A SOLDIER’S LETTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 112, 21 May 1901, Page 4

A SOLDIER’S LETTER.

TROOPER ASHDOWN.

Ik tho course of a letter to Ms father (Mr John Ashdown, of-Matawhero), Trooper Ashdown writes from South Africa, under • date Ventersdorp,'March 29 I have been having a spell down Johannesburg way for a few weeks, 1 but have joined my regiment, just in time to be in all the fun on the 24th- Our column came near Klerksdorp, and sent in some waggons, and fourteen of the Fourth came out and joined us again, under General Babington—back to bully beef, biscuits, bullets and,shells, and trpkking.l The day we got back to our column the Imperial Light Horse had about fourteen casualties. Next morning we moved off at four o’clock. Soon after we got under way we; saw Colonel Shackelton’s column on our eft. About an hour later our advance guard was fired on.' Our squadron was the support for the advanco guard, and the remainder of the column was fully livd miles behind. After a good deal of rifle tire, the Boers opened fire on us with theirpom-pomandlS-pounder, andmadeit lively for us, some of their shells dropping very close to us. We had.two pom-poms up near the advance, but they were nearly in the open, so they had a warm time getting into action. After somo time the other guns came up, and the Boers left their position. We followed up, and got pepper with rilio fire and shells. We could hear them coming from tho Boer guns, and you never know where they are going , until they land. Once our troop (only 10 of lis, under Lieut. Arthur) got a warm reception at about 600 yards from somo of "oui ; own men, 1.L.H., I think. We had cut through some bush right in front of everybody, and when we came out we heard Lee-Enfield bullets very close to our ears. We had a lot of fighting, but nothing to show for it like the next day. On the 24th we were turned out at 3 o’clock, and no lighting fires to boil our billies. We loft, camp before daylight, that is all our mounted men and'all Shackelton’s mounted men, the Tommies being left in-camp, for both columns had camped together that night. We had not gone far when our advance ran against a Boer post. Then our, pompom got to work, and in return their. 15pounder started to speak; but our guns were too many for them, and they had to leave in-a hurry, taking with them their guns. All the mounted men were in extended order by that time, and it looked a great sight to see sixteen or . seventeen hundred men opened out on the . rolling hills.. Then we all advanced at a good canter after about 1800 Boers, aiid got them on the run. After a while the best horses got to the front. Well, we kept going like that for about fifteen miles, over pretty rough country, all holes, and the horses kept coming down. The Boers kept up a very poor fire, which did not stop us in the least, and we did not give them a chance. All at once we came over a rise, and .there below us were the Boers’ convoy and guns. Then the horses had to do their duty, and we got right amongst their waggons before they were aware that we were anywhere near. My word, it was a grand sight; they really thought we were their own men. We got 52 waggons, 23 Cape carts, 2 15-pounders, 6 Maxims, 1 pom-pom, and heaps of rifles and ammunition. Neai’ly all our chaps have a Mauser rifle and bandolier taken off the Boers. The big guns were both captured by the 4th N.Z. men. My word the 6th 1.8. and N.Z. did get some praise from Colonel Gray and General Babington for their dash and gallantry. The poor I.L.H. did not have a chance to get away like tho“Bushies” and ourselves. We got 137 prisoners, so that it was not 1 a bad day’s work at all. The Boer commanders were Smuts and Kemp. Delarey was there, but not his men, and he left early in the morning with his bodyguard and a pom-pom, so he got away again as usual. I had several chances of getting a Mauser rifle, but did not think of it at the time. Some of our boys got splendid carbines. The General was so pleased with our work that he allowed us to keep anything we got hold of. I don’t think we were meant to go straight at the Boers the way we did, but the New Zealanders and Australians, under Colonel Gray, took it on themselves. The Colonials here would do anything or go anwhere for Colonel Gray, and he thinks the world of us ; . he nearly broke do.wn when thanking us tho other night.-'’'’ The General said he would risk doing things with us that he would not think of doing with other troops. We had with us several squadrons of the I.L.H. and a regiment of Lancers, Hussars, Imperial Yeomanry, and the 6th Imperial Bushmen. Well, dear father, the following is a list of what we captured : Two 15-pounders that the British lost at Colenso, the same guns that Lord Boberts’ son lost his life in trying to save, one pom-pom, 6 Maxim guns, in good order, one ammunition limber, 300 50-pound shells, 100 pom-pom shells, 40,000 rounds ammunition, 224 rifles, 137 prisoners—they had 10 killed and eight wounded—2ooo oxen, 1800 sheep, 300 mules, 52 waggons, 23 Cape carts, and a lot of other food stuff. There wore also over 100 women and 250 children in the waggons, who acted as nurses and cooks ; we brought them all into Ventersdorp. I think we shall be trekking again in a day or two. Ido not know when we are coming home.