Boer War Diary

[See also additional information below for further explanation]

1899.

Muttra

8th. Sept. Fri.
This morning about 7 o/c I was urgently called to the orderly room to find a telegram from Simla ordering the Regiment to mobilize and prepare for service in case we should be detailed for S. Africa. Naturally excitement reigned supreme, whilst wires were sent to all officers on leave in the country & to all detachments & furlough men.
Fiennes, who was in temporary command, wanted to be ready to start on Monday or Tuesday at latest! Thought it was quite feasible if we could only get those on leave back in time.
As I am doing Adjutant while Bell is at home, I shall have my hands pretty full.

9th. Sat.
Working all day. Got through the horse inspection & most of the men. Little turned up from Simla. The Authorities have kept the whole thing very dark & would not even give him a hint that we were to go.

11th. Monday
Got the order today saying we were detailed for Services in S. Africa.

15th. Friday
The work of preparation is progressing rapidly & had we only

been complete in mobilization stores, would only be waiting for the depot men to get ready. These came in this morning – odds and ends keep turning up from all parts of India.

Sun. 17th Sept.
The entraining of the baggage was begun today as it was thought possible that we might leave tomorrow, but as no news came during the morning, we knocked off.
It has been a real hard 10 days’ work from daybreak till dinner, with precious little sleep, 3 to 4 consecutive hours being all I have had owing to being called up at all hours of the night by urgent wires.

Mon 18th.
We got the Bombay Concentration programme this morning saying we were to arrive at Deolali at day-break 23rd, and sail on the 24th, halting at Jhansi, Hoshangabad & Deolali. This means leaving Muttra on Wednesday morning early. In the afternoon a wire came saying all the fellows at home were rejoining in Natal, including the Colonel