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From the 1900 diary of Lt Burne, RN:

I have been for some days sick and ill with jaundice, arising from exposure and hard work, but am anxious not to give in. To-day I am advised however to do so, and to-morrow may see the last of me here as I go into hospital, and here I may say I remained till the 5th July when I was able to get up although as weak as a rat. I was advised by the doctor to run down to Durban to the warmer climate, so as I felt too weak to do anything else I had to ask the General for sixteen days' leave which he gave me. Thus on the 6th July after giving over my guns to Lieutenant Clutterbuck, I left Sandspruit in an empty open truck at 4 p.m., got down to Volksrust at dark, and met Reeves, R.S.O., who had had jaundice and who offered me a bed in his office, which I was delighted to have; also met again Captain Patch, R.A. We all dined together at the station and wasn't I ravenous! We all came to the conclusion that we were rather sick of campaigning if accompanied by jaundice and other ills of the flesh.

1901 - A memorial plaque to the memory of Colour Sergeant W. G. Shears was unveiled in St. Catherine's Church, Pontypridd, today.

"In addition to the Pontypridd Volunteers, about thirty men from the Taff's Well Corps, with Sergeant Instructor Leary, under the command of Capt. Lewis, Greenmeadow, and the Pontypridd Fire Brigade, under Capt. Brooks, Lieuts. Bromage and Brown, and Foreman Mitchell, attended. After the singing of the last hymn before the sermon, Mr Gordon Lenox unveiled the tablet, which is of brass, and read the inscription aloud as follows: -
"In memory of Wm. G. Shears, Colour Sergeant, 3rd Battalion of the Welsh Regiment, who died of enteric fever at Prieska, South Africa, on the 18th day of December, 1900, whilst serving with his regiment, aged 31 years. Erected by his Pontypridd friends, 30th June, 1901." "