Number issued: 9
Gold Maltese crosses, suitably inscribed, to:
191 Trooper David Hannibal WALDIE (P.O.W., Waterval, 07/04/1900 - 08/06/1900)
???? Trooper MERTON (no record found - possibly 1026 Pte Thomas John Moreton)
1675 Trooper Frederick Walter PELLETT [Pallett / Pallet]
Presentation made by the Mayor of St Kilda, in Naumann's Hall, South Dunedin.
Troopers Cairns and Pellett received a second medal each from South Dunedin Friends.
Corporal Rumble also received an albert & pendant from the Teviot Estate.
Waterval (n.d.)
To: Major Robin, Commanding N.Z. Regiment.
Sir,
I have the honour to report that after seeing you at 4 a.m. on March 31st, beyond the Water-works, I laid down for a sleep, and was aroused by Trooper Hahn, who was with the cart that brought the mail, under Sgt. Pitt. I directed him to where you were, and understand that the cart reached the N.Z.M.R. lines. I did not see the cart. After my brother left me, I was told by an Officer in charge of the Transport, Capt. Foster, that we were to get mules, etc., fed, and be ready to move on at the word of command. While we were preparing breakfast, the shelling commenced, and orders came for those in charge of wagons to inspan at once, and follow on the road to Bloemfontein. We got a good start, and were well in the front, having our wagons in their proper place, behind Roberts’ Horse. After seeing that the wagons were in their place, and that all the men were there, I rode back to look for the Scotch cart, and bring it up to the wagons, which I found in the rear, and told them to hurry up on the right flank, and get into their place, and rode on to the front with Staff Sgt. Major Boiscoe [sic] of the A.S.C., who had been also looking for late wagons. I saw my brother there also, but left him picking up some boxes of jam and meat, that had fallen off a wagon. Staff Sgt. Major Boiscoe [sic] and I rode on to see what had caused the halt in front. It turned out to be a wagon of the A.S.C. Supplies stuck in the mud at a little sluit. I waited to see our wagons cross, then rode along with them, until the front of the Transport again stopped, and thought, of course, it was stuck again. The driving was very reckless. We got up well with our wagons to the front, which was then five of six wagons abreast. We knew nothing of the Boers then being in possession of the drift, until we got well in among all the halted wagons, when we found ourselves surrounded by armed Boers, who had ordered all those on wagons, and with them, to throw down their arms, and stand on our right front. I was riding when I came up, and saw no chance of escape. There were then four or five Officers standing among above 100 men of all Corps, including Lieut. Crockford, who we were under. The Boers were all around us, we threw down our arms, and it was impossible to resist; we were covered by the Boers, who were all around. I let my mare go, and hope she joined the Regiment. Up to this there had not been a shot fired, it was the greatest surprise imaginable to find the enemy so near, no one knew of their position, and those who were in the front could not warn us of the trap; at this time, Roberts’ Horse was seen coming up at a gentle trot, and got within about 50 yards, when a Boer stepped out and ordered them to give up their arms and dismount, but the Major gave the word “Files about gallop”. Just before that, and a little to my front, when I was ordered to dismount, a shot, the first one, was fired at a 10th Hussar, who did not at once dismount, he was killed. We had a very hard time of it while the firing was on, the bullets from our Forces dropping among our wagons very thick, and the Boers firing through the Transport at them. We were ordered to take shelter under the wagons, oxen and mules were all mixed up in a heap, some wounded and others killed. When the firing ceased, we were at once marched off the N.E., but were brought back again, and joined the captured Transport and guns at the Modder River crossing, by the Water-works. We continued on the road to Thabanchu, which we left about 1½ miles from the drift, and went in a Northern direction, and were marched about until the evening of April 3rd. We arrived on the evening of April 4th and stayed in Pretoria in the carriages until next morning, and arrived at Waterval on April 5th at 10.30 a.m. Heenan, Cattral, Franklin, Miller and Tarrant were ill on the way. I arranged for Heenan and Tarrant, who were very bad with fever, to be taken into Hospital at Winburg. We entrained, but they only took Heenan, and left Tarrant with us. I tried to get him taken to Hospital on arrival at Pretoria, but was told he would be taken out in the morning. There was a Quartermaster of the R.A. Medical Corps who did all he could for the sick, but could not help me any more. I sent a note to you by him, also gave two of our drivers notes, a message to John, Officers Orderly, and left a note with the Station Master at Winburg. I hope you get some of them, I also wrote at intervals from here. Poor Tarrant died at Pretoria on April 15th. Heenan is now at Pretoria, where he was brought from Winburg, but cannot find the date. Wyllie was admitted into the Hospital here, with fever it was at first thought, but turned out to be a tumour on the brain. He had some very bad fits at first, and gradually sank and died on May 18th. I wrote at once to you, and to his brother, but am keeping the certificate of his death until I get out. We have fared fairly well here. I arranged to draw our rations with another large mess, by request of the Supply Officer in the Store, and the men divided themselves into two messes. Sgt. Harris in one, and Powell taking charge of the other. They seem to get on as well as the circumstances will admit. Mr Hay, the American Consul, cabled to New Zealand on our behalf, that we were prisoners of war, numbering 18, at my request. He was most obliging. My reason for this was that you would get word of us if the others of my messages failed to reach you. Mr Hay wrote me in a few days, that the New Zealand Government had placed to our credit £100, which we could draw on by Mr Houpt’s cheque, accompanied with a signed pay roll from me. Mr Houpt is the Assistant Commandant here, he is a very obliging Officer. I am also indebted to Mr Nesbitt, of the Protectorate Regiment who was captured in the armoured train at Mafeking, of which he was the Lieut. in Command. He gave me £14 out of a Colonial Fund, of which he had the management. I have drawn three payments from the £100 from New Zealand. About 12 days after being here, I got a change of shirts for the men, then socks, and a few days after a pair of trousers each. On arrival, I got a cup, plate and spoon for each man, also cooking utensils for each mess. The men are very hard to manage here, there is no discipline here at all, everyone considers himself as good as the other, and I am very sorry to say that some of our men have fallen into this bad habit, using insulting language, etc., notwithstanding that they have been treated better than any of the 3,800 men here. There are men here who have been captured six months or more who have only had 20/-, and that only in the last two weeks, whereas our men have received £7 each in two months, except two, Pope and Valentine, who have had six pounds each, but I will tell you more of this, Sir, when I join the Regiment. It is very hard to get what one wants here, the Boers have not any system in their Stores, and serving out wood, etc., is very badly managed, but they do their best here to make one comfortable, but not having the messing store here, we have to go without occasionally. Thanks to the money we have received, we have done very well.
The following is the scale of rations: –
Bread, one loaf 12 oz per day; Meat, ½ lb twice per week (up to two weeks ago, when we get it three times a week); Flour, 2 lb weekly; Sugar, 12 oz weekly; Rice, 12 oz weekly; Mealies flour, 2 lb weekly (for porridge); Salt, 4 oz; potatoes, 12 lb; occasionally Tea, 4 oz, weekly, or Coffee; plenty of Boer tobacco, and ½ lb soap weekly. There is a Store here, at which one can get groceries, but very dear, Butter 3/- per pound, Sugar 1/6d per pound, Fish 1/6d per tin, Jam 2/- per tin, and everything in proportion.
I am writing this, Sir, owing to a rumour that we are released, we shall be sent down to Cape Town, if so I will post this report to you at first opportunity, but I hope we shall be allowed to join our Regiments. I am sure that I would much rather be with you than anywhere else. I hope my brother got back safe, please Sir, tell him that I am quite well. Some of our men would not be able to join the Regiment yet for duty, they have had slight touches of fever. Powell, Valentine, Miller, Cattral, Franklin and Prosser are still weak. On the 30th May, Farrier R.E. Smith, 418, 2nd Contingent, joined us here. The Roll now stands: –
P.R. Berland 101, W. Harris, S. Sergt. 40, Privates Pope 52, Powell 92, Miller 77, Prosser 129, WALDIE 191, Cattral 118, Butters 194, Cossar 123, Franklin 200, Valentine 38, Palmer 171, Jewell 149, R.E. Smith 418, Heenan, Hospital Pretoria, Tarrant, Died Pretoria April 15th, Wyllie, Died Waterval May 18th, McCallum 33, conductor, who I was ordered to keep on my list, is here will.
My respects to the Officers, and sincerely hope that you, Sir, and they are all well. Kindly, if it is not troubling you too much, tell the S.M. and Sgt. that I wish to be remembered, and am quite well.
I remain, Sir,
Your obedient servant.
(signed) Prosper Berland,
BACK FROM THE WAR.
SOCIAL AT SOUTH DUNEDIN TO RETURNED TROOPERS.
Naumann's Hall, South Dunedin, was packed to the doors last evening, when a concert and social was held by the residents of St Kilda and South Dunedin for the purpose of extending a welcome to the troopers of the district who have returned home from South Africa. Though held somewhat later than those in other districts, the welcome showed no lack of heartiness and enthusiasm. The Mayor of South Dunedin (Mr A. Todd) presided, and on his invitation the following troopers took their seals on the stage: – Corporal MATHIE, Troopers MERTON, CAIRNS, DUNCAN (of the fourth contingent), and Corporal GOODMAN, Troopers LEAR and PELLETT (of the fifth contingent). The other troopers in the district who have returned are Trooper WALDIE (first contingent) and Corneal RUMBLE (of the fourth contingent). These two, however, were unable to be present.
Before proceeding with the musical programme, the Chairman said he esteemed it a great privilege to preside over such a large gathering, which showed that the patriotic spirit had not yet died out in the district. Some people said they were making too much fuss over the returned troopers. He did not think so. These men had gone away, none of them sure they would come back again, and surely it was only right that they should give them a hearty welcome when they returned home safe and sound. He was glad to see that in this matter the people of South Dunedin and St, Kilda were not going to be behind those of other districts. (Applause). The ladies who had assisted in getting up the concert and social had displayed a great deal of energy, and to their efforts the whole success of the gathering should be attributed.
The first part of the programme, then proceeded with, was opened with a selection by an orchestra headed by Mr F.C. Martinelli. Miss McKechnie gave a seantreus in Highland costume; Miss McDonald followed with a coon song "Hush-a-bye, by babe", part of which the audience insisted on her repeating; and Miss Rose Blaney, as might be expected, received hearty plaudits for her rendering of "Killarney", as an encore to which she gave "Comin' through the rye". Mr Mills amused those present with a recitation on a familiar subject, "Influenza", and, returning, he gave a second dealing with General French's march to Kimberley. Another selection was given by the orchestra, and then the Mayor of St Kilda made a presentation of medals to the troopers. The medals were of gold, of Maltese cross form, and appropriately inscribed. In performing this ceremony, Mr Hodges referred to the groundless fears that had been expressed when the proposal to send new Zealanders to the front was first made, that they would not prove themselves worthy of being placed side by side with the Imperial troops. These fears had long since been dispelled, and the men sent from New Zealand had worthily upheld the prestige of the colony. All those who had gone from South Dunedin and St Kilda with the fourth and fifth contingents had been spared to return, and he, with the Mayor of South Dunedin, thought it only right and proper that the residents of the two boroughs should extend to them a hearty welcome back. (Applause). Turning to the troopers, the speaker congratulated them on their safe return, and said he wished to present them each with a medal as a recognition of the valuable services they had tendered in South Africa, and the manner in which they had upheld the prestige of the colony. (Applause).
The troopers were heartily applauded as they stood up to receive their medals. The audience sang "For they are jolly good fellows", and followed this up with three rousing cheers. Trooper PELLETT returned thanks on behalf of himself and his comrades. He said he was not much of a "speechifier", and would sooner face the Boers than an audience. They appreciated very much Hie entertainment, and the hearty manner in which those present had received them. He reciprocated their good wishes, and hoped they would enjoy themselves thoroughly. (Cheers).
The orchestra played again, and Mr J.T. Carter contributed "Because I love you so", and was encored; Miss Blaney sang "The dashing white sergeant", and this item was also much appreciated; Miss Easton gave "Whisper and I shall hear"; and Mr Neil Black was recalled for his song "True to the last". "The volunteer" was next contributed by Miss M. Black, who appeared in costume. Miss Black was enthusiastically encored for her song, and she repeated a verse of it. Mr Gray gave in tragic style a recitation concerning an incident that happened on the Natal railway, and Mr W. Mills again came on with an amusing piece, "On a Farm". The small boys encored him, of course, and Mr Mills's repertoire being extensive, he delivered a fourth recitation, "A Wee Scotch Night". Miss Pollock gave "Little Red Cross".; Mrs King, "The holy city"; and Mr Carter, "Two's company"; and the programme was concluded with a fourth selection by the orchestra. The bulk of the accompaniments were played by Herr Paul Sonderhof, who certainly did his work efficiently. Votes of thanks having been passed to the performers, the floor was cleared for dancing, music for which was supplied by Messrs Sonderhof, Briggs, and Haig. A large number stayed to enjoy this part of the proceedings. Messrs W.J. Gore and T. Gallagher acted as M.C.'s.EMBARKATION DATABASE
