| Description | Letter from Frederick W Davidson, in the Boer War, to his grandmother, Mrs Cowie, Aberdeen in which he assures her that he is still alive and well but has had a very difficult six weeks - 'I was as far as the Madder River with Buller and can safely say I've seen a bit of life'; he is with the 8th Field Hospital though is at present returning to Cape [Town]; 'after we have got rid of the wounded, I go up country with the 6th division', Lord Roberts is likely to be in command; he wishes she would write to his mother for 'you know the position she is in'; he asks her not to show the letter to anyone because it is so disjointed - 'I fear I shall be heartily sick of it before it is over. It is fearfully rough and hard and not much of the picnic about it'; he asks for news from home; he discusses his future after the war, remarking that if England wins, he will probably stay in South Africa; he discusses extremes of weather; he speculates as to the effect of war on the folk back home and asks after Doctor Wilson, 23 December 1899. |