John Spencer Churchill to Clara Jerome
Frewen
March 27, 1900 Ladysmith
Dear Aunt Clara,
I have only just received you nice letter of the 25th January!
I fancy that it has been in every camp and hospital in Natal
I have seen such a lot of interesting things during the last few
weeks that I hardly know how to begin to tell you all about it.
Things move very quickly here and it is only three months since
I made up my mind to come out here. But in that short time I have
spent three weeks at the front and have been wounded and thank
heaven I have also found time to recover. I have just rejoined
the regiment and am perfectly fit and well and hope to soon march
into Pretoria and so home.
But to tell you a little of what has happened to me I must 'hark
back' about 2 months.
I arrived in Capetown about the same day you wrote to me (25 Jan)
and found Mama about to leave for Durban with the “Maine.” And
so finding that my instructions were to proceed to Natal as soon
as
possible I became a passenger. We had a very nice voyage round
the Cape - but it is always rough and the Maine is very light hearted.
? never appeared at all and I think had he stayed on board for
the home trip he would have been useless. At Durban we found Winston.
And so we three met all together again; about 7000 miles from where
we expected each other to be. The next day Winston and I left for
the front and I said goodbye to the Maine little knowing that I
should be carried on board three weeks later.
I joined the 'Cockjollybirds" as the S.A. Light Horse are called
at 'Spurman/Spearman? Camp' and found the army preparing for another
attack after Spion Kop. I soon got knocked into the methods of
living in camp and after a few days I managed to get used to sleeping
on the ground and having a bath (rarely) in a nosebag! On the Sunday
after I joined all the Infantry camps struck and the men marched
out I stood with Winston on the road and watched them. There were
22 battalions about 22,000 men and they took a long time to go
past. Then followed the attack on Vaalkranz which lasted three
days and ended in another retreat, and put everybody in a very
bad temper. You will probably have had the opportunity of reading
some 10,000 descriptions of that little battle and so I will not
say anything about it. I saw it from a kopje some three or four
miles away from the shooting, although a few shells came our way.
I was very glad when we moved away and were able to get to water
and soap again. For from Sunday night to Thursday morning I did
not either, nor did I even take my boots off. After about a weeks
marching we arrived back at Chievel[e]y and I had a good opportunity
to see the position and the ground on which the Battle of Colenso
was fought. Three days after we arrived at Chievel[e]y we were
sent out on reconnaissance and told to take Hussar Hill - a small
kopje near Colenso. We had quite an exciting day, and it was very
amusing as we were by ourselves, that is, only the Irregular Brigade
under Dundonald. After skirmishing about all day we were ordered
to retire and it was then that some 300 Boers galloped round our
flank and opened a very heavy fire at a very long range. I happened
to be in the last squadron and soon after we had dismounted to
return their fire I was hit in the leg. Thank goodness it has turned
out to be nothing, but it hurt a good deal at the time. I mounted
again as the squadron continued to retire, but after going about
a mile Winston made me get into an ambulance; and so my military
career ended rather abruptly. It was very bad luck being hit the
first time I was under fire. But I saw a very 'good day' and while
it lasted I heard as many bullets whiz past as I ever want to.
I went straight on to the Maine and there I remained until she
sailed for the Cape. I then stayed one week with Lady Sophie Scott
on her yacht - and here I am back again.
And so here I am back again in this camp just out side Ladysmith
with (Umbulwana?) and Waggon Hill and all the celebrated kopjes
in sight. The camp has stood here sometime and is getting rather
smelly. There are a large quantity of dead horses in the water
and on the plain near us, and these (attractive lively beings?)
do not ? the health of the regiment. But I am very well and do
not seem to worry much about health. However, you can never boast
in this horrible country. Only a week ago in Durban I saw a young
Rose who you may have met. He was telling me how the open air life
suited him and how well he felt etc. - Three days afterwards he
died…?..!
Well goodbye - do write me again. Mama will have arrived home
long before this does. Remember me to Mrs. Ronald and tell her
that I wash every morning out of her nose bag bucket. My love to
Hugh
and all the family
….
John Spencer Churchill
Excuse pencil - I shall have to direct this at the post office
with pen.
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