TOPIC:

DECEMBER 1901

Dec 1 Halted.
Dec 2,3 for 3 day. 2. 1 had cut in with Botha's Rear Guard 3 killed 10 wounded near Rotterdam.
Dec 4 Left Camp at 3.30am night march on Flying column
Dec 6 Still going Fly Column.
Dec 7 Moved Back.
Dec 8 Moved back to Moripoort came out with Convoy.
Dec 9 Halted at Moripoort on Outpost Kit Issue. Held Nek Kleanfontein.
Dec 10 Left Camp 6am. Capture 2 Kaffirs on Kopje. Arr. Ameesport town burnt down Church with Organs Furniture in.
Dec 11 Revallie 4am. Sniping early on left Flank chasing Ponies 40 odd on Left Flank. Sniping still going on V.C.R.'s bit of a go in. G. Comp charged by Boers in afternoon on Kopje attacked on 3 sides. Cattle ponies Right Harf to our relief. Boers retired some of their cattle camped Moorfontein on Kopje. Plumer on another Kopje
Dec 12 Treked back towards Amersfort chased 150 Joes from Amersfort to Kleanfontein Nek 10 miles gallop. G Company V.C.R. 70 odd men Boers on good ponies leading one our horses Struck it well Boers 1000 yds start firing off horses. Halted when Boers reached Nek. Returned to camp a lot leading their horses captured 1 Boer few Ponies. H.F. Hill broken shoulder bone. My horse held out well covered in foam about 40 odd finished big Gallop covered over 50 miles Camp 1 1 pm.
Dec 13 Revallie at 3am. Arr Grass kop at 2pm Convoy for Rations etc.
Dec 14 Halted. H. Fisher went to Volkrust Convoy arr. With rations 6.30pm.
Dec 15 Chased Joes near Brity Spruit pass Kleanfontein Nek big Commands on hill we retired Stuck under heavy fire H.B. horse shot Boers try Flanking trick on us 2 J.B. W.Z's on Kopje volleying Killed 2 Boers.
Dec 16 Halted at Moorpoort waggons into Wakkerstroon for Rations. Jack Whealon of Eist. Killed near Nek 3 wounded by Boers concealed. W. Wallace accidentally shot through knee by J.N.
Dec 17 Shifted Camp to Washbank waggons back from Wakkerstroon.
Dec 18 Halted near Brity Spruit.
Dec 19 Night March at 2.30am on left Flank next morning had scrap with Joes big guns shelled from Comp toward s Sprits Kop. plenty of Joes very cheeky. Camp Balmoral at 4pm. Got watch from Kiffir.
Dec 20 Night March 1 1 pm in to Rotterdam heavy rain Thunder Lightening all night wet through halted at Drift 3 hours sifting on horse waiting orders very miserable go on to Joes at 6am heavy fog on Hill. Camp at 1 pm.
18th, 19th 20th Night Marches.
Dec 21 Moved to Spits Kop down big hill bad road seen plenty of Boers galloping, stirrup leather bro... No shooting today. Climb big Kopje on Observation back of Spits Kop. Scofties on top. Hamiltons Column
Dec 22 5am Revallie moved back to Rotterdam very foggy. Rear Guard Flank got 3 Boers cattle on Kopje. Rotterdam outpost fired on.
Dec 23 Night March 1.30am towards Voss Kop. Reached Balmoral at Daybreak. Boer outpost fire on us at 4am. Charged Joes rushed every ridge Drove Boers towards Donkerhoek. Shelled with Pom Poms 15 pounder on the Joes Rear Guard. G. Comp 300 yds off once heavy fire by Joes us V.C.R.'s 2 horses shot with us charging a ridge. A Comp good go 1 man wounded 2 horses shot. Wounded today 3 Boers Captured 12 shot 5 Boer Horses running fight to Vosskop until 3 pm. Halted Joes in front on ridge, hard days fighting from 4am till 3pm. 800 Boers under Chris Botha Opperman Brity.
Dec 24 Revallie at 2.30am off again at 3am. Direction Donkerhoek after the Joes Convoy cross flat country seen few Boers shelled one, had a rough time getting up Kopje shells failing all round him but he got away. Reached Camp Noosepoort at plenty apples Peaches in farms, very warm day.
Dec 25 Moved towards Wakkerstroon 3 miles trek halted. Convoy in for rations on escort with Convoy passed Xmas puddings coming up to us Beer. F.B. with me had dinner on horses reached Camp again after trekking back 2 A.S. Chorps chaps drunk on road to Camp at 6pm tea issue of Pudding 1 pt Beer B.A. into Newcastle here Tobacco Cig from Warrambool Veldt, Church Parade.
Dec 26 Halted here today near Kleanfontein.
Dec 27 Noompoort called Pudding Camp on Outpost very cold.
Dec 28 Treked to Amersfort on flying Column 3 days light Waggons Camp 6pm.
Dec 29 Night March again at 12 midnight halted at 4am very foggy for fog to lift seen Joes chased them back towards Speas Column on Right 40 Boers 12 lb naval gun on Poodakop fired on G. mistake, no one hit. flushed Joes 15 miles. Spen's capture through our movements. 30 Joes N.Z.10 returned to Camp at 9pm. Peaches on way back horses knocked up, very cold night.
Dec 30 Treked back to Noorpoort, long days trek about 40 miles nothing of note, left Flank today, had swim in river near Amerifort.
Dec 31 Halted, Rain Waggons in for Rations on Outpost.

JANUARY 1902

Jan 1 New Year Day 1902. Halted today at Narupoort Elandsberg Range Night March to night at 12 midnight 30 miles to Rotterdam. Pte Mc Nalty shot dead on outpost very sad affair while Mtd men were on N. March. Convoy joined us at 1 pm.
Jan 2 Halted at Rotterdam.
Jan 3 Shifted about 5 miles further on very foggy. 200 N.Zealanders on Patrol after daftle Boers 500 rush them cut 30 off captured them all stripped them. Serg Major would not surrender Boers shot him.
Jan 4 Convoy halted Mtd. Troops V.M.R. 2.J.B N.Z. I.Y M.1's Hussars out on 3 day flying column after Boers near Spits Kop. 2.J.B. M.I. I.Y. 250 all told with Pom Poms us advance Guard under Major Vallentine climbed big Kopje. G. Comp connecting Comp to the Column behind. Halted on Plateau for dinner at 12 noon advance Guard at it now with Pom Pom for a little time then all was quiet rose from dinner Mtd on again. We had not gone far when heavy firing started on advance Boers under Chris Botha Commendant Opperman rushed advance Guard tried to get Pom Pom G. H.F.E. to the rescue drove Boers from the ridges. 800 Boers Pom Pom retired to cover from 50 yds off Boers in hot pursuit. V.M.R.'s climbed Kopjes Boers retired under our fire chased them from Ridge to Ridge. G. Comp under heavy Boer fire rushed ridge on the open exposed to Boers. A. D Companys Pom Poms to our Bell 3 Ptes wounded. Spins Column on our Left. Hamilton Column late up. G. Comp Commands also D. by Gen. Plumer Major Vialls met 2 I.B. coming back stripped Boers British Dead wounded all over the veldt for 5 miles also Halted gave wounded Boer drink, he died after shot through head got bunch of Keys off. Commandant Opperman fought rushed positions until dark. Boers treking towards Ermels. Good shelling. Returned to Camp at 8pm. Camped Laageradup, Gun each corner, sleep out side horses lines on Stable........ very cold near fire Poll. etc about Capt. expecting attach. List of killed totaled 21, wounded 38, captured over 5Q. Bad days work. M. Infantry Observation Post 4 killed. In midst of alarms.
Jan 5 Slept well. Revallie at 6am look for the dead Corp Stillhack dead. Buried 7am Gen Plumer Col Poulteney Maj Vialls in attendance impressive. Buried Boers also left dead on field. Intelligence Brought in that Boers had over 100 casualities. Boer Doctor came into us to surrender. Major Vallentine buried with U. Jack.
Jan 6 Trek from Rotterdam after joined Convoy to Voss Kop men died of wounds in Ambulances. Arr. Voss Kop 6pm. Lieut Johnson of I.Y. died today of his wounds. Bad road for wounded.
Jan 7 Arr at Nuaupoort.
Jan 8 Trek to Hurricane Hill camp in sight of Wakkerstroom. Sent wounded into Wakk Hospital. Mail from Australia.
Jan 9 Halted here colum to refit.
Jan 10 Gifts from Ladies of Durban Newcastle Bonhaste Chocolate Daily Mail Pudding.
Jan 11 Halted out on outpost.
Jan 12 Halted Sports tomorrow.
Jan 13, 14 Sports. 150 Pounds in prizes. Had photo on Horseback taken that I handed over to W. Austs. on the 7th Mch at Roberts Drift. O.K. Colony.
Jan 15 16 Halted.
Jan 17 Into Newcastle for Horses. Arr Volkscreat train.
Jan 18 Arr Newcastle got a horse and will go go out again tomorrow to column with him.
Jan 19 Returned to Wakkerstroom lost horse at Volkerust got loose at night.
Jan 20 Halted 21st on Outpost
Jan 22 4.30 Revallie. Trek to Movipoort at dusk. Camp. N.Z's had a bit of a go with Joes on Right Flank.
Jan 23 My Birthday. Night March heavy rain very miserable cold left camp midnight very foggy. 30 Boers got away from us we would have captured them in farm only for Kaffirs Spies. Burst Kraals brought Kaffirs into Camp take them to Wakkerstroom.
Jan 24 Halted.
Jan 25 Another night march at lopm towards Cassell Nek Wakkerstroom Blockhouses G H in advance got onto the Joes at daylight near farm. Plumer N.Z's 2 I.B on left Right Wing on Right and us near Kopje Captured 55 Boers killed 2 our casualties nil, good days work, terrible country Assimore River, plenty fruit, coming back camp 6pm.
Jan 28, 29 Halted on Outpost
Jan 30 Night march 10pm, arr Rotterdam 5am, foggy seen Joes in Gully, shelled Joes running gountlet through nek spruit. Good view on hill M. 1 up a Joe lost his horse. Joe plucky drive ponies away under heavy shell fire got three cattle. Camp 7pm.
Jan 31 Arr Rotterdam Halted.

FEBRUARY 1902

Feb 1 Camp Rotterdam. Foggy on observation seen Hamiltons column camped in distance near Ermels Hill. Night march tonight very rugged country 8.30pm towards Amersfort got onto Joes at daybreak, captured 6 Boers, l killed 400 head of cattle ponies, 2 Commonwealth Queensland caught by Boers and Shot.
Feb 2 Returned to Camp near Ralfontein camped no Blankets on Supports no rations.
Feb 3 Convoy arr at 12 noon
Feb 4 Moved to Pioneerfontein, camped at 7pm on Right Flank advance guard from Boers ahead.
Feb 5 Arr Grasskop moved to Roodipoort between forts got plenty of peaches received mail from Aust.
Feb 8 Trek to Ralfontein
Feb 6 7 Halted for rations from from Volksrust.
Feb 9 10 Night Marches 7pm on 10th Captured 2 Boers 3 niggers in Kraal. G. Comp Charged up Hill Hands them up they trying to catch their horses got cattle. Camp 6pm Ralfontein.
Feb 11 Halted Ralfontein Robertsons Farm.
Feb 12 Waggons returned with more rations, 5 days got mail moved 8pm.
Feb 13 Night March last night searched Gully, Camp Rotterdam 3pm. ... last captured at Farms on R. Flank, plenty peaches, visited Boer Hospital, saw column. Arr R.dam 7pm.
Feb 14 Flying column to Vaaskemp or Woodfotigne. Fog, niggers drunk. E. Corp run all Kaffirs Drunk on waggons. Seen few Boers Left Flank.
Feb 15 Moved towards Movipoort. Camp on Kopje, no blankets
Feb 16 Moved to Brity Spruit. F. Comp captured 3 Joes G. Comp 2 Joes, searched scrub on Klemfontein Nek.
Feb 17 Halted Brity Spruit.
Feb 18 G. F. capture 1 Boer.
Feb 19 Right Harf Plumer on Night March capture 12 Boers.
Feb 20 H. Corp caught 2 Boers cutting telegraph wire to Wakkerstroom.
Feb 21 Plumer with 2 I.B. N.Z. capture Joes last night. Lieut. Mc Intyre, Farbro Ebbing left us here also Scottish Rifles cheered them off.
Feb 22 Moved 8pm night march, moonlight to Rotterdam.
Feb 23 Trek as far as Scherpas Farm
Feb 24 Trek to Ralfontein
Feb 25, 26 Column Halted.
Feb 27, 28 Night March. Caught 2 Boers Ambulance searching farms at night etc. Pass Fort Paadkop, big move now on Long Seven of 25 miles frontage, 5th V.M.R.N.Z. 2 I.B. M.1.1 Y. Hussars 2 I.B. caught 15 Boers 40 surrenderd to the Blockhouses Camped 6pm near lind Kroomsdam doing 20 odd miles heavy Rain on outpost 3 hours sentry, no blankets, one of the worst times I have had 28 hours in saddle.

MARCH 1902

Mar 1 Waggons joined us this morning, we halt here today near Stonduton at Koondovi.
Mar 2 8 am Trek to Plumer Camp 3 miles nearer Stonduton, 5 days trek report to finish V.M.R.
Mar 3 5.30 Night Marched to Roberts Drift crossed line to C.R.C. cross Vaal River plent of Boers today. Scottish Rifles pass in train, 26 horses in saddle. Shelled Joes Wings Column caught 20 reported caught 1 Ambulance, Joes on Outpost at Roberts Drift got Whiskey with No Blankets.
Mar 4 Halted, no Blankets, flying column go peaches.
Mar 5 Still halted near Roberts Drift.
Mar 6 7 Hand over our horses to the 5th 6th West. Aust. gave my horse have given him a spell. Recrossed Vaal to Transvaal Beautiful snapshots taken by Lieut Cassells while we were crossing the Drift on Horseback, also all the Left Wings Mchs. Plumers Column on Night March made Tia Bwoome with B.A.
Mar 8 12 Months in S.A. today, rode a waggon to Stonderton
Mar 9 Halted today very warm, spare kit to be burnt keep 1 B..... rifle, went to town with spare officers horses. Cricket today.
Mar 10 Entrance at 3pm at Stonderton for Cape Twon, marched away from Stonderton Kop camp. Scottish Band played in front of us. Left Harf off first, arr Elandefontein 6am 1 1 th cheered Major Fraser off here.
Mar 12,13,14 Train arr. Cape Town 15th. In Cape Town 11am camp, GreenPoint.

H.V.M.
5th V.M.R. Pay

Mch 13 3.5.0
Api 30 7.10.0
May 31 7.15.0
June 30 7.10.0
July 31 7.15.0
Aug 31 7.15.0
Sept 30 7.10.0
Oct 31 7.15.0
Nov 30 7.10.0
Dec 31 7.15.0
Jan 31 7.15.0
Feb 28 7.0.0
Mar 31 7.15.0
Added 100.0.0 194.10. 0
Sent home gone up to 31st M. 70.17. 6. Drew in Country for 12 mts 1/3 day 23.18. 6.
150 E F Sailed on St. Andrew.

Mar 27 V.M.R. First batch Rest of 5th V.M.R. on the S.S. Montrose had good time, sailed at 1 PM
Mar 28 5th 2 I.B. on the St Andreas, N. Zealanders on Montrose also South Aust Bushmen. 5th 6th West Australians salied S.S. Columbrian ... Royals Scots sailed 3rd S.S. Orient on Docks on furlough from 25 Mar till 15 Apl.

Apr 16 Reported Green Point Camp for 2nd Commonwealth to be sent up to the front as soon as possible.

Captures

1st Trek 5 V. M. R.
From Api 15 to 8 May

Killed 6 Boers
Captured 94 Boers
Surrendered 16 Boers
Mules 46

3 Thrashing Mills
4 Flour Mills
450 Sacks of Grain

Donkeys 16
Trek Oxen 799
Mixed Cattle 2457
Sheep 5569
Cape Carts 581
Waggons 212
Women 500
Children
S. Arms. Amm 13,450
Rifles 163

<end of diary>

Good Day
You Mentioned a sergeant Buckingham
is this perhaps Lance Buckingham?