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1900 - Occupation of Komati Poort. Dissolution of the British Parliament.
1902 - Boer Generals issue an appeal to the "civilized world."

From the The Outlook, 4th October 1900

"An Appeal of the Boer Generals to the Civilized World" is the title of a manifesto put forth at Amsterdam last week by the three most famous living Boer commanders—Botha, De Wet, and Delarey. They say that immense distress is devastating the new British colonies; that thirty thousand houses on farms were destroyed in the war and a number of villages burned; that the needs of widows, orphans, and homeless unemployed men are pressing and pitiful. The three Generals assert roundly that the amount ($15,000,000) to be paid by Great Britain for rebuilding and restocking farms is inadequate; that the widows, orphans, and the very poor will receive little of the amount; and that, as efforts to induce Great Britain to give necessary aid have failed, they appeal to the people of Europe and America. One gift of $100,000 has already been received in response; the donor is an American, Mr, Henry Phipps, of the Carnegie Steel Company. Naturally, the English press resent the tone and substance of this appeal and ascribe its bitterness to the political influence of the "irreconcilables," while it is claimed that the British efforts to diminish the conditions of hardship and suffering in South Africa are all that could be desired. It is at least a grave question whether such an appeal will not do more t-o reduce charitable contributions from the English people than to secure such contributions from other peoples.

1901 - A 'smoker' for Ernest Smeeton, 38th (High Wycombe) Company Imperial Yeomanry.

....A complimentary smoking concert, on the occasion of the return of Corpl. E. Smeeton, of the Imperial Yeomanry, from South Africa, was given at the Cheltenham Working Men's Club on Wednesday evening, when there was a large attendance of members. Corporal Smeeton was reported killed accidentally at the front by a fall from his horse, but this fortunately turned out to be incorrect, and he now received an enthusiastic reception. Mr. W. Leonard occupied the chair, and an excellent programme of songs, etc., was gone through.
Cheltenham Chronicle, Saturday 28th September 1901

Sadly, Smeeton's health rapidly declined from then on, and in 1907....

....On Wednesday morning the divisional coroner (Mr. John Waghorne) and a jury, of which Mr. C. Moulder was foreman, held an inquiry at the Cheltenham Police-station into the circumstances of the death of Ernest Smeeton, aged 36 years, who died at his residence, 6 Granville-street, Cheltenham, on March 24th.
....Mary Smeeton. widow of the deceased, said her husband was at one time a farmer, but had not been able to follow any employment since the South African War. He went to the war in 1900 an a Volunteer trooper in the 10th Imperial Yeomanry, and in consequence of sustaining injuries through being thrown from his horse when the animal was shot under him he was invalided home in 1901. Before coming home he underwent the operation of trepanning. He was in receipt of a pension from the Government. Soon after his return from Africa he became subject to epileptic fits, which continued at intervals up to the time of his death. Her husband was never well, always suffering from the effects of the accident. He had been attended on several occasions by Dr. R. Davies, the last time being in September, 1906. He had very frequent attacks of a slight character, the last one being about three weeks before his death. On Saturday last he was about as usual, and seemed fairly well, eating a hearty dinner. Afterwards he went upstairs about 2.15 to lie down, as was his usual practice. About an hour later, when she was downstairs, she him scream, and on going upstairs found her husband on the bed. He was in a fit, and was lying face downwards on the pillow quite unconscious. She sent for a neighbour (Mr. Whitcombe), but deceased expired almost immediately on his arrival. Dr. Davies was sent for. but could only pronounce life to be extinct.
....Thos. Hy. Whitcombe, G.W.R. parcel carman, of 32 Granville-street, stated that when called by the last witness he found deceased, as upon several previous occasions, in a fit. He was lying face downwards on the bed. Witness did what he could to restore him to consciousness; but he only breathed once or twice and died before further assistance could be obtained.
....Dr. R Davies said he had attended deceased for five or six years. When he first saw him he was in a severe epileptic fit. In consequence of the repetition of such fits witness had communications with the War Office, and certified that deceased was suffering from chronic epijepsy, the result of the injury to the head, and the War Office awarded him a pension. He had seen deceased probably a dozen times altogether, some of which were when he was in very violent fits indeed. Upon such occasions it would require half a dozen men to restrain him; and once he smashed everything in the room and rushed out into the garden with nothing on. In fact, his condition would at times be maniacal, but he would recover very quickly, and go three or four months without having another fit. His appearance in death was that of a person who had died in an epileptic fit. Witness's impression was that the injury in the head was caused by a bullet.
....Mrs. Smeeton : I am not quite sure.
....P.C. Miles : He once told us in the Police-station that his horse shied and he fell backwards on his head.
....The jury returned a verdict of death from epilepsy, caused by an injury to the head during the South African war.
Cheltenham Chronicle, Saturday 30th March 1907

His QSA with 3 clasps (Cape Colony, Transvaal, South Africa 1901) sold at auction for £300 in 2016.

Another poignant post Berenice.

I wonder if it was the initial fall and trauma of the event or the archaic trepanning that caused his epilepsy?

 He went to South Africa with the 38th Company 10th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry in 1900. Corporal- 25246 E Smeeton.

Methuen was ordered by Kitchener to conduct a “drive” against his eventual nemesis, General Delarey and his marauding commandos. The result of the 30-day trek was a “bag” of only 70 prisoners, 26 surrendered burghers and 102 wagons with several thousand heads of sheep and cattle. Delarey slipped away again but not before an ambush had inflicted several casualties on the Gloucestershire yeomen at Korannafontein on 11 June. The casualty lists reported that Corporal Smeeton had died of wounds during this engagement. However, six weeks later, the Gloucestershire Echo published extracts from a letter sent by Shoeing Smith W. Isaac of the 38th Company, 10th Battalion: ‘At the battle of Corunnafontein (sic) the writer was in the advanced screen. The Boers allowed them to get at close quarters, and then poured a volley into them. His horse was shot dead under him, and he pitched onto a rock, hurting his head. Two others were shot dead, and another was injured beside him. Then the Yeomen were reinforced, and drove the Boers off ... “Smeeton was with me when my horse was shot, his being shot also. He fell on the rock and sustained concussion of the brain. I have no doubt he will be ordered home.” This and similar remarks in another letter from the front encourage Smeeton’s friends to believe that the report of his death was a mistake.’ Corporal Smeeton was invalided home and subsequently discharged as being medically unfit for further service.
 The deceased had to undergo the operation of trepanning, after which he was invalided home. That was in 1901. Soon after his return he begun to be subject to epileptic fits, which continued at intervals up to the day of his death. He left a wife and 4 children.



This is what Corporal Smeeton would have had to endure after his head injury!!