TOPIC:

1900 - Settle relieves Schweizer Reneke.

1901 - Alfred Jones began to write a letter to his father, Mr. T. Jones, of Marlee, New South Wales, today.

...."I have at last received your letter. Needless to say how I felt on its receipt. It is the second one I have received since leaving Australia. In your letter you say you have written several, and also that you have sent several papers. We have never received a paper and, as stated, only two letters. Where they go to I cannot imagine, and as there is nothing of interest in them to anyone other than ourselves, I cannot imagine the cause of their retention. It braces one up, and for a time makes a new man of him to receive a letter from home out in (it will not be out of place to say) the wilds of Africa. I do not think we shall be here much longer. I would not be surprised if we were on the way home by the time this reaches you. I cannot see why so many men are wanted here now. The enemy show up in very small bands, and are easily dispersed when seen. The Australians are looked upon over here as being the overpaid soldiers, hence my reason for saying that it is likely we will soon be starting for home, as I do not suppose they will keep the overpaid while they can get the Tommies for next to nothing.
...."Arthur and I are both well in health, and so far have had nothing to complain of on that score. In the majority of instances, sickness and disease among the troops are due to their own carelessness. If a man takes care of himself, he is as safe here as in New South Wales or elsewhere. If he insists on abusing all the laws that govern health, he must not blame the country if he comes to grief.
...."In your letter you say you are pleased to see that from the King on the Throne to the lowest officer who has come in contact with the Australians, they never seem to tire of eulogising us for our bravery, and the gallant stand we have made for the Empire. All I have to say in answer to that is, what you say may look very nice on paper, but, if you were here and saw the actual state of affairs, and noted the treatment of the gallant Australians from the officers, you would be disgusted with the 'blarney.' A Soldier of the King. The phrase looks well on paper, but the reality you must see and taste to realise. Speaking for Arthur and myself, if we were to make complaints they would fill a fair sized volume. Would you be surprised to hear that the authorities are not satisfied with us as fighting men. Our travels in South Africa would remind one of the journeyings of the Israelites in the Wilderness, crossing and recrossing our tracks, a camp here for a few days, another somewhere else, but exposed to the elements in all weathers and all seasons, the heavens our roof, mother earth our bed, sometimes on the sand, gravel, and rock, and in time of rain, in water dirty, ragged, half-starved. A soldier of the King. When we have a short time in camp, I think to harass us, they give us two hours foot drill every day. This wasted time in drill would be better spent in allowing us to wash our dirty clothes, and freeing our bodies from the loathsome vermin of which I have spoken. To give you one instance of our treatment here will prove to you that our bed of roses after all is a bed of thorns, and this instance, as you will see, was nearly costing both sides dear. We were issued with flour one evening at 5 p.m., and ordered to be in the saddle at 6 p.m. for a night's march. It was a wet, cold, miserable night, and we had no wood to cook with. We determined to strike, so a thousand of us marched to headquarters, and refused to saddle unless we were provided with biscuits and bully beef. They said there was none in stock. We then refused to move until our demands were met. We were almost starved, wet, and perished with cold, and death had lost its terrors. Two armies of the Tommies were stood to arms against us. We faced them, but never wavered, being determined to let them see what true Australians were worth. The officers on seeing our firmness gave way and the biscuits and bully beef were served out in a very short time. After having our meal we saddled up and went through our night march. It was a march never to be forgotten. The night was densely dark, the rain pouring on us in torrents. and all through the night many of the soldiers ran into barbed wire fences. Many of the horses fell and got away, leaving their riders behind. There is no waiting for anyone; it is do or die. About a dozen on this occasion were left to the mercy of the enemy. Some they took and stripped, and then let go. A few found their way to a town, and then rejoined us; others were never seen nor heard of afterwards. Since July we were reduced to two blankets, now they have left us with one. With the rain that has set in, I feel it colder than ever. I felt it in the New England district in the depth of the severest winter. With so much unexpected discomfort, can you wonder at our being tired of it all. I would be satisfied with my discharge on the spot at a second's notice. An independent living is open to anyone here now. I shall, after serving my time in the army, try and join Baden-Powell's Police, the prices range from 7s 6d to 12 6d per day. As regards our column, we have some sharp fighting still with the enemy; but I am pleased to say we have not had so many casualties of late. About a week ago we were camped with Boers all around us. On the convoy moving, two of the best shots were picked from each squadron, left behind with instructions to hide in a crawl and shoot whatever Boers came in to search our camp. I was one among them. Presently we saw six Boers making very carefully towards the camp. Unfortunately, the ground was so level and clear that we were discovered by the Boers when about 400 yards from us. We opened fire at the gallop, shooting one. The Boers took shelter and pasted us; well, two bullets in succession came at me, one tipping my ear, the other the top of my shoulder, rather too close to be pleasant. Since then I have been placed on observation. On one occasion I allowed two Boers to ride within 200 yards of me. I stepped from cover and challenged them. They made a bolt; my first shot brought one on to his horse's neck, and the other got away.
...."We are camped to-day while the waggons are in Heilbron for supplies. I am again out on observation post, which affords me the opportunity of writing. This morning we opened up a grave, we thought there might be treasure, or arms and ammunition. After digging down about four feet we came across the body of a n...... We often find loot, ammunition, and guns in a like manner, and sometimes soldiers' graves. It looks as if another deluge of rain will be upon us before another hour. We are promised waterproofs, and they will be very acceptable when we get them."
. ...."As time permits me I will now draw my letter to a close. I had to leave off writing, having been called into camp to prepare for another night march. We started at 8 p.m., and marched the whole night and next day in two companies, fighting our way through the borders of the Orange Free State and Transvaal, and for our night and day's work captured thirty-two prisoners and 2000 head of cattle. We rested that night, and next day travelled till 4 p.m., rested till dark, and again started out. That night we travelled 40 miles, and surrounded a Boer farmhouse. The Boers at daylight seeing some of us, ordered us to throw up our hands, but when they saw our strength quickly threw up theirs. One of the prisoners had on him explosive and soft-nosed bullets, for which he now awaits his death from one of our rifles. During the march next day our rear-guard had a very warm reception, two horses being shot, a man captured, stripped of his rifle, ammunition, shirt, coat, and boots, and then told to get. He rejoined us, but is now up for a Field General court-martial for cowardice and disgracing our regiment. Owing to the heavy fire the poor fellow lost his head, and did not try to make his escape. The same day the Boers were so daring as to come close enough to our convoy to shoot one of our drivers and a mule. I omitted to mention that on the day we captured 32 Boer prisoners, that we shot five dead, independent of what the big guns may have killed. We have just had another mail, and, as usual, no letters from home. We are here awaiting remounts, and will probably start to-morrow, as our men have gone in for them this afternoon. Time hangs heavily while inactive, but when on the warpath we scarcely notice it. We have had many a gallop to secure first and best positions, but we generally have to stand out in the open and face it. A short time ago we saw three Boers making for a kopje. Our captain asked for three volunteers to go and intercept them. Arthur was the first to offer himself, but in two seconds he could have had 500 of us. Arthur and his two mates started, and galloped round the kopje. After a short time we heard their rifles. Then we heard too many rifle shots to come from six men. I was anxious about Arthur, and I was pleased when I saw him come in sight the way he had gone, with his mates close to his heels. Presently we saw about a dozen Boers in full chase. It was amusing to see the Boers rein up when they caught sight of our column. We gave them a volley by way of salute. Of course we gave our volunteers a good chaffing, and tell them the war will soon be over now. Their account was that on rounding the kopje they came in sight of the three Boers, they fired, and one of the three dropped. The next instant the bullets came whistling past us, cutting up the ground at our feet. The next moment a dozen Boers made their appearance, and thinking discretion the better part of valor, we made off at top speed, thinking to lead the Boers into our columns. I must now leave off, as I hear the call, so shall conclude with love to all at home, and especially yourselves, whom I hope soon to see. The Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer [New South Wales], Saturday 23rd November 1901

Alfred would seem to have been 2892 Trooper Alfred Richard Jones, of the 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles, and Arthur may have been 2893 Trooper Arthur Jones. In 1933, an Albert Jones, formerly of Marlee, was living at Orange, NSW. and his brother, Arthur, at Lansdowne, NSW. William Doak, also of Marlee, served in the same contingent, and may have been a cousin to the Jones brothers.

Marlee is a rural location 158 miles north-east of Sydney, population approximately 215.