TOPIC:

Grand Hotel
Pretoria
April 8 1901

My dear father and mother

I last wrote to you from Rooi saying I was off to Pretoria, where you see by the above address I have arrived. I have got my Pompom alright and a fair team of horses. The drivers are all freshmen and from England, for which I am rather glad; as fresh material, though not so handy at first is more easily worked into shape, than a number of men have been out here for some time, and generally have their own ideas about things in general - and often nothing in particular, except that everything may on active service be allowed to get as dirty as it can. I have had quite enough of that nonsense already with the 12 pound detachment . This is an awfully nice command- 1 gun, fitted out absolutely complete with about three or four exceptions which I hope may soon be a settled up I am I believe going to join Colonel Benson’s column I will probably start about the 10th or 11th inst. Today the section was inspected by the A.A.G here - Colonel Sclater - Who was good enough to say it was a very good turnout, and said I was very lucky to get such a command, and that he entered me himself. Curiously enough this is one of the two Pompoms last taken from De La Rae about three weeks ago. The gun is truly a sweet piece of mechanism, and I'm as pleased as anything at getting such a job. I had a letter from a Nelly this afternoon written the day after you started off for “furrin” parts, where I hope you are all now fully enjoying yourselves . I expect the post office will now have a good deal of bother finding me, as I have not been more than four weeks in any one place since coming out for the second time; also my letters will take a good time reaching you, and I may not be able to post another for perhaps a month. You may however be able to trace me by following Colonel Benson’s column and looking out C. C. section or pompoms (30 millimetre automatic gun).

If you write to Whitehill please thank uncle Hill for his very kind letter which I received about a fortnight ago and which I will answer as soon as I can. I really have been rather busy, and have put off writing in order to do more urgent work .

April 10

I expect orders tomorrow , but I have had no orders yet. I believe the reason is that about 2 miles of Telegraph wire have been destroyed near Middelburg so that telegrams cannot be sent; and as no train may proceed from one station to another till the line is telegraphed to be clear, I presume that traffic will not be proceded with till communication is re-established.

I see a couple more of pompoms and another 15 pounder have been captured by Colonel Allenby, and later that Plumer has got a 7 pound . I'm glad to see also that he has captured a lot of SAA (small arms ammunition). This, and horses and transport are really a much better haul than guns; For now, guns to the Boers who are only intent on running away and being left alone are rather an encumbrance than anything else, especially as they have practically no gun ammunition and, I hear, no Gunners left to work the pieces .All the commandants are I believe keen on giving in, but none are willing to bear the onus of being the first to give in, and so cause a general surrender. I hope someone will have the sense to start, and then I fully believe it will be only a matter of a few weeks for all the commandos to give in, unless a few edits at the end try to stick it out for the purpose of being able to say they were the last to throw up the sponge. It seems likely that England is now in for 15 or 20 years more fighting what with China and the extreme illness of the Ameer, who can hardly last another year.

I got your Dundee advertiser for which many thanks, containing an account of the attack on Lord Wolsey by Lansdowne. I think one may, without inconguity , say that both are right. I would like to draw your attention to an extremely good article on ‘reorganisation or reform’ by Captain Stewart it is in the February number of either the 19th century or United Service Magazine . It is really very well worth reading, and in fact should be read by everyone who takes any interest at all in the future defence of the empire. It is really very well worth reading, in fact should be read by everyone who takes an interest at all in the future defence of the Empire. My fears about the fate of my photos have fortunately turned out to be wrong for they all turned up yesterday afternoon, so I am sending them by this mail to Gerry to keep for me. I do hope they won't be snaffled at Greglingstadt or elsewhere on the way. It might be better to keep them here! I should be greatly annoyed if they were lost and on second thoughts will likely do so.

I have now managed to get quarters here , near the Royal artillery barracks ( Staats Artillery Barracks) which I think I wrote about in my letter number two of 5th of January. The quarters are the officer’s quarters of the Boer Artillary, and I must say they did themselves well. The room I now am in is one of five about the size of my old room in Edinburgh and fitted with two electric lamps, a big circular table, and a spring bedstead . The houses single storey, and each has its back is back green and a front garden, about twice the size of Geraldine's. The barracks themselves are really very fine. Tomorrow if I find time I am going to take or buy a few photos ; If the latter I will post them to you.

10th April

I leave tomorrow morning for Middelburg, excuse more at present

with much love to all
ever your loving son Sam R Normand

Bliutwater Spruit
21 April 1901

My dear father and mother

I'm writing this at 4:00 AM. On what I believe to be the 21st of April, but I forgot the date entirely. We took three days from Pretoria to Middelburg by train, as a very great number of troop trains with different columns were moving up, and there was- not unnaturally- a block at a small station like Middleburg. We arrived about 7:00 PM on I think the 14th, but did not get a chance to detrain till dawn the next morning. The 15th and 16th was spent in Middleburg waiting for more guns. The next day we did a short March too Keirom Spruit About 7 miles , and the next day to Hoed Spruit. Then we marched by different columns, so as to shut in a party of Boers and a lot of cattle in a deep kloof near Klipspruit.

We got a number of prisoners, 101 waggons about 1000 head of cattle and several thousand sheep. Yesterday we again made a very good bag. We first got bogus orders for a March of about 14 miles North East but early in the morning, or just as we were about to march off Again split up and went almost due East . The two a Pompons (mine C. C and Higgins R2) were ordered to gallop to the screen of scouts as quickly as we could. This was about 2 miles, and about 1/2 or 3/4 of a mile uphill. When we got to the top we found a lot of waggons and cattle and about 30 prisoners had surrendered, so we did not fight a shot; and got to camp- about 6:00 or 7 miles off to this place at by about 9:30 AM. The only shots that were fired were I believe at the general himself and some of his staff who rather stupidly galloped right ahead of the scouts onto a Hill on the opposite side of a small Kloof - anyhow no damage was done.

We have now got about 1:40 prisoners 80 or 90 waggons and some 2000 cattle and 3000 sheep. Not bad for a two day collection, besides some 80 or 90 rifles and plenty of ammunition - mostly our own. The Boers were beautifully caught, as they expected us to go on by the main road North East while one column went a bit South of East and we marched East and they regularly walked into our arms. This place is called Bluikwater Spruit and is about 12 miles from Roos-Senekal. Several columns – Pulteney’s, W Kitchener And others whose commanders names I can't remember at this hour of the morning are working round here. Ben Viljoen And his brother are being chased by these columns, and if he is properly hunted, I am told that his only route of escape is via Roos-Senekal, so we may have a chance of a smack at him today. Part of our column start in a few minutes viz 5:00 AM and I go with a flanking column about 6. The troops with us are the 21st and 81st battalion's (sections only) R.F.A , 61st howitzer battery two Pompoms- Scottish horse (Tullibardine’s ),

18th and 19th Mounted infantry and a few R.E and A&S.H. follow.

The column is in command of Lt. Colonel Beatson but Sir Bindon Blood and General Featherstonehaugh are also with us. We live at present on the fat of the land sheep - pig's- any amount of chickens and ducks and an occasional goose. At present we are very lucky, as we generally get into camp about 10 or 11 am starting about 6. The whole march in general only 12 to 14 miles and hitherto has been less, but we go in very roundabout ways so as to clear the country in all directions. It is now getting pretty cold at night but not yet so cold as to be unpleasant. Colonel Pultney’s column reported a success against the enemy- probably part of Viljoen’s Lot about two or three days ago the borrowers when actually caught seem only too pleased to give in, so heaven only knows why they don't save themselves worry and us trouble and give in before they are absolutely forced to.

I'm enjoying the tracking thoroughly and am as fit as possible.

how are you all getting on at Pam ? Much love to all

Ever your loving son
Sam R. Normand

22.IV.01 (22 April1901)
Bluikwater

My dear Father and Mother

Yesterday morning, as I spoke of in my last our little part of the column went off to try and track Viljoen’s waggons, but a little rain had done much to deface them . We came on about 10 waggons broken up and left. There were also a few Boers's about, but we were not allowed to give chase- no doubt to avoid hastening matters too prematurely before the other columns got properly round.
We got back to camp about 1:00 PM, the other and bigger portion of the column all going on a bit . They came back about 10:30 AM this morning, having captured a lot of waggons ammunition etc. and two guns. Our total haul up to date now is 57 prisoners 137 surrenders 100 and seven women and 214 children two guns 188 rifles 45,000 rounds of S.A.A. (small arms ammunition) 100 waggons 25 carts 2500 cattle and 7000 sheep 200 horses and 25 mules not bad for a week! A certain amount of Krupp 9 pound ammunition has also been got , and I have kept one and a Wesley Richards carbine marked “specially made for ZAR” as trophies. I want very much to get a Mauser carbine, but there are very few and they are generally snapped up at once. They are much handier than the rifle for sporting purposes . Tomorrow we move off for Roos- Senekal And I think there is a good chance of falling in with some of Viljoen's lot. The other column near us, Beatson's has had a bit of fighting . Last night they signalled to us for 456 boxes of SAA and this means 61,600 rounds. The other Pompom BB which mobilised with me at Pretoria with that column has also been in action.

23.IV.01

We arrived in camp about 3 miles South of Rooz-Senekal at 10:00 AM but as Poultney was already in we met no opposition. In the afternoon Higgins - the other Pompom fellow- and I went on a looting expedition. We separated about a mile or so from camp and each found a farm with plenty of foul- ducks- pigs etc. but had not the heart to take anything away ourselves but reported the discovery on our arrival back in camp. On our way back however we found a farm just cleaned of the occupants, so I got a chair and one or two other wonderful things including a couple of goatskins. About 6 of these make very good rugs or “Karossers” to ”wrap baby bunting in” when it gets really cold. Tomorrow we both got off with some Scottish horse probably to clear more farms in the neighbourhood .

26.IV.01
Friday

We had rather a good day on the 24th though at first a bit annoying. We were entrusted to the tender mercies of a guide called McCabe to show us the farms –“ a repentant Boer” But he either did not know his country or purposely misled us as we wasted about 2 hours. This past the country, East of Roos-Senegal is very rugged and rocky and full of boggy spruits so that if one does not know the way it is almost impossible to get along.

However at the first farm we came to a Boer farmer volunteered to show us The rest of the farms in the Valley, and we got on all right. About four farms were cleared out, and just beyond the last we found a hospital. There was in it a man who had been wounded on Sunday last. The hospital had a good supply of stores. We took what we could find room for on the waggons, but it had not nearly enough waggons all of which were loaded up with the Boer families and their bedding and cooking utensils and a little food; So that most of this valuable loot had to be burned flower maize and oats even butter. On the way back I was put in charge of the rear guard and had an awful time with a waggon load of Boers. The waggon- instead of having ten mules and a harness, had only Four mules and two very poor horses and almost rotten harness. Also the waggon had no break the result was every slight uphill incline some part the harness gave way, and every little downhill they had to put on a trek chain round one of the wheels to skid it. Then about 2 miles from camp, in a bad drift, my ammunition cart turned clean over and the native driver underneath. I really was not very sorry for him, as I had been trying for a fortnight to make him understand that he was an absolute fool as regards driving mule team, and now he has found it out for himself. However, we reached camp about 8:30 PM or 9:00 PM a good 2 1/2 hours after the others. I managed however, to get a Mauser carbine which is some consolation; 8 but a beautiful Little Pony I had fixed on for myself to replace one of my horses left behind sick has been quite lost sight of, and I fear gone off with a party of M.I who left yesterday; But I have managed to raise Cain generally all around about ponies being taken privately without reference either to the Provost Marshall or the Remount officer. Yesterday the 25th we marched in again to Bluitwater , and rested all day . Tomorrow we march off for Dullstroom, and I think are likely to fetch up at Belfast in four days. when we go then I do not know but I could make a very fair guess . This will go by Todd the Vet Who is going in to Middelburg in a few days, and I will probably email you again from Belfast, while I also hope to get letters from you about your doings at Pau.

Best love to all
Ever your loving son
Sam R Normand

C.C. section Pompoms
Belfast
7th May 1901

My dear father and mother

I really forgot in my last- of about 27th alt- was numbered ex V1 or XV11 but you will be able to trace it by the date. In case I have admitted to acknowledge any of yours have with me the following ;-

March 1st WJN
March 1st Sis
March 7 Mother
March 13 Mother
March 13 Father
March 19 Mother

Since writing from Dullstroom where we arrived about the 28th or 27th ult. we twice had a little opposition from some very difficult country about 10 to 12 miles South East of Dullstroom.. I killed one horse and had to shoot two others from sheer over work, one day we were 18 hours out- and the next day 16 hours- on the move all of the time, But we got a certain amount of stock- some prisoners etc. Unfortunately four offices of the Scottish horse (Tullibardine’s) Well wound did the first day- one severely, a fellow called Hamilton; The adjutant also had three wounds in his knee, but both are now pretty well. The country we got over is the worst I have seen anywhere here and is I believe only equalled by Kopje Hoep (near Barberton) and bits round Ermelo and Carolina. I dare say we shall go up there next. Our total haul since leaving Middelburg is as follows 33 prisoners of war 243 surrendered Boers, 167 Women, 534 children, 250 rifles, 55,000 rounds of ammunition , 166 waggons, 41 carts, 3200 head of cattle, and 10,000 sheep besides about 200 to 250 horses. This during the month of April . I got here - Belfast- on Sunday the 5th inst. about 10:00 AM. It is very cold now here, and last night excessively so. Must close now I'm keeping very fit and hope all you are Ditto

Much love to all
Ever your loving son
Sam R Normand

15/5/1901
No. 3 Column (Benson’s)
Belfast

My dear father and mother my last was of 7/5/01, two days after our arrival here; we are off tomorrow morning early and I am pretty busy, so you must excuse news.

it is very cold now at night here in fact we have had about 8.7 degrees to 10.7 degrees of Frost every night except 2 .water generally frozen to the bottom of the basin however we are all fit and well. Yesterday I got 3 letters,

viz

Mother -March 26th (Pan)
Father ditto
Belle ditto

You must all be enjoying the lovely scenery and the drives you, mater, are quite a wonder. I hope the roads are now fit for biking and that Bell and Sis are Getting plenty of country or rambles . How is the fishing progressing? I came across a lovely stream near Bluitswaterthe other day- just like a trotting stream in the Highlands, but had no opportunity to try it. It is very rare to find a pretty stream in this country, so now of course they are improving as we have now no rain and they are clear instead of being muddy.

How goes the Spanish? I suppose you can all “habblar” with the best of them. I do envy you all rubbing up French and Spanish together. I find that I generally stuck in France and fill in the gaps in Spanish.

Excuse more, the orderly is just off.
Your loving
Sam

XX (1)
2 June
Eland’s Kop
Kumatie River

My dearest mother

I daresay this letter will go by the June Mail as my last. The convoy goes into Machadorp tomorrow and will likely come back the same day then the next day we go in too. I expect Lydenburg Is our destination but more than that I had better not say. The country is said to be worse than what we have had here and that is saying a fair amount. Last night was I think the coldest we have had and today was bitterly cold right through. The wind which was fortunately behind us cut like a knife so that even those that could have ridden walked pretty well all the way. I wrote last from Carolina; the next day there we marched to Bonnefort where we were before (Everadre Stage) our camp this time was however just short of the Isomati bridge ,Near a farm where I found nearly a whole set of double mule harnesses which may come in handy. We also picked up a number of horses and a I got a beautiful little mare about four years old a perfect picture about 13.3 hands and as far as we can see only one fault- a small slit Above the Hock. The other pony I got- at Seeweprost an Entire – about 13.2 As wild as a Hawk when I got him about four days ago but comes to me when he is called. Being a buck pony I call him Piet; what to call the mare I don't know yet. Yesterday no one could go near her but today she is timid and allows her face to be rubbed. It is nothing but humility no vice.

9th June

I am really horribly slack about writing & posting letters. Here we have been 4 days in Machaladorp and have now left and I have neither finished this or posted it. We got in on the 4th from Elands Kop the 20th April from Paris of an saved date than those acknowledged and are heading NNE (all this is very faint pencil) to a place called Schwartz koppies, And tomorrow go on to Badfontein - about 12 miles further. This is the beginning of the Badfontein valley, where not so very long ago only strong convoys and columns dared to venture. It is now pretty safe and we hardly expect even to see a Boer. It was, however a very bad place. The Valley is about 18 miles long and the Gorge runs along closer to the road and offers a splendid conceal made for “sniping” parties. Convoy's were frequently fired at about 100 yards or so before they knew of the presence of the enemy.

My Cape cart had rather a trying experience yesterday afternoon. I sent my servant with it to get some things in Machaladorp for me and leave a couple of boxes with the 42nd battery. The latter part of the Commission was executed without any mishap, but going on into the town one of the mules got restive on approaching the bridge over the River; so my servant got out to lead them over. The mule however, who was a bit fresh, gave a side jump when he was in the middle of the drift and knocked the other mule over the side, a drop of eight to 10 feet into four or five feet of water. Then there was trouble! My servant luckily escaped with only a bruise knee, but most of the harness was smashed and the pole splintered right in the middle. The meals of course came off scatheless (mules can’t hurt themselves!).

However we got the pole patched up in 20 minutes or so, got the parcels and back to camp about 6:00 PM. My servant was a bit despondent about it when he showed me the wreck at 7:30 , but a couple of hours work after dinner by the light of 1 candle we fix the thing up with various bolts and screws and bits of plate iron produced from odd places in camp. Today it stood the joinery well and rather a bad road it was - 3 drift to cross and three very long Hills to surmount. It would have been a terrible loss, as it is so handy to carry various odds and ends and now seems to form an absolute indispensable part of my entourage. (is that the right word?)

We are all coming out in different kinds of head gear today. It was really rather amusing. 5 gunner officers (self included) on nearing camp formed up together and made off to find our position for the camp- no two of us wore the same kind of hat nor were our horses even dressed the same. One had a khaki helmet the officers right with the horses number 2 Ditto Indian pattern No. 3 ditto Egyptian pattern No. 4 German pattern and No. 5 (your humble) a sort of nondescript patent convertible, which can be used either as slouch brimmed hat or a field service cap. Only 2 horses had the same pattern of head collar; no two had the same bit and all carried different articles on the saddles. What would smart horse soldiers say to that.

My nondescript convertible is generally called the “Tea coy Chinese Padoga” hat which is rather descriptive if you only saw it. But it is comfortable and more useful than many others and it is 2 useful hats in one.

18th June

Here we are again missing mails. I am very sorry but we have been absolutely on the move since I wrote last, and no convoy has gone in. On the 10th after leaving Schwartz koppies we March on to Badfontein; the weather was cool was not bad though down in to the Valley. The next day we went on to Witklip of Rietfontein, a good deal of which was uphill. We had a little sniping on our right flank going through the Badfontein Valley But nothing much.

From Rietfontein (Witkip”) We moved on about 7 miles or more to a place on the map called Lisabon, at the head of a deep Kloof leading S(outh) into the Krokodil river valley, joining the latter at a place called STERKSPRUIT. All this is a really marvellous piece of country. We had a splendid command and could see for miles to the East and West of us, right in to the Valley where the railway meets the junction of the Eland’s River and the Krokodil at Elandsfontein.

Just as we were getting into camp at Lisbon on the 12th our advanced mounted infantry got engaged with some Boers. it was close behind so I brought on the old gun up the Hill, just too late for a party of about 18 Boers who galloped off at an easy range of about 2000 yards.

They got behind some rocks however and I gave them a few shots as they cleared off.

The next day we left camp standing and moved off South about four or five miles and began clearing the Valley to the East of us, returning to camp that evening. The 14th 15th and 16th however I camped out so as to be nearer the scene of operations.We cleared out three valid, of family and cattle, but only got 3 prisoners and two men who surrendered. We got a lot of ammunition however - about 70,000 or 80,000 rounds which was all blown up. The cattle were chiefly trek oxen , of which we got over 200, and a number of cows and sheep . This was a combined operation of about five columns – our own, Parkes, Barker’s , Douglas and Spens. (Spens in command of the others) but we do not know what they managed to get. Tomorrow we move back toward Rietfontein (Witklip) but do not know what our alternate goal is.It may be that we go back to the line and do a bit more work Dullstroom way.

The convoy left at this morning so as to get clear of a baddish drift about a mile from here and we catch it up tomorrow when I will endeavour to post this and other letters. I dare say that at Witklip we may get some mails - I hope so.

I must now close- hoping all are well under fit. Love to everybody and heaps my dearest mater to yourself.
ever your loving son
Sam R. Normand