TOPIC:

1900 - Punch cartoon suggesting the war was almost over:



1901 - 200 MI and SAC captured at Slangfontein.

Hello David,
The war was, by 1900, almost over the whole country!
Frank

djb wrote: 1900 - Punch cartoon suggesting the war was almost over:

1901 - 200 MI and SAC captured at Slangfontein.

1900 - Thomas Walton returned home to Huonville, Tasmania, on this day, after having arrived in Hobart two days earlier.
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....By the steamer Kumara, which arrived in port this morning from Cape Town, there reached Hobart 14 invalided soldiers from the war in South Africa. These included two for Brisbane, six for Sydney, four for New Zealand, and two for Tasmania, viz., Trooper T. Walton, of the Imperial Bushmen's Contingent, and Trooper Page, of the First Tasmanian Contingent.
....Private Walton, a strapping young fellow from Huonville, where his parents reside, was rather disappointed at not being given a second chance to go to the front. The Manhattan, by which his corps, the Imperial Bushmen's Contingent, were conveyed to South Africa first went to Beira, where they stayed about six days, but were not allowed to land. They were then ordered on to Durban, where the ship remained seven days, during which time the men were put through constant drill. From Durban they went on to Port Elizabeth, at which port a very hearty welcome was extended to them. They were banqueted and "got everything they wanted," and six hours afterwards were on the way to the front. At Kroonstad the Bushmen landed and were almost immediately attached to Hickman's Horse. Trooper Walton was detained there in charge of the baggage for about a month seeing no fighting, and was then laid aside with enteric. First he went into the local hospital and was then sent on to Woodstock Hospital, Cape Town, where he remained until sent on by the Kumara. He applied to be sent to the front again, but as in the case of many others, who have been once attacked by enteric the request was refused. Trooper Walton speaks in grateful terms of the treatment he received in the hospitals, and has no complaint of any kind to make, except his bad luck in not having had an opportunity of taking part in the fighting. When asked what the other soldiers thought of the troops from the colony, his reply was prompt and emphatic, "It is reckoned that the Tassies are the best crowd there. The Tasmanians have a real good name."
The Tasmanian News, Monday 17th September 1900

....Our Huonville correspondent writes :—A hearty reception was accorded to Trooper Walton on his return from South Africa. A large number of residents attended to meet the coach by which the trooper arrived, and escorted him to the Town Hall, where a pleasant time was spent. An address of welcome was given by Mr A. J. Frankcomb, and suitably responded to, after which came songs and music, and, last of all, an enjoyable dance. The welcome has been most enthusiastic, and has been keenly appreciated by the home comer.
The Tasmanian News, Thursday 27th September 1900

Berenice
An interesting account of the travels of 1st Tasmainan Imperial Bushmen to the front and also interesting to see that those who had suffered from enteric were refused any request they made to go into the field again.
"32 Tpr. Thomas Walton of 1st TIB" a boxmaker from Huon, Tas., was aged 34 upon enlistment and earned the clasps Cape Colony and South Africa 1901 on his QSA medal. He died in 1932.
Details from Oz_boer and ALH site provides this portrait of Tpr. T. Walton; which came from Bufton's "Tasmanians in the Transvaal" -

It is also interesting to note that the 1st TIB were placed under the command of Col. T.E. Hickman (hence the reference to "Hickman's Horse") and were always his advanced guard when action was anticipated.
Regards
IL.

It was very interesting to read about his time in South Africa and then see the man himself. Many thanks Berenice and IL.

I doubt he'd have managed to keep his moustache looking like that while on active service in SA.