| Description | Letter from Frederick W Davidson, in the Boer War, to his aunt and cousins in which he thanks them for their letters and tells them he has had a hard time since he last wrote although he is presently stationed at Arundel; he describes the [Coloikoys] affair and remarks that there was 'no mistake about our being in a death trap there' as 4,000 Boers fired from concealment on to around 200 of the Wiltshire Regiment; they had had word that two companies of the Worcester Regiment were being annihilated at [Slonjers Fontein] so he and some surgeons and companies of soldiers went to their assistance but were ambushed as night fell; he describes the ambush and the work he did despite being shot through the left forearm; they retreated to Renbury but again had to flee in the middle of the night and make a dash for Arundel during which he lost everything in his possession; his arm healed within a week but the wound has left a nasty scar; he had secret orders to leave the hospital with 5 lb of biscuit and a small tin of bully beef, he remarks that he had no idea where he was going but they got in to Kimberley with little loss; he rejoined his unit while General French advanced on Bloem Fontein and he remarks that they have had an easy time since then; he has met Tommy Atkins and describes him; he remarks that the Boers hide behind the Kopjes and fire: 'they can't shoot for nuts'; bands have been playing to cheer the soldiers up, he describes the music and names some of the songs; he hopes his next letter is from Praetoria; he discusses his plans for after the war and requests that they don't let his mother know he has been hit, 28 February [1900]. |