a corporal who fi Modder River, Thy in Ind and saw African Field Force in Modder Bth My Deak Bus aged jew minute: write you wines. T don't think this letter will come doubtless you will ye read all a the papers. Hard lines indeed Billy, tw be torn tru of love and friendship, down to a life of peace and happy But when one's Queen and country calls for her defenders there ix no time for tarrying. Quick isthe action, so here mee more full blown auks of HIM-s Ist Bu. anders. Noneed me te ing up 5 the se on the 27th we embar ge it tw say Trejoined the 18th Oct., Queenstown, equipped 4 © with any amount of deck We received 1 send-off from the and li went well duri Cape Town, wi Nov. We then made with all possible up country and on Tuesday (28th) we received our baptism of tire. We are ut present encamped the battlefield of Modder River, 21 miles from Kimberley, which place we lieve ina day ortwe. The da vur big tight here T can never forget, Billy. Boers numbering some ched Here were the 000, strongly the banks of by earthworks: of all shapes und forms, trees, houses, ete.. while we slowly but' steadily advanced Across an open plain, targets for the Mauser bullets and Krupp shells that the enemy kept peppering at us. Arrived within 600 yards of the position we lay down flat, and opened heavy fire on the Boers, which was as heavily returned. In this position we lay for 10 hours, subjected the he of a merciless sun, whose rays played havoc riders' I For miles around the continual sharp crack of the rifle. the rapid shower of bullets from the Maxims, and the thundering boom from our uns, coupled with the belching thunder from the enemy's Krupp and Howitzer, could be heard for hours. At last, towards evening the enemy showed signs of wavering, so in the twinkling of an eye the British boys were up and flying for all they were worth to the river, in order to ford it and get their bayonets into play if at all possible. We were too premature however. A large number of the foe had fied certainly, hut a party had been m the tank, so'these beggars egan 'o make it a bit hot for us, whilst the shells fell thick and fast. Tt was now that we began to lose men heavily. Remember, Billy, we were now in the river (that is, about 100 or 200 of us on the dank) and this wade it very awkward for us, as we were tov low down to be able to return their fire. Presently we had the satists tion of seeing one of nur batteries of artil-
[ery coming into action on our behale, and in another few minutes Mr. Boer was off at full gallop. Our work was not yet finished, though. On getting into form the other side we formed to the cit for the purpose of storming a wood where a number of Boers were still supposed to be holding out. We advanced sly, our Artillery still letting the shells tly with great accuracy; but suddenly, when we thought the enemy had cleared shell burst in our midst, killing 2 and wounding 4 or 5. This caused us to retire i, another shell from the same quarter expediting matter Still the air was full of the din of war, now and again another poor unfortunate would fall, but the Boers were grulually losing ground, At last, as darkness set in and no response could be got to our guns, we bivouncked where we sixteen hours the field 14 of which was under fire, and the previous day, y contemplate, hut not quite so bad to experience under such circumstances. On roll being called we found that our regiment alone had lost 20 killed and 98 wounded, two of whom have succumbed to their wounds since. tis supposed that the division lost 278 in all, but I fancy it must have been more, It was a brilliant victory, old chap, but dearly bought. Personally, I could not tell you all that was done on that never-to-be-f atten day. It would be utterly impossible for me to explain to you how 1 felt when we came into action, the greater part of it isa blank, a sort of madness seems to overpower one and makes hin oblivious to all his surroundings when he sees so many of his comrades falling around him, More than once, Billy, L consider T have had a providential escape, and T can only hope that we shall never be required through such a desperate engagementayain, General Lord Methuen characte one of the most trying and desperate counters in the annals of the British Army."
We are at rest for a week now, in order to repair the railway bridge which the enemy have blown up. Then I suppose we shall move towards Kimberley, but ere reaching there T suppose we shall have another set-to at Spytfontein, T scarcely think this division will reach Pretoria, as there is no railway in that direction, and as the Natal Force is much further up than we are, and have the advantage of rail all the way, it would take too long for us to march. However, we shall see. T sincerely trust the whole affair will be over ere this reaches you. Tdon't think this war will lust long' we hope to be all home again by the end of March. God grunt that it nay be so. Must now close have some work to do before dusk. les member me to your fulks when next you write, and with heartiest greetings and wishes for the coming year, Believe me to remain, Ever your sincere friend,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.