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Scottish Yeomanry in South Africa 1900 - 1901
A Record of the Work and Experiences of the Glasgow and Ayrshire Companies By Trooper A. S. Orr (1901)


Preface

COMING home from the Cape on board the "Tintagel Castle" a very general desire was expressed amongst us to possess some such record of our small share in the great South African struggle as is contained in the following pages, but it seemed that no one was willing to undertake the task of writing it. After being some time at home, and seeing that otherwise the proposal was likely to come to nothing, I was persuaded to take the matter in hand. I have endeavoured to write a plain story of our work and experiences during sixteen months of service, but I fear it will be found to have lost much of what might have been its chief attraction -life and vigour - from having been written almost entirely from memory after some lapse of time. While intended primarily for the members of the two West of Scotland Yeomanry Companies, it may prove of interest to the friends who, in our absence, showed such a lively and practical interest in our welfare; and last, but not least, it will answer the two questions they one and all ask us:- "Did you have any fighting in Africa?" and—"Did you see any Boers?"

My best thanks are due to Mr. J. Hannan Watson of our company, who has so enlivened the book with his sketches, and to Mr. R. E. Wilson for a chapter on the Bethlehem fighting.

A.S.O.

Contents

Chapter I.—Mobilisation—January 1 till February 23, 1900
Chapter II.—On Board s.s. Carthaginian—January 23 till March 21, 1900
Chapter III.—Base Camps—March 21 till May 9, 1900
Chapter IV.—.With General Sir Archibald Hunter—May 9 till July 1, 1900
Chapter V.—With General Hunter (continued)—July 1 till July 19, 1900
Chapter VI.—With General Bruce Hamilton—Wittebergen (by Trooper R. E. Wilson)—
July 19 till August 4, 1900
Chapter VII.—With General Macdonald—August 4 till August 31, 1900
Chapter VIII.—We come under Colonel Le Gallais—August 31 till October 14, 1900
Chapter IX.—With Colonel Le Gallais—Bothaville--October 14 till November 9, 1900
Chapter X.—With Colonel Pilcher—First Trek—November 9 1900, till January 12, 1901
Chapter XI.—With Colonel Pilcher—Second Trek—January 12 till February 1, 1901
Chapter XII.—With Colonel Pilcher—Third Trek—February 1 till March II, 1901
Cbapter Xlll.—With Colonel Pilcher—Fourth Trek—March 11 till May 12, 1901
Chapter XIV.—Conclusion
Roll of 17th Company
Roll of 18th Company


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