1900 -
Four invalided soldiers arrived at Winnipeg, on the Canadian Pacific Railway's "Imperial Limited" luxury express service, which ran between Montreal and Vancouver.
....Winnipeg, Aug 30.—On board the Imperial Limited this morning were four members of the party of invalided Canadian soldiers from South Africa who reached Quebec by the steamer Lake Ontario. Sergt. Callam, of the Strathconas, from Whitewood, was head of the party, the others being Trooper Smith, of the Strathconas, from Macleod; Pte. C. E. Fisk, of C. M. R., from Calgary, and Pte. A. McCullum, of C. M. R., from Regina.
....Quebec, Aug. 30.—Pte. F. B. Strong, who was one of 29 invalids who returned to Canada by the steamship Persian, about six weeks ago, sent home on account of a sunstroke received during the battle of Paardeberg, has been placed in an insane asylum at Dartmouth, N.S. He suffers from the hallucination that he must return to the front immediately.
Victoria Daily Colonist, Friday 31st August 1900
....Frank Bath Strong, of the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles, died in 1919, and is buried in the family grave at Bridgetown, Nova Scotia.
www.findagrave.com/memorial/123382502/frank-b-strong
1902 -
155 officers and men of the South Wales Borderers arrived at Southampton on this day, en route to Brecon.
....The Union Castle liner Norman arrived at Southampton on Saturday, having on board a large number of troops, including three officers and 152 men of the South Wales Borderers, under the command of Major J. H. B. Travers and Lieutenants C. L. Taylor and R. W. Bradley. Major Travers, interviewed, said all his men were Reservists, and about 60 of them were from the Indian draft. They had only been about six months at the Cape. The remainder, however, have been at the front since the commencement of the war. They left the battalion at Klerksdorp. where they had been doing garrison duty for the last six months. Another draft of the Reservists will leave for home shortly. When they leave the major estimated that the battalion will not number more than 400 strong. The Regulars, he continued, got on very well with the Volunteers, both working harmoniously together. The battalion had received numerous presents of a useful character from friends at home, which they greatly appreciated. The men had behaved splendidly throughout. In conclusion, the major said he could not say when the battalion would be coming home. They would, probably, remain at the front a considerable time yet.
....The Norman encountered a full gale just after leaving Cape Town, and one of the second-class passengers—a Mrs. Pullen—whilst going down the companion-way lost her hold. and was thrown violently against the side, striking her head. She was killed instantly. The remainder of the voyage, however, had been very pleasant, the South Wales Borderers winning the tug-of-war on board.
....The men who had been at the front during the whole of the war said they had undergone many hardships. They joined Lord Roberts after Graspan, and took part in the battles of Paardeberg and Driefontein, and accompanied Lord Roberts to Pretoria. Since then they had been trekking and guarding blockhouses and lines of communication in the Orange River Colony. They were at Klerksdorp when the conference with the Boers was held. Since the declaration of peace they had simply been at Klerksdorp doing garrison duty, and, with the exception of three men who are going to Netley, the rest are in splendid condition. Captain Morgan, chief of Colonel Stacpoole's staff, who belongs to the South Wales Borderers, was present superintending the disembarkation, and cordially welcomed Major Travers, and congratulated him on his safe return.
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....The Borderers reached Newport on their way through to Brecon shortly before seven o'clock on Saturday night. Although a halt was here made for about half an hour, none of the men were allowed to leave their special train, which was drawn up on one of the inner lines. A tremendous crowd of friends gathered on the station platform and offered their congratulations to the returned heroes. The soldiers had decorated their train with small flags, and on the foremost carriage was hung an imposing blue and white banner with the words, "God save the King."
The Weekly Mail, Saturday 6th September 1902
