SERGEANT CRIBS IN AFRICA.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 25 April 1901, Page 4

SERGEANT CRIBS IN AFRICA.

The many friends of Sergt. Cribb will he pleased to bear that lie is well. We print the following extracts from a letter received in Greymouth : “Kaffirs Kraal, Pretoria, March 10th, 1901. After weary, weary waiting at last the Staff Officer called me into his office and told me he had received instructions to send all mounted details to headquarters, and that if he could make sitisfactory arrangements for the carrying on of the Military Field P. 0., I could then proceed to re-join my regiment. You bet I jumped at the chance ; so here lam doing proper soldier’s duty. Left Mafeking on January loth; arrived here on January 22nd. The second day out from Mafeking I heard the first Boer ping overhead. At fi 30 a.m. the armoured train preceding the ordinary stopped, and rat, rat, rat of the maxim brought us to the windows rifle in hand; o.i a ridge about 1,100 yards away saw s >me I t Boers, and we all soon got to work. Two of the enemy went over the hill leaning across their horses. After 15 minutes’ shooting and two 7lb shells from gun, we resumed our journey. Nothing exciting happened from then out. The journey round was a grand one, touching at Yryburg, Kimberley, De Aar, Naauwport Junction, Bloemfontein, Fourteen Streams, Warrenton, Modder River, Grasspan, Belmont, Orange River, Arundel, Kroonstad, Elands fontein, Johannesburg, Pochefstron and finally Klerksdorp. Spent nights in Kimberley, De Aar, Bloemfontein, Springfontein, Yerenignig and Johannesburg, and had a good look round each place. By look in " on the map you can trace the railway line from Mafeking to Naauwport Junction, up to Johannesburg and thence to Klerksdorp. So you see that I saw a good many places of note en route. On my arrival here, I found that the 4th New Zealand Regiment had moved to Ventersdorp, and on applying at headquarters to go there was informed I could not go, but had to remain in charge of the Details of whom some 20 men were here then ; rather hard lines after being away from the Regiment for seven months and battling so hard to rejoin to be blocked in this manner. Nevertheless a soldier has to obey orders and I remained. Our number swelled to 45 owing to men being discharged from the hospital, etc. For the first four weeks I had a lively time. Up every morning at 2 30 a.m., getting outposts and patrols away, and attending as a head during the day, but thank goodness two Sergeants turned up, and that made things lighter, and now a Lieutenant has turned up and taken charge of us. Since arriving here, the Boers had had two goes at us. The first was when taking up the North Vroppie post, our men only reaching the Kop just before the Boers. This kept affairs lively until 2 p.m., the Boers retiring. We lost one horse killed, and according to the account from the Natiyes, the Boers lost three of their men; that night they fired volleys into the Northamptons outposts, wounding one man and succeeding in taking off a number of cattle and sheep. On February 22nd some fifty mounted troops with one gun and a company of Northamptons went out west reconnoi taring, and after getting out some 3 miles the Boers opened on their rearguaad and within a quarter of an hour were peppering us from three sides. This was kept up for 4 hours, but eventually we drove them back with the gun, and I firmly believe that had it not been for the gun our little party would have had a real warm time in getting back to .camp. Luckily I got out this day so I have had a fair christening. We got to a Boer farm 5 days after this and brought in cattle and people and burnt down a barn full of oat sheaf, and had a good fill of peaches and figs. Lord Methuen’s column has been in fighting. Lieut Haselden and Jerry Vocassivich were with his column, and at present are in this garrison for a fortnight; their squadron is garrisoned at Yroekemorr 9 miles from here.

Alger and Critchly are also hero. Oritchley was with the Third New Zealand Contingent for five months, and was present at Ehenoster Kop. Alger has been in the hospital at Johannesburg, but he is in first-class health at present. At Johannesburg I was informed tha‘ poor Tom Martin had died at Pretoria from enteric. I would not believe it because when I was leaving Mafeking the Sergeant said ho had a letter from Tom asking for his kit. Oritchley called at the hospital and learned that ho had died quite peacefully, surrounded with every comfort and attention that could possibly be given, Tom was a general favourite, not only with our own squadron and regiment, but all who came in contact with him, ever ready to cheer up a comrade, help a man on the day’s march, join in the little recreations, and sing a song r rand the camp fire We all feel sorry for those left behind. Tom’s cherry face and smile we miss, but when wo are all gathered together at night after the day’s duties you know he is not forgotten and never will be by his ton soldier mates.

I have volunteered for another s'x months and in all probability will be attached to the 6th contingent. So don’t be surprised if I do not turn up with the rest of the “ Dandy Fourth,” as I think that the time I was bunging letters at Mafeking does not count and it is hardly worth while coming all this distance and then go home again without a little campaigning.

Henry Brown and Sunden are quite well in fact Henry Brown has grown quite fat. It is agreeing with him allright, he is with the guns and by this time knows as much as an Artillery General.