1st April 1900
Just outside Bloemfontein
Dear Mother
I am writing this to you in a big tent, soldiers. I have been in hospital with some kind of fever, they treated me for enteric wick means Typhoid, but I think myself it was fever and Ague with lying in the wet without tents. I am with a lot more in a kind of Convalescent Place. I am nearly all right and expect to be in my company very soon. I am a bit thin but am getting strong. They gave me only milk and whisky for some days and then when my temperature went then they gave me a bit of bread and beef tea and port wine. The sisters were so kind to us when we are sick, just like your own mother never a cross look no matter how much trouble you are. They were very sorry I was coming out they said I was so weak, but I didnít want to stay there when I was getting better, but to make room for someone else. There is a terrible lot of sickness and that Constable Kronig's bro was taken to the hospital along with me. He is terrible bad I am afraid he will not get over it. He was delirious nearly all the time.
There was a battle yesterday morning we could hear action quite plain like thunder and there have been some terrible mistakes made. Batteries cut and the horses and men of one nearly all killed, it is terrible. I went in yesterday to town to buy a few extras and when I came out met some Ambulance wagons bringing in wounded and then the remains of the 2 batteries came in 5 guns out of ? and very few horses or men. They were in a terrible state of nervous excitement. One man said he did not know what to do with himself all round were his mates dying and wounded. He says the Boers demanded their arms and then shot them. (I canít quite believe that yet). He says a fellow cornet asked a driver for his revolver he said alright. He whipped it out and shot him, the Boers then blew his brains out. They say the Boers are now surrounded I hope so indeed.
They succeeded in ? the water supply yesterday it makes it very inconvenient but there are lots of gulls in and around the town. But they say some of them have germs of Enteric. The worst thing in the army is I think the way the horses have gone. Our company was ordered into action yesterday morning. I am told only 30 were able to get horses fit to go. I expect them would be joined to the 1st contingent. I heard they got it hot but we know very little for certain, only what we were told mustn't make too sure of that. You canít buy a bit of writing paper, only these invoices which they are doing up in packages, 12 of these and 12 envelopes for 6d. I gave 2 shillings for the set of free state stamps, little as I could spare it. They will get valuable, take care of them you will notice the way our government put V.R.1 on them, they are called surcharged stamps and can be used on our letters.
Tell father that though this is such a rich country he would not do so well here as on our farm. All unskilled labour is done here by Kaffirs you must hane some trade or clever at mining able to do a boss job in the mines or works then you can make money like hay. There is very little market for produce (of course just now the army could do with a thousand times as much as it can and the Boers have been neglecting their farms for war). As time goes on this will get to be a fine country but you must not think the farmer has no pests here because he has. Miles of locusts comes sweeping over the country devouring everything before them and they have to irrigate here. But they can always get plenty of water a few feet down. Of course the Boers having being all right making the Kaffirs do all the work for nothing while they boss, and shoot and enjoy themselves, but them things will be altered and that is a thing they donít like at all, the prospect of having to work themselves.
I bought 1/2 pound of bacon for 1/- and fried a bit this morning it was a treat but I canít buy many more things. We have had no pay since we landed I have a Kruger sovereign and should like to keep it, and should like to get a set of Boer money.
I have not received a letter yet since I landed but I saw one of our men in town and he said there was a letter and a paper for me at the camp. I shall be so glad to get them as soon as I feel able to walk the 6 or 7 mile, I shall ask for my discharge from the Convalescent Place.
I was thinking how sad it was when the mailbag for the batteries was cut up coming in. Not a man was there a letter for and some quite big parcels of books, jam, cigarettes, tobacco pipes. Alas how many will never know who the kind hearts at home sent them and how those hearts will ache when they hear the news. War is a terrible thing I canët say I am sorry I came, it will indeed be an experience as Mr Foster said if its please God to take now safely through.
This is the 1st of April and dear old Art and Clara will be or soon wedded. I do not know if I shall be able to write to Clara but I shall try, if not will you dear mother give them my heartiest congratulations, wish them peace and happiness, health and prosperity all their days.
These Koppies are regular natural arts; you canít see the Boers while we have to be in the open. If the positions were reversed. the world could not shift us.
They are starting a meeting so will have to finish.
Give my love to all friends, sister and brothers
I shall expect to see a fine farm when I get back
And believe me ever your loving son
Ted
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