Diary of Ebenezer 'Edward' Barron, 1901 - Part 5

Basuto who were all round
and they mistaking us for
Boers we had a short
but sharp encounter
we had no casualties
but they had 6 killed
& 14 wounded - A few
days before we arrived
here we went out about
100 of us - on patrol calling
at farms in the early a.m.
to see if any stray Boers
were to be caught but
we had no success not
one Boer could we find.
On the third day we camped
at a farm & was just getting
ready to light fires for dinner
when lo ! down came the
rain in torrents. Thunder
& lightning galore - & we had
just to be satisfied with
what dry food we had with
us. I had Bread butter &
marmalade - & a drink
of milk after which I
got at farm - At 2 o clock
orders were given - Saddle
up which was done in
quick time I can assure
you the rain still pouring
Off we went some of the
men swearing & growling
generally & when about
half an hour out - you
talk about a Blizzard well
that is nothing compared
to it. The horses refused
to go & formed front out of
their own accord - turning their
backs to the storm 
 

We stood there till it
had abated somewhat &
then off again - I am not
exaggerating when I say that
the water was running out
of the lace holes in my
boots running down all
over me like a shower
bath - although I had
a cavalry cloak on -
which will Keep out the
rain for a whole day (that
is an ordinary days rain)
well just after dark
we got to camp where
convoy was - not a bit
of stick to light a fire
or any thing in the way
of comfort - The rain
by this time had slowed
only coming in slight
occasional showers so
I looked out a flat rock
just about the size for
my bed & raised above
the level of the ground
and spreading my bed
which was sopping wet
on top of it - I stripped &
turned in - The rain came
down again, but I was so
tired, & done up that I went
to sleep, & continued to do
so peacefully until morning
when to my surprise I woke
as fresh as a daisy & had
none of the pains I made
up my mind to have when
I turned in 
 

Friends from home give
us sound advice  Not
on any account to sleep
in wet clothes well I took
it & stripped myself of
every thing & got into sopping
wet blankets which I
think was the best better of the 
two evils - Friends forget
that we often have to take
the shirt we are wearing
off, & wash it, getting it
dried again before putting
it on (we cannot go to
bed during the operation)
When I got wet & in fact
for two months I have
not had a clean change
neither shirt nor socks.
Xmas passed very
quietly very little activity
church parade on Xmas
day & dodging about doing
this & that to put the
time in  nice bathe
occasionally in the water
we have to drink - 
 

D^r Matter
2^nd T. I B
As the column has moved
off, come up as quickly
as possible so that we
can overtake them.
Yours Obediently
E. Barron Cpl. 
 

[ * Hand drawn sketches - see original document * ] 
 

He mounted up the Staircase with
Manuscript in hand
An ode to Queen & country was
the his  the one
His heart was wildly fluttering, 
unsteady was his hand
_________________________________________ 

Up the staircase walking lightly
With his man manuscript in hand
An ode to Queen & country  it xx [[was the thxx?]]
His heart was wildly fluttering
But he could not understand 
 

Xxx Sound that is speech xxx
The xxx xxx & xxx us as they xxx
The woodets dance & glitter in the air
Along the narrow gorge where wattle xxx
And xxxx kiss the xxx xxx xxx
xxxx sitting in a quiet nook
Resting by rocks with ivy clinging round
_____________________________________ 

Could I but wish that I should ere be loved
Then such a love I’d ask from none but thee
It would be pure 
To raise my thoughts to something
xxx xxx
Xxx Xxx tis our fate, while less xxx
to see 
 

[( PRDCOBE *] 
 

[* Back cover.*]