Letter from the Front.

Manawatu Herald, 4 January 1902, Page 2

Letter from the Front.

Sergeant Lionel B. Stansell, of tbs Seventh Contingent, in a letter to his parents gives some interesting par - ticulars of the doings of “ Our Boys ” , at the front. In the letter he says—- “ After we left Meyerton we treked to Yevimeeging and entrained to ; Paardekop. Prom there we went a roundabout trek to Wakkerstroom and on to Charlestown and entrained again for Newcastle. We stayed about four days at Newcastle but were kept very busy preparing for this trek. .. Captain Seddon left us there to return home and we were all sorry to lose him. Captain Henry of the sth Contingent, then took command of our squadron, but he . had the misfortune to get wounded and had to go into hospital, but we expect him back in about three weeks or so. lam at present acting Squadron Quarter-Master Sergeant and get on fairly well but don’t know how long I will keep it. We were very close to the 4th and 6fch Contingents the other day, in fact some of their men were in our camp and some of ours in their’s, but I did not see any that I knew amongst the ones that came over to our column. . . . We left Newcastle and crossed into the Transvaal at Buffalo bridge, were we joined General Kitchener (brother of Lord Kitchener), we passed through Utrecht and treked on to Vryheid and out to Botha’s farm where we had a bit of a fight. We got on to the tail of a Boer commando and followed them ap to a place called Godevenger where we captured a few of them, and then came in here (One Tree Hill) for supplies. We hope to get to Dundee on or about the 6th inst. (November), but I don’t suppose we will, have such luck. It is about five weeks since we left Newcastle and most of us are in want of clothing. lam out at the knees myself and will not be sofry to get a change. When we wash out socks, which is seldom, we have about barefooted Until they dry. . . . . The wet season will be setting in soon now so we will have a good time as it rains for about a week at-a time, but that is nothing when you get used to it.” Sergeant Stansell mentions having met Bill Richards, with whom he often has a yarn. M. Lyons, a nephew of Dr Power, he also met, who sent his kind regards to the manager. A piece of bread, whilst the squadron was on half rations, went astray or else it was to have been seat home as a pleasing sample. It was made of four parts bran, and four parts flour with a little baking powder, it was “ grand and hard.”