Letter from the Front.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 5, 7 January 1901, Page 3

Letter from the Front.

A HAPPY SOLDIER. Some of tho most interesting and concise iettors from tho front are those written by Trooper Yardloy to his brother and sister at Gisborne. “ You will be glad to hear that l am getting cm splondidly so far,” writes Trooper Yardley from Klorksdorp, on 18th November, 1900, “ and by tho look of things we have got a big job on. Wo havo plenty of running about over here. We havo been on the go over three months without a spell, but thank God wo aro going to havo a few days’ rest here. Klorksdorp is nearly S 3 big as Gisborne, only there is nothing in it. Tho people havo been living on mealey for over three months, and thoy have been without sugar longor than that. It is very rough on them, most of them being English. Some of thorn have plenty of monoy, but it is all the same, they have got to go without. War is one of tho things that bring tho rich and poor to tho same level. It will be a good job for everyone when this war is over. Some of tho Ilocrs think that if thoy keep on fighting in time tho British will send most of the troops away, and then they will bo ablo to do for them that aro loft. Nearly till tho Dutch have got a propor down on tho British, and say that thoro will not bo any peaco till wo all clear out, but thoy will havo a tough job to hunt us all out. Still they can make it rough for a long timo yet. Thoy havo still got a fow big guns, and they remind us sometimes of tho faot. Tho pom-pom is tho worst of them all. Thoy firo so quick, but wo have had good luck so far. Wo got a lot of horses shot. It is surprising how many horses there are shot to the number of men, but a lot of chaps got hurt while their horses are falling. On tho 22nd of last month wo had a stiff fight just outsido of Zccrust. It was the best stand tho Boors had made for a long time, but thoy got a lot tho worst of the deal. Some of them wero out in halves by our shells. I got in a tight corner. I had to cross a flat piece of ground with tho gun horses, and about seven or eight of them fired volleys at me at about 800 yards, but I had tho luck of a Chinaman that timo, at all events. I wasn’t sorry when I got to some cover. Three ohaps got wounded alongside of mo. You can rido a grand finish when tboro are plenty of bullets going ping-ping around you. You think of nothing then, but there is something about it a fellow likes. You wouldn't miss a fight for anything. Some of tho chaps think they are very hard dono by if thoy aro kept out of tho firing line. Wo nearly always havo a few shots. If we nro going through rough places you would wonder however tho British have got them out of some of their strongholds. Thoy say our lyddite does not hurt them, and that they drink vinegar and aro all right again, but vinegar or no vinegar they aro soon off when it starts on them. I havo not had any letters for a long time now."

A further letter wag written by Trooper Vardloy on the following day, and in it he adopts this cheerful, Christian style:—‘‘By tho time you get this note you will have got over this old year and started another. I hope you will havo a real jolly Christmas. I intend to if I am spared so long, even if it is on top of a kopje. I am just as happy as one can well be out hero. I think one part of God’s earth Is as good as another if you make it so. We have had it a bit rough somotimes, but still wo make a lot of fun out of it. It is quite a gay life. Sometimes I like it a lot better than the timber yard anyhow. The only thing is that if you want to leave the camp you have got to ask leave, but I have had my full share of leave. I got on all right because they know I will come homo sober. This is just tho placo for a Salvationist if you keop on the lines and live out your live. I am with a toff lot of chaps. Wo get on grand together. I often think if they were only converts what a power for good they would be. Tell all my Army comrades that I am getting on splendidly and keeping bright. They all know lam a Salvationist, and by God’s help I intend to do nothing that would lower tho colors, but to do my best to raise them still higher* Thero are plenty of Army chaps with us now."