected to live. The men of the Gordon's, and of the Black Watch, in speaking of it afterwards say they never saw such a fire. At first we all used to dodge our heads but we soon got over that. It was awful after the fight was over to hear the groans of the wounded and dying. There was a shout for stretcher bearers all day. I helped carry one of the Black Watch in a blanket. He was wounded twice in his leg and his groaning

to hear. They were carrying one of “H” Company who had been wounded when he was struck again in the leg.

During the battle Cronje retreated about 4 miles up the river, and we had another fight to go to through on Tuesday. We had a number wounded and were lucky to get off with that, as we were under fire all day without a drop of drinking water. We were now in a row of kopjes, watching for reinforcements, which were expected to come to Cronje's relief. We got two biscuits and a canteen of coffee every day, and are all getting weak from want of food, but we are still in good spirits. The wounded and sick were sent back on Wednesday, to make room for any more we may have. We expect Cronje to surrender soon as he cannot get any provisions in. So far we have taken about 500 prisoners. I will not be sorry when it is over if I live through it all. From our elevated position on the kopjes we cam plainly see the enemy busying themselves with defensive work. Now I must close. Last night we slept in the rain, it was very cold. Love to you all.

Your affectionate brother, Robert Rudland

Other men mentioned in Letter:

8150 Private Robert Rudland, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry, also 24 Private Roberts Rudland, 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles / I think that this is Billy Adams, 7160 Private William George Adams, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry, listed as Wounded Paardeburg February 18th, 1900, Died of Enteric Fever April 16, 1900 at Bloemfontein / 8105 Private John Granville Johnston, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry, Died of Head Wound received at Paardeburg, February 18th, 1900)