THE
Records
of "I" Company.
A BRIEF HISTORY
OF THE
EAST
SURREY VOLUNTEERS
SERVICE
IN THE
SOUTH
AFRICAN WAR.
BY
ARTHUR GEORGE (A.G.) GARRISH
______________________
1901.
______________________
To the Memory
OF OUR
FIVE GALLANT COMRADES
WHO SLEEP UNDER THE VELDT
IN SOLDIERS' GRAVES,
THIS RECORD IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.
"Never has a mother
had more reason to be proud of her valiant sons then England has
to-day. And so we stand, and please God shall continue to stand,
a united, world-wide Empire, bound together by ties of blood, friendship,
and an equal love of justice and truth, ready now, henceforth, and
for ever to fulfil the glorious destiny of our race." - Lord
Roberts' Speech at Cape Town, Dec. 10, 1900.
_________________________________
"The service which the
South Africa Force has performed is, I venture to think, unique
in the annals of war
For months together, in fierce heat,
in biting cold, in pouring rain, you, my comrades, have marched
and fought without halt and bivouacked without shelter from the
elements. You frequently have had to continue marching without your
clothes in rags and your boots without soles. When not engaged in
actual battle you have been continually shot at from behind kopjes
by invisible enemies to whom every inch of the country was familiar
You have covered with almost incredible speed enormous distances,
and that often on very short supplies of food. You have endured
the sufferings inevitable war to sick and wounded men far from the
base, without a murmur and even with cheerfulness. You have, in
fact, acted up to the highest standard of patriotism
Is it
any wonder that I am intensely proud of the Army I have commanded,
or that I regard you, my gallant and devoted comrades, with affection
as well as with admiration, and that I feel deeply the parting from
you." - Lord Roberts' Farewell to the Troops, December,
1900.
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![The Late Lieutenant Brooks](icompany2.gif)
CONTENTS.
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PREFACE |
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INTRODUCTION |
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CHAPTER
I. - From Kingston to Durban. |
Our
Environment, Preparation, and Send Off - Incidents of the Voyage
- Las Palmas - Neptune's Visit - A Burial at Sea -In Table Bay -
Round the Coast - On Durban Quay - January 22nd to April 9th, 1900. |
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The
Journey Up-Country - Pietermaritzburg Camp - Moving to the Front
- Scenes on the Tugela - Ladysmith the Impregnable - The Soldier
in the Field - We are Christened "I" Company - April 9th
to April 17th, 1900. |
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Striking
Camp - The March to Surprise Hill - Loss of a Comrade - Incidents
of Camp Life - Bad Water and Sickness - The Order to Move - Pepworth
Farm - April 17th to May 8th, 1900.......... |
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A
Sleeping Army - Again on the March - General Clery and His Men -
In Touch with the Enemy - Through Helpmakaar Pass - The Biggarsberg
Position Turned - A Terrible March - Dundee - May 9th to May 15th,
1900. |
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Re-occupation
of Dundee - Ideal and Reality - Further Progress - Cartridges in
a Grass Fire - First into Newcastle - The General's Congratulations
- Before Majuba - A Brief Lull - The Storming of Inkweloane - A
Memorable Day - Outposts in the Clouds - May 16th to June 8th, 1900. |
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Through
Botha's Pass - We Enter the Free State - On the Brink of Battle
- The Position Described - Advancing to the Attack - Under Shot
and Shell - Through a Fierce Cross-Fire - The Dorsets' Gallant Dash
- The East Surrey's in Hot Pursuit - The Roll Call - Buller's Successful
Strategy - Our First Boer Town - Back into Natal - Boer Looting
and British Magnanimity - June 9th to June 13th, 1900. |
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A
Welcome Rest - Bad News for "I" Company - A Night Tramp
- Sleeping under Difficulties - The Army again Moves - A Marvellous
Picture - Standerton Occupied - The Resurrection of the Old Flag
- June 14th to June 24th, 1900. |
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A
Needful Wash - Canteen Comforts - Railway Building - The Suspicious
Corporal - Incidents on Guard - Arrival of the Draft - Their Voyage
Out - The March Up Country - Buller Enjoys the Sports - Beer - June
24th to July 27th, 1900. |
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Expedition
to Joubert's Kop - Off in the Darkness - The Enemy Once More in
Sight - An Easy Victory - A Trying March Home - Guarding the Line
- Escort Up-Country - A Soldier's Funeral - Farwell to Standerton
- On Communications - Under Red-tapists - July 28th to October 7th,
1900. |
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Homeward
Bound - Plundered, but not by Boers - Premature Rejoicings - Up-country
Once More - Van Reenen's Pass - Enchanting Scenery - Our Occupations,
Amusements, and Losses - October 8th to December 24th, 1900. |
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A
Midsummer Yuletide - A Valuable Discovery - Rainey Season on the
Mountains - The Queen's Death - Fortifying the Post - To the Upper
Tugela - Work and Sport - Homeward Bound at Last - Farewell to Durban
- Our Voyage in the Custodian - December 25th, 1900, to June 7th,
1901. |
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Once
More England - Friends, Flags, and Festivities - Colonel Pearse's
Opinion - Some Points and Conclusions - June 8th, 1901. |
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