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diff --git a/16460.txt b/16460.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a52a1f7 --- /dev/null +++ b/16460.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6261 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of From Aldershot to Pretoria, by W. E. Sellers + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: From Aldershot to Pretoria + A Story of Christian Work among Our Troops in South Africa + +Author: W. E. Sellers + +Commentator: R. W. Allen + +Release Date: August 7, 2005 [EBook #16460] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM ALDERSHOT TO PRETORIA *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Taavi Kalju and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: HIS LAST LETTER.] + + +FROM ALDERSHOT TO PRETORIA + +A Story of Christian Work among our Troops in South Africa + +BY W.E. SELLERS + + +WITH AN INTRODUCTION + +BY R.W. ALLEN + + +WITH FIFTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS + + +Second Impression + + +LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY +56 PATERNOSTER ROW AND 65 ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD + + + + +Contents + + + PAGE +CHAPTER I +INTRODUCTION: THE EMPIRE AND ITS DEFENDERS 7 + +CHAPTER II +ALDERSHOT 19 + +CHAPTER III +OLD ENGLAND ON THE SEA 37 + +CHAPTER IV +TO THE FRONT 53 + +CHAPTER V +WITH LORD METHUEN 61 + +CHAPTER VI +MAGERSFONTEIN 77 + +CHAPTER VII +THOMAS ATKINS ON THE VELDT 96 + +CHAPTER VIII +WITH LORD ROBERTS 105 + +CHAPTER IX +KIMBERLEY 132 + +CHAPTER X +WITH GATACRE'S COLUMN 129 + +CHAPTER XI +BLOEMFONTEIN 145 + +CHAPTER XII +ON TO PRETORIA 161 + +CHAPTER XIII +HERE AND THERE IN CAPE COLONY 170 + +CHAPTER XIV +WITH SIR REDVERS BULLER 177 + +CHAPTER XV +LADYSMITH 193 + +CHAPTER XVI +'IN JESU'S KEEPING' 222 + + + + +List of Illustrations + + +HIS LAST LETTER _Frontispiece_ + +SOLDIERS' HOMES AT ALDERSHOT _to face p. 17_ + +OFF TO SOUTH AFRICA _to face p. 34_ + +PARADE SERVICE ON THE TUGELA _to face p. 53_ + +REV. E.P. LOWRY _to face p. 84_ + +REV. JAMES ROBERTSON _to face p. 90_ + +BRINGING BACK THE WOUNDED _to face p. 118_ + +MORNING SERVICE ON THE VELDT _to face p. 133_ + +SOLDIERS' HOME ON THE FIELD _to face p. 138_ + +ARUNDEL _to face p. 173_ + +AMBULANCE WORK ON THE FIELD _to face p. 193_ + +REV. A.V.C. HORDERN _to face p. 195_ + +ONE OF THE LADYSMITH HOSPITALS _to face p. 199_ + +REV. THOMAS MURRAY _to face p. 203_ + +AMBULANCE WAGGONS ON THEIR WAY TO THE FIELD _to face p. 210_ + + + + +Preface + + +It would have been a grave omission had no attempt been made at the +earliest possible time to place on record some account of the Christian +steadfastness and heroism of the many godly men belonging to every arm +of the service engaged in the war in South Africa, and of the strenuous +work which they did for their comrades, resulting in many being won for +God, comforted when stricken on the battle-field or in hospital, and +even in death enabled to find the life that is eternal. + +It would have been equally an omission had not some account been given +of the heroic devotion of the chaplains and the lay agents who have +accompanied the troops in the campaign, sharing their hardships and +ministering to them under all the trying conditions of their service. + +When, therefore, I was approached by the secretaries of the Religious +Tract Society, through Rev. R.W. Allen, with a view to preparing some +such record, we both, Mr. Allen and myself, felt that the request must, +if possible, be complied with. And we felt this the more, seeing that +the whole British Force in South Africa has been placed under deep +obligation to them, and to the great Society they represent, for the +large and varied gifts of literature they have sent to our troops during +the progress of the campaign. + +It was originally intended that the book should have been written +conjointly by Mr. Allen and myself; but pressure of other work has made +this impossible. I am, however, indebted to Mr. Allen for the +introductory chapter, and for the large stores of information in the way +of correspondence from the Front which he has placed at my disposal. + +I am also indebted to the Rev. Dr. Theodore Marshall for information as +to the work of the Presbyterian chaplains. The Rev. E. Weaver, the +Wesleyan chaplain at Aldershot, has also rendered important help. + +The book has necessarily been written somewhat hurriedly, and by no +means exhausts the history with which it deals. If, however, it has the +result of deepening the sympathy of all true lovers of their country for +our soldiers and sailors, and in increasing the interest they take in +the good work done on their behalf, and if at the same time it brings +cheer and encouragement to the men in the Army and Royal Navy who are +trying to live manly, Christian lives, the author of the book and the +great Society on whose behalf it has been written will be amply +rewarded. + +W.E. SELLERS. +_August_, 1900. + + + + +FROM ALDERSHOT TO PRETORIA + + + + +Chapter I + +INTRODUCTION: THE EMPIRE AND ITS DEFENDERS + + +The war in South Africa has been fruitful of A many results which will +leave their mark upon the national life and character, and in which we +may wholly rejoice. Amongst them none are more admirable than the +awakening to the duty we owe to our soldiers and sailors, and the +large-hearted generosity with which the whole empire is endeavouring to +discharge it. + +It is necessary to go back to the days of the Crimean War and the Indian +Mutiny to find any similar awakening. It was then that the British +people began to learn the lesson of gratitude to the men they had so +long neglected, whom they had herded in dark and miserable barracks, and +regarded as more or less the outcasts of society. + +The glorious courage, the patient, unmurmuring heroism, the tenacity +not allowing defeat, which were displayed during the long and dreary +months of the siege of Sebastopol, and the ultimate triumph of our arms, +aroused the nation from its indifference, and kindled for its defenders +a warm and tender sympathy. + +Following swiftly on the Crimean War came the splendid deeds of the +Indian Mutiny, when handfuls of brave men saved the empire by standing +at bay like 'the last eleven at Maiwand,' or, hurrying hither and +thither, scattered the forces which were arrayed against them. The +sympathy which the Crimean War had produced was intensified by these +events, and the duty of caring for those who thus dared to endure and to +die was still more borne in upon the heart of the nation. + + +=Changed Estimate of our Soldiers and Sailors.= + +It came to be discovered that though the British soldier and +man-of-war's man were rough, and in some instances godless to the extent +of being obscene, vicious, and debauched, they were, to use the phrase +which Sir Alfred Milner has made historic, possessed of a 'great reserve +of goodness'; that they were capable not only of good, but of God. As it +were by fire the latent nobility of our nature was discovered, and the +fine gold, and the image and superscription of God were revealed, in +many instances to the men themselves, and in great measure to the nation +at large. + +There were many circumstances which aided in this awakening, both in the +War and in the Mutiny. Among them may be reckoned the terrible hurricane +which wrecked the transports in the harbour at Balaclava, when so many +of the stores intended for the troops were destroyed; and the awful +winter which followed, with its numberless deaths in action, and by +hunger, cold, and disease. The horrors of Cawnpore, and the glorious +tragedy of Lucknow, also compelled attention to the men who were +involved in them, and to their comrades who survived. + + +=Their Deplorable Condition in the Past.= + +Previous to these times nothing could well have been more deplorable +than the condition of the soldier or the sailor. It was on all hands +taken for granted that he was bad, and, wonderful to say, he was +provided for accordingly. His treatment was a disgrace. The +barrack-room, with its corners curtained off as married quarters, the +lash, the hideous and degrading medical inspection--samples of the +general treatment--all tended to destroy what remained of manly +self-respect and virtue. Whilst the neighbourhood of the barracks and +the naval ports, teeming with public-houses and brothels, still further +aided the degradation. The creed of the nation, or rather, the opinion +that was tacitly accepted, would be best expressed in the familiar +saying that 'the bigger the blackguard, the better the soldier.' + + +=Their Devotion to Duty.= + +Nevertheless, amidst all these evil conditions, not only did courage and +loyalty to duty survive, but even, in many instances, a chivalrous +tenderness and devotion. There were to be found many earnest Christian +men, and the work of God went on, comrade winning comrade to Christ, so +that it was rare indeed to find a regiment or a man-of-war which had not +in it a living Church. + +What, for instance, can well be more interesting or significant than the +record which tells of the men on the Victory, Lord Nelson's flag-ship at +Trafalgar, who had no need to be sworn at to be made to do their duty, +who amidst much persecution sang their hymns and prayed, and lived their +cleanly, holy lives; who attracted Lord Nelson's attention, and so won +his respect that he gave them a mess to themselves, and ordered that +they should not be interfered with in their devotions? Or than the +record of the godly sergeants of the 3rd Grenadiers at Waterloo, who +went into action praying that it might be given to them to aid in the +final overthrow of the tyrant who threatened the liberties of the world? + +But returning to the Crimean War and the Mutiny, there were not wanting +even then men and women in foremost places to voice the awakening which +these created, and to give it right and wise direction. + + +=The Queen's Care of her Men.= + +The care of the Queen for her soldiers and sailors in those early days, +which she has continued with wonderful tact and tenderness throughout +her long and glorious reign, was of untold advantage. Her sympathy +showed the nation where its heart should go and where its hand should +help. + +The send-off from the courtyard of Buckingham Palace; the review of the +battle-worn heroes in the Palace itself, when she decorated them with +their well-earned honours; her constant visits to the hospitals, were +incidents which the nation could not forget. In them, as in so many +other ways, she awakened her people from their apathy, and by her +example led them to a higher and more Christian patriotism. + + +=The Netley and Herbert Hospitals.= + +There was also the noble man whose monument adorns the Quadrangle of the +War Office, who was War Minister at the time. But perhaps foremost of +all, save the Queen herself, was the 'Lady of the Lamp,' who, +surrendering the comfort of a refined and beautiful home, went out to +the hospitals at Scutari to minister to the wounded and the +fever-stricken, and found in doing so a higher comfort, a comfort which +is of the soul itself. These two--Florence Nightingale and Sydney +Herbert--the one in guiding the Administration, the other inspiring the +nation, did imperishable good. + +The Herbert and the Netley Hospitals were the first embodiment of the +nation's sympathy expressed in terms of official administration--palaces +of healing, which have been rest-houses for multitudes of sick and +wounded men pending their return to duty, their discharge on pension, or +their passing to an early grave. + +The Royal Patriotic Fund was the expression of the nation's desire to +succour the widows and orphans of the breadwinners who had fallen in the +war. + + +=The Awakened National Conscience.= + +But these efforts, noble though they were, by no means met the full +necessity. For solicitude on behalf of our soldiers and our sailors +being once aroused, their daily life on board ship and in barracks soon +compelled attention. Its homelessness and monotony, its utter lack of +quiet and rest, its necessary isolation from all the comforts and +amenities of social life, the consequent eagerness with which the +men--wearied well-nigh to death, yet full of lusty vigorous life--went +anywhere for change, society, and excitement--all these things broke +like a revelation on the awakened conscience of the nation. The terrible +fact, to which reference has already been made, that hitherto almost the +only sections of the civil community which had catered for them was the +publican, the harlot, and the crimp, that they had indeed been left to +the tender mercies of the wicked, still further deepened the impression. + +At the same time it came to be gradually realized that the splendid +manhood of the army and the navy was a vast mission force, which, if it +could only be enlisted on the side of purity, temperance, and religion, +might be of untold value to the empire and the home population. + +It was plainly seen that if left, as it had hitherto been, to the +homelessness of the barracks and the main-deck, and to the canteen and +the public-house, it would certainly take the side of sin; and whilst +defending the empire by its valour, would imperil it by its ill-living. + +All these convictions were confirmed by the record of the noble lives of +heroes, who were Christians as well as heroes, with which the history of +the Crimean War and the Mutiny is enriched. If a few could thus be +saved, it was asked, why not many? if some, why not all? For men of all +ranks, of varied temperaments and gifts, were among the saved, some +whose natural goodness made them easily susceptible of good, others +'lost' in very deed, sunk in the depths of a crude and brutal +selfishness. + + +=Woman's Work in this Field.= + +As might be expected, the first to take to heart these special aspects +of the case, and to embody the great awakening in the deeds of a +practical beneficence, were women. Miss Robinson and Miss Weston, Mrs. +and Miss Daniel, Miss Wesley, and Miss Sandes will ever live among those +who set themselves to fight the public-house and the brothel by opening +at least one door, which, entering as to his own home, the soldier and +the sailor would meet with purity instead of sin, and where the hand +stretched out to welcome him would be not the harlot's but the Christ's. + + +=The Influence of Methodism.= + +It was given to the Wesleyan Methodist Church to take the foremost place +in this new departure. Nor could it well be otherwise when the history +of that Church is borne in mind. + +The soldiers and man-of-war's men of John Wesley's time came in large +numbers under the spell of his wonderful ministry. Converted or not, +they recognised in him a man; and his dauntless courage, his invincible +good humour, and his practical sympathy, won for him from many of them a +singular devotion, and from not a few a brave and noble comradeship. +Some came to be among his most successful preachers, and in the army, +and out of it, nobly aided him in his victorious but arduous conflict +with the evils of the time. From Flanders to the Peninsula and Waterloo, +and from Waterloo to the Crimea and the Mutiny, the bright succession +continued. Hence, when the nation awoke to its duty to its defenders, +Methodism abundantly partook of the impulse, and threw itself heartily +into every enterprise which it inspired. + +It was the first Church, as a Church, to commit itself to the policy of +Soldiers' and Sailors' Homes. It passed a resolution at its annual +Conference to the effect that these institutions were essential to any +successful work for the good of the Army and Royal Navy; and it has +continued, as the years have gone on, to increase the number of its +Homes, until at the present time it has thirty under its direction, +established in various parts of the empire, which it has provided at the +cost of many thousands of pounds, and which are its gift for the common +good. They are all held on such trusts as secure them for the free and +unreserved use of all the soldiers and sailors of the Queen, without +respect of religious denomination. + + +=The Work of the Anglican and other Churches.= + +But Methodism is not alone, as a Church, in this patriotic and Christian +enterprise. The Established Church has entered upon it with an +ever-increasing earnestness, having come, mainly through the advocacy of +the Chaplain-General, Rev. Dr. Edgehill, to grasp the situation, and to +realize that for the men themselves and for the empire it is of +paramount importance that this provision should be made. + +The reflex result of the efforts to establish Soldiers' and Sailors' +Homes has also been most beneficent. Speaking at the anniversary of one +of these Homes, not many years ago, Lord Methuen said that they had led +the way to the improvement which is now being effected in barracks, +where the old squalor has given place to comfort, and the temperance +refreshment room, the recreation room, and the library more than hold +their own against the canteen, and the cheerful and sufficient married +quarters have replaced the scandal of the curtained corner or the +miserable one-roomed hut. + +Nor must the prayer-room now attached to every barracks in India be +forgotten, nor the Army Temperance Association, of which the Rev. Gelson +Gregson was the pioneer, and the illustrious Field-Marshal, Lord +Roberts, the founder. This association has now, thanks to the sympathy +of H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge when Commander-in-Chief, and to the +hearty and constant support of Lord Wolseley, his illustrious successor, +been established throughout the whole British army. + +It will thus be seen that the great awakening of now nearly fifty years +ago has borne good fruit, and that in proportion as the nation has risen +to a higher moral level, and consequently to a juster appreciation of +its duties, the soldier and the sailor have continued to share in its +results. + + +=Christian Work at Aldershot.= + +The camp at Aldershot embodies in itself all these changes; and is, +indeed, an epitome of the results of this awakening. Anything more +desolate than its aspect when it was first established it would be +impossible to imagine. Long 'lines' of huts, planted in a wilderness of +gorse, heather, and sand, dimly lit, and miserably appointed; 'women +that were sinners' prowling about the outskirts, and gradually taking +possession of much of the hastily-constructed town, with the usual +accompaniment of low public-houses and music-halls--such, to a great +extent, was Aldershot at the beginning. + +[Illustration: 1. CHURCH OF ENGLAND SOLDIERS' HOME, ALDERSHOT.] + +[Illustration: 2. GROSVENOR ROAD SOLDIERS' HOME, ALDERSHOT.] + +Here then was a sphere for the work of the new awakening. And one by one +all the agencies mentioned above took up their duty, and entered upon +the enterprise. Mrs. and Miss Daniel founded the Soldiers' Institute. +The Wesleyans, guided by the Revs. Dr. Rule, Charles Prest, I. Webster, +and C.H. Kelly, built their first Home at the West End, where, like +another 'West End,' so much of vice had congregated. Subsequently it was +transferred to the site in Grosvenor Road, and another Home put up at +the North Camp, on a site secured by Sir Hope Grant. Then came the +Church of England, with its splendid premises in Aldershot and its +church rooms in the North and South Camps. + +Meanwhile the camp itself has been reconstructed, so that at last the +empire can look without shame upon it; and the brave spirits who first +caught the awakening, or saw that it should not die,--many of whom have +joined the majority, but some of whom are still enriching their country +by their lives,--can rejoice in the work they have been permitted to +accomplish. + +And the result? 'Ah, sir,' exclaimed a sergeant, as he entered one of +the Aldershot Homes, 'you are at last giving us a chance. Hitherto you +have provided for us as though we were all bad, and all wanted and meant +to be; and bad we became. But now, sir, you are giving us a chance, and +you will see what will be the result.' + +And truly we do; for the life of the nation is enriched, not enfeebled, +by the men who return to it from the Army and the Royal Navy. And all +ranks of society are becoming convinced that religion is the prime +factor in the service efficiency and in the national well-being. Thus +God is, after all, seen to be the greatest need, and the one true +enrichment of human life and character--the vital force by which alone +the commonwealth can live. + +The wonderful records which will be found in the succeeding chapters of +this book, telling as they do of Christian life and service in the South +African War, will still further show the fruits of this great +awakening. + + + + +Chapter II + +ALDERSHOT + + +A raw, cold morning in the late autumn! A weird-looking train, slowly +drawing into the station out of the mist, with carriages altogether +different in appearance from those we were accustomed to see! A +battalion of brawny Scotchmen, travel-stained and sleepy. And then a +somewhat lazy descent to the platform. + +'Twenty-four hours in this train, sir, and never a bite or a sup. What +do you think of that?' + +But as the speaker could not quite keep the perpendicular, and found it +absolutely impossible to stand to attention, it was evident that he had +had more than one 'sup,' whether he had had a 'bite' or not. All along +the line, sad to say, 'treating' had been plentiful, and this was the +result. + + +=Mobilising at Aldershot.= + +Multiply this scene a hundred times. Imagine the apparent confusion on +every hand. Listen to the tramp, tramp of the men as they march from +station to camp and from camp to station, and you will have some idea of +the hurry and bustle in this camp on veldt during the period when the +word 'mobilisation' was on everybody's lips. + +Barrack rooms everywhere overcrowded, men sleeping by the side of the +bed-cots as well as upon them; every available space utilised; even the +H Block Soldiers' Home turned outside into a tent, that the rooms it +occupied might be used as temporary barrack rooms again. + +Discipline was necessarily somewhat relaxed! Drunkenness all too rife! +The air was full of fare-wells, and the parting word in too many cases +could only be spoken over the intoxicating cup. It was a +rough-and-tumble time. Aldershot was full of men who in recent years had +been unaccustomed to the discipline and exactitude of Her Majesty's +Army, and the wonder is that things were not worse than they were. + +Let us look into one of the barrack rooms. The men are just getting +dinner, and are hardly prepared to receive company, and especially the +company of ladies. They are sitting about anyhow, their tunics for the +most part thrown aside, or at any rate flying open; but when they see +ladies at the door, most of them rise at once. + +'Yes, it is hard work, miss, parting with them,' says one K.O.S.B. +reservist. 'I've left the missus at home and three babies, one of them +only a week old. I thought she'd have cried her eyes out when I came +away. I can't bear to think of it now.' And the big fellow brushed the +tears away. 'It's not that I mind being called up, or going to the war. +I don't mind that; but, you know, miss, it's different with us than +with them young lads, and I can't help thinking of her.' + +'Rough? yes, it is a bit rough,' says another as we pass along. 'I wish +you could see the little cottage where I live when I'm at home, all kept +as bright as a new pin. It's well _she_ can't see me now, I'm thinking. +She'd hardly know her husband. But there, it's rougher where we're +going, I reckon, so it's no use worrying about this.' And, forgetting +the presence of ladies, he started whistling a merry tune. + +It _was_ just 'a bit rough' in those days. But how could it be helped? +Aldershot Camp had nearly doubled its normal population, and some thirty +thousand troops were crowded in. And this population was continually +changing. As soon as one batch of troops was despatched, another took +its place, with consequences that, perhaps, were not always all that +could be desired, but which were nevertheless unavoidable. + +And so day by day we watched the camp gradually becoming khaki colour. +At first it was khaki to-day and scarlet to-morrow, as one batch of +khaki warriors left for the front and others, still clad in their +ordinary uniform, took its place. But before very long Pimlico proved +equal to the occasion, and khaki prevailed, and in South and North Camp +one saw nothing but the sand-coloured soldiers. Then a strange, unwonted +silence fell upon us; for they had gone, and we woke up to an empty camp +and desolate streets, and realized that the greatest feat of the kind in +the history of the world had been accomplished, and 150,000 troops had +been despatched seven thousand miles across the sea. + + +=Christian Work at Aldershot.= + +But we are anticipating. Let us first introduce you to a bit of +Christian Aldershot during these mobilisation times. The mobilisation +did not find us dozing; and the Churches and Soldiers' Homes, with their +multiplicity of organizations, did their best to give to Mr. Thomas +Atkins a home from home, and never with greater success. + +There is no doubt that the _morale_ of the British soldier is steadily +advancing. 'They forget,' said a lad from Ladysmith the other day, 'that +we are not what we used to be. It used to be that the army was composed +of the scum of the nation; some folks forget that it isn't so now.' They +do, or, rather, perhaps they _did_ until the war commenced and made the +soldier popular. But the fact is that, especially during the last twenty +years, there has been a steady improvement, and we venture to assert +that to-day, so far as his moral conduct is concerned, the average +soldier is quite equal, if not superior, to the average civilian. This +is due in large measure to the officers, who take a greater interest in +the everyday life of their men than ever before; but it is due in even +larger measure to the great interest the Churches have taken in the men, +and especially in the multiplication of Soldiers' Homes. + +At Aldershot there are, in addition to the military and civilian +churches, which are all of them centres of vigorous Christian work, six +Soldiers' Homes, viz., three Wesleyan, two Church of England, and one +Salvation Army, in addition to the Primitive Methodist Soldiers' Home, +now used chiefly as a temperance hotel. At these Soldiers' Homes there +are refreshment bars, reading rooms, games rooms, smoking rooms, bath +rooms, and all other conveniences. They are for the soldier--a home from +home. Here he is safe, and he knows it. They will take care of his +money, and he can have it when he likes. They will supply him with +stationery free of charge. They will write his letters for him, if he so +desires, and receive them also. In fact, while he considers himself +monarch of all he surveys as soon as he enters, he is conscious all the +time that he must be on his good behaviour, and it is rarely, if ever, +that he forgets himself. + +A counter-attraction to the public-house, an entertainment provider of a +delightful order, a club, a home, and a Bethel all rolled into one is +the Soldiers' Home,--the greatest boon that the Christian Church has +ever given to the soldier, and one which he estimates at its full value. + +During the mobilisation days these Homes were crowded to the utmost of +their capacity, and chaplains and Scripture readers vied with each other +in their earnest efforts to benefit the men. In those solemn times of +waiting, with war before them, and possibly wounds or death, hundreds of +soldiers decided for Christ, or, as they loved to put it, 'enlisted into +the army of the King.' + + +=Barrack Room Life.= + +Somehow or other the average Englishman never thinks of the soldier as a +Christian, and soldier poets bring out almost every other phase of the +soldier character except this. As a matter of fact the recruit when he +comes to us is little more than a lad. He has been brought up in the +village Sunday school, and been accustomed to attend the village church +or chapel. He has all his early religious impressions full upon him. He +is excitable, emotional, easily led. If he gets into a barrack room +where the men are coarse, sensual, ungodly, he often runs into riot in a +short time, though even then his early impressions do not altogether +fade. But if we lay hold of him, bring him to our Homes, surround him +with Christian influences, by God's help we make a man of him, and the +raw recruit, the 'rook' as they call him, not only develops into a +veteran ready to go anywhere and do anything for Queen and country, but +into a Soldier of the Cross, ready to do and dare for his King. + + +=An Aldershot Sunday.= + +Let me introduce you to an Aldershot Sunday. The camp is all astir at an +early hour. Musters of men here and there on the regimental parade +grounds, the stately march to church, the regimental band at the head. +The short, bright, cheery service. The rattle and clatter of side-arms +as the men stand or sit. The rapid exit after the Benediction has been +pronounced and the National Anthem sung. The 'fall in' outside. The +ringing word of command, and the march back to barracks, amid the +admiring gaze of the civilians. + +All this can be sketched in a few sentences; but we want to give our +readers more than a mere introduction--a speaking acquaintance. We want +them to get to know our friend Thomas Atkins before they see him out on +the veldt, or amid the heat of battle. And to know him as _we_ know him +they must get a little closer than a mere church parade; they must watch +us at our work for him, they must realize some of our difficulties, and +be sharers in some of our joys. + +Let us then get nearer to him, and in order to this, attempt to get into +the heart of an Aldershot Sunday. And as the most conspicuous and +handsome pile of buildings in Aldershot is the Grosvenor Road Wesleyan +Church and Soldiers' Home, and it happens to be the one with which we +are best acquainted, we will follow the workers in their Sunday's work. + + +=The Prison Service.= + +And first of all let us visit the Military Prison. There are not so many +prisoners as usual just now, and those who are there are terribly +anxious to have their terms of imprisonment shortened, in order that +they may get to the front--not that prisoners are ever wishful to drag +out the full term of their imprisonment, but now that all is excitement +and their regiments are on the eve of departure, they are feverishly +anxious to go with them. + +And yet it is easy to preach, for in prison most hearts are softened, +and just now there are memories of bygone days that make one love the +old hymns and listen with more than old interest to old truths. Of +course there are not a few exceptions. For instance, you see that tall +Guardsman! Guardsman, do you call him? Anything but that in his uncouth +prison dress! But he _is_ a Guardsman, and by-and-by will give a good +account of himself in South Africa. See how his eyes are fixed on the +preacher. How eagerly he listens to every word the preacher says! Surely +there is a work of grace going on in his heart! And so next morning when +the preacher and junior chaplain meet, one says to the other, 'I am +quite sure Robinson was greatly affected yesterday. He could not take +his eyes off me all the time. He seemed in great trouble. Speak to him +about it, and try to lead him to Christ.' + +Hence, when next the Rev. E. Weaver, our indefatigable junior chaplain, +visited the prison, he said, 'Robinson, what sort of a service did you +have on Sunday morning?' + +'Pretty much as usual, thank you, sir.' + +'How did you like the sermon?' + +'Oh! all right. You know I've heard him before.' + +'Yes, but wasn't there something that specially touched you. The +preacher said you could not take your eyes off him all the time. He felt +sure you were in trouble.' + +'Well, sir, I was, that is the fact. I couldn't help looking at him, +and I have been thinking about it ever since.' + +'Well, now, you know me, Robinson. Cannot I help you? You have no need +to be afraid to speak to me. What is your trouble?' + +And Robinson looked gravely at the chaplain, and the chaplain at him. +And then with an effort Robinson said, 'I've been wondering about it all +the week. I cannot get it out of my head. Don't be offended, sir, +however did that 'ere gent get inside that waistcoat?' + +How are the mighty fallen! And the poor preacher who, with cassock vest, +had stood before that congregation of prisoners, had after all only +excited curiosity about his dress. + +But it is not always so, and many a lad has been won to better ways +through the ministry of the prison. + + +=Parade and other Services.= + +Then follows the Parade Service, already described, and no more need be +said except that the preacher must be dull and heartless indeed who is +not inspired by those hundreds of upturned faces, and the knowledge that +the word he speaks may, through them, ere long reach the ends of the +earth. + +We will not linger either at the Hospital Service or the Sacred Song +Service in the afternoon, or at the Soldiers' Tea, or even at the +Voluntary Service at night, which, with its hundreds of soldier +attendants, is a testimony to the spiritual value of the work. + + +=The 'Glory-Room' of the Soldiers' Home.= + +Let us rather pass into the 'glory-room' of the Soldiers' Home at the +close of the evening Service. There is never a Sunday night without +conversions. And they call it the glory-room because + + 'Heaven comes down their souls to greet, + And glory crowns the mercy-seat.' + +Ex-Sergeant-Major Moss is in charge, and as frequent references will be +made to him in the following narratives, we may as well sketch him now. +A man of medium height, thick set, strength in every line of his face +and figure, eyes that look kindly upon you and yet pierce you through +and through. A strong man in every respect, and a kindly man withal. A +man among men, and yet a man of almost womanly tenderness where sympathy +is required. Again and again in the course of our story we shall come +across traces of his strenuous work and far-reaching influence. And in +every part of the British Empire there are soldier lads who look upon +this ex-sergeant-major of the Army Service Corps as their spiritual +father, and there is no name oftener on their lips in South Africa than +his. + +He is in charge to-night, and is telling his experience. He knows all +about it, has done plenty of rough campaigning in his time, but he knows +also that the religion of Jesus Christ is best for war or peace. Christ +has been with him in all parts of the world, and Christ will be with +_them_. They are going out. No one knows what is before them, but with +Christ at their side all will be well. + +And now a Reservist speaks. He cannot pass the doctors, and has to +return home; but he tells the lads how he went through the Chitral +campaign, and how hard he found it to be a Christian all alone. 'It is +all right here in the glory-room,' says he; 'it is all right when the +glory-room is not far away, and we can get to it. But when you are +thousands of miles away, and there are no Christian brothers anywhere +near, and you hear nothing but cursing, and are all the time amid the +excitement of war, it is hard work then. Stick to it, my brothers. Be +out and out for Christ.' + +And then another--an Engineer. 'I was going through the camp the other +day, and I noticed that where they were building the new bridge they had +put a lantern to warn people not to approach. It had only a candle +inside, and gave but a poor light. On either side of me were the lamps +of the Queen's Avenue, and only this tiny flicker in front. And I said +to myself, "My lad, you are not one of those big lamps there in the +Avenue; it's but a little light you can give, but little lights are +useful as well as big ones, and may be you can warn, if you cannot +illuminate."' And then with enthusiasm they sang together,-- + + 'Jesus bids me shine with a clear, pure light, + Like a little candle burning in the night; + In this world of darkness we must shine-- + You in your small corner, I in mine.' + +Then follow other testimonies and prayer, and by-and-by first one and +then another cries to God for mercy, and as the word of pardon is spoken +from above, and one after another enters into the Light, heaven indeed +comes down their + + 'souls to meet + And glory crowns the mercy-seat.' + +This is no fanciful picture. It is an every night occurrence. The old +times of the evangelical revival are lived over again in that +'glory-room,' and hundreds are started upon a new and higher life. + +But it is time to separate, and with a verse of the soldiers' parting +hymn the comrades go their various ways, and the blessed Sabbath's +services are over--over, all except one service more, the service in the +barrack room, where each Christian man kneels down by his bed-cot and +commends his comrades and himself to God. In the case of new converts +this is the testing-time. They _must_ kneel and pray. It is the outward +and visible sign of their consecration to God. A hard task it is for +most; not so hard to-day as it was a few years ago, but difficult still, +and the grit of the man is shown by the way he faces this great ordeal. +Persecution generally follows, but he who bears it bravely wins respect, +while he who fails is treated henceforth as a coward. This testimony for +Christ in the barrack room rarely fails to impress the most ungodly, +though at the time the jeering comrades would be the last to acknowledge +it. + +At the risk of appearing to anticipate, let me tell a story. + + +=Jemmie's Prayer.= + +In a nullah in far-away South Africa lay about a dozen wounded men. They +had been lying there for hours, their lives slowly ebbing away. One of +them was a Roman Catholic, who had been a ringleader of persecution in +the barrack room at home. Not far from him lay 'little Jemmie,' wounded +severely, whom many a time the Roman Catholic had persecuted in the days +gone by. Hour after hour the Roman Catholic soldier lay bleeding there, +until at last a strange dizzy sensation came over him which he fancied +was death. He looked across to where, in the darkness, he thought he +could distinguish 'little Jemmie.' With difficulty he crawled across to +him, and bending over the wounded lad, he roused him. + +'Jemmie, lad,' he said, 'I have watched you in the barrack room and seen +you pray. Jemmie, lad, do you think you could say a prayer for me?' + +And Jemmie roused himself with an effort, and, trying hard to get upon +his knees, he began to pray. By-and-by the other wounded soldiers heard +him, and all who could crawl gathered round, and there, in that far-away +nullah, little Jemmie 'said a prayer' for them all. Surely a strange and +almost ghastly prayer-meeting that! As they prayed, some one noticed the +flicker of a light in the distance. They knew not who it was--Briton or +Boer--who moved in the distant darkness. Jemmie, however, heeded it not, +but prayed earnestly for deliverance. The light came nearer, and the +wounded lads began to call with all their remaining strength for help. +And at last it came to them--the light of a British stretcher party--and +they were carried to help and deliverance. + +'And now,' said the Roman Catholic soldier, who, on his return from the +war, told this story to the Rev. T.J. McClelland, 'I know that God will +hear the prayer of a good man as well as the prayer of a priest, for he +heard little Jemmie's prayer that night.' + +And so the Aldershot barrack room prepares the way for the South African +veldt, and the example apparently unnoticed bears fruit where least +expected. + + +=The Hymns the Soldier Likes.= + +Of all hymn-books Mr. Thomas Atkins likes his 'Sankey' best. He is but a +big boy after all, and the hymns of boyhood are his favourites still. +You should hear him sing,-- + + 'I'm the child of a King,' + +while the dear lad has hardly a copper to call his own! And how he never +tires of singing! + +But the Scotchmen are exceptions, of course, and when, following +mobilisation times, the Cameronian Militia came to Aldershot, they could +not put up with Mr. Sankey's collection. Rough, bearded crofters as many +of them were,--men who had never been South before,--all these hymns +sounded very foreign. 'We canna do wi' them ava,' they cried; 'gie us +the Psalms o' Dauvit.' But they set an example to many of their fellows, +and the remarkable spectacle was witnessed in more than one barrack +room of these stalwart crofters engaged in family prayer. + +But it is time we saw our soldiers depart. And first there is the +inspection in the barrack square, and it is difficult to recognise in +these khaki-clad warriors the men we had known in the barrack room or +'Home.' And then there is the farewell in the evening, and the +'glory-room' or other devotional room is full of those ordered South, +and there is the hearty hand-shake and the whispered 'God bless you,' +and then all join in the soldiers' good-night song--his watchword all +the world over, hymn 494 in Sankey's collection,-- + + 'God be with you till we meet again.' + +His life is such a coming and going that he would be unhappy unless you +closed every evening meeting with at least one verse, and on these +occasions, when no one knows whether it will be in earth or heaven that +he will meet his comrade next, it is, of course, impossible to close +without it. And so night by night before each regiment takes its +departure some one starts 494. By-and-by, as the train steams out of the +station, it will be 'Auld Lang Syne,' but these are Christian men, and +they are parting from Christian men, and so often with hands clasped and +not without tears they sing,-- + + 'God be with you till we meet again, + Keep love's banner floating o'er you, + Smite death's threatening wave before you, + God be with you till we meet again.' + +They will not forget it, these soldier lads, and as they pass one +another on their long marches across the veldt, unable to do more than +shout a greeting to some old friend, it will be 494; and as with rapid +tread they advance to charge some almost impregnable defence, they will +shout to one another--these Christian soldiers--494, 'God be with you +till we meet again!' + + +=Off to the Front.= + +What stirring times those were! What singing in the barrack rooms at +night! What excitement in the streets of the town, yes, and what +drunkenness too, making it necessary now and then to confine a regiment +to barracks the night before departure. And then the march to the +station, often in the small hours of the morning, the rush at the last +with some would-be deserter just caught in time, the enthusiasm of the +men, the cheering of the crowd, the singing of 'Auld Lang Syne' and 'God +Save the Queen.' And then away goes the train, heads out of every +carriage, handkerchiefs waving, lusty voices cheering, shouting, +singing. God bless you, our soldier lads! + +But what mean these little knots of women and children gazing wistfully +after the train? What mean these sobs, these tears, this heart-break? +Ah! this is another side to the picture. They have said good-bye, and +they know that _all_ of these lads will not return, and that some of +those left behind are left desolate for life. God help them, our +British soldiers--aye, and God help those they have left behind them! + +[Illustration: OFF TO SOUTH AFRICA.] + + +=Mr. Lowry Ordered South.= + +Let us glance at just one scene more before we say good-bye to old +Aldershot and follow our soldier lads on their journey South. It is the +farewell of one of the best-loved of Aldershot chaplains--the Rev. E.P. +Lowry, senior Wesleyan chaplain. For seven years he has ministered with +rare success to our troops; his name is a household word among them, +they love him as they love few, and he loves them one and all. And now +he too is ordered South. He is fifty-six years old, and has done no +campaigning heretofore. It is, therefore, no light task he has before +him, and though he has many advantages and is known to so many, yet he +is quite aware he must rough it with the rest, and is prepared to +undergo all hardships with his men. + +It is a raw, biting morning, and the piercing wind makes the khaki +uniforms that flit here and there look altogether unseasonable. On the +other side of the station is Rev. Father Ryan, the Roman Catholic +chaplain, in khaki uniform and helmet, looking a soldier every inch of +him,--a good man, too, and a gentleman, as we Aldershot folks know well. +But on this platform what a crowd there is! Men and women, old and +young, soldiers and civilians, have all come to say good-bye to one man, +and he moves in and out among the people saying a kindly word here and +giving a handshake there. There are not many for South Africa by this +train. The men left hours ago, and only a few officers who had no need +to travel with their men are going down. A young lad here, the son of a +Christian man, is going out hoping to get an appointment in some South +African volunteer regiment, and his comrades of the Fire Brigade are +here to say 'good-bye.' But the rest of us are all crowding round our +best-loved padre to say God-speed. + +It is a scene that will live with us for many years. See, they are +running along the platform as the train steams out. 494 they shout, and +bravely and with smiling face he calls out in return 494, and off they +go, he to the work of his life, and we to the more humdrum but perhaps +not less necessary work of the hour. + + + + +Chapter III + +OLD ENGLAND ON THE SEA + + +A cheer from the distant crowds, an increased involuntary bustle on +board ship, and then train load after train load of troops detrained +alongside the ship that was to be their home for the next three weeks. +Up and up the gangways they went in long continuous lines, hour after +hour, a procession that seemed as though it would never stop. At last +all are on board, and the bell rings for visitors to go ashore. The +troops crowd the bulwarks of the ship, they climb the rigging, many of +them like sailors. They seize every vantage point from which they can +wave a long farewell to those they are leaving behind them, and then +some one with a cornet strikes up 'Soldiers of the Queen' and 'Rule +Britannia,' and fifteen hundred voices echoed by those on shore join in +the patriotic songs. At last all is ready and the moorings are cast off. +'One song more, my lads'; it is 'Shall auld acquaintance be forgot?' and +there with the good ship already moving from the dock they sing it, +while handkerchiefs are vigorously waved and hearty cheers rend the air, +and not a few tears are shed. And so amidst excitement and sorrow, +laughter and tears, the good ship drops down the Southampton Water, past +Netley Hospital--soon to receive many of them back--and Calshott Castle, +past the Needles and out into the open Channel, and fifteen hundred +fighting men are on their way to South Africa. + + +=A New Feat in Britain's History.= + +Week after week this was the programme. It only varied in that the ship +was different, and the men were of different regiments and different +names. Until at last the title of this chapter had become an actual +fact, and Old England, in a sense truer than ever before, was upon the +sea. For it was not _young_ England simply that was there. The fathers +of our land--our greatest and our wisest generals, the most seasoned of +our veterans, were there also. And there was hardly a family at home but +had some representative, or at any rate some near or dear friend upon +the sea. + +Never had such a thing as this been _attempted_ before in the history of +the world. Other great expeditions had been fitted out and despatched, +for instance, the great Armada which was beaten and dispersed by our +Hearts of Oak and broken to pieces upon our Scottish rocks. But for +nearly 150,000 men to be dispatched 7,000 miles by sea, and not a man be +lost by shipwreck, is something over which old England may well be +proud, and for which it should bow in hearty thanksgiving to God. + +The men these ships were carrying were _new_ men. Some of them certainly +were of the old type--drinking, swearing, impure--though for three +weeks, at any rate, every man of them was perforce a teetotaler, and did +not suffer in consequence! But our army has been recruited in days past +from our Sunday Schools with blessed consequences, and on board every +ship there were men whose first concern was to find a spot where, with +congenial souls, they could meet and pray. + +All sorts of places were found. The Rev. E.P. Lowry, for instance, +managed to get the use of the Lunatic Ward, and there the men met and +prayed, caring nothing for the nickname of 'lunatic' freely bestowed +throughout the voyage. + + +=Religious Work on a Troopship.= + +The following letter from Colour-Sergeant J.H. Pearce, culled from the +_Methodist Times_, gives us a specimen of the work done by the soldiers +themselves upon these troopships, work that commenced as soon as the +ship left dock, and continued to the end of the voyage. It is dated-- + + '_At sea, but in the hollow of His hand._ + + 'The first evening we got together all we could find, and decided + to start at once, although still in harbour; so we looked out a + little place under the poop, and decided after a chapter and prayer + to come along again the next evening. But when I went along to see + who would turn up, to my sorrow I found the devil had taken up + position outside our trenches, and we were debarred from entering + by a crowd playing "House." The next day I was rather sick but went + up and found the devil still in possession. Brother Evans was too + sick to go that evening; but Thursday, being better, he and I went + from stem to stern, downstairs and up, searching for a place to + meet for prayer and reading the Word. We were just giving up our + search to go to our quarters and pray about it, when we alighted + upon about eight of our dear brothers on one of the hatchways + waiting. They had sent two of the number to look for Evans and me, + so we got around a port-hole light, and read Romans v., had a few + words, and a word of prayer. Evans read 604, "Soldiers' home + above," and we went home to pray that the Lord would open a way. + + 'We were to meet to-night at the same place to report progress. I + was in the meantime to ask for the use of the orderly-room. The + Lord had answered by opening the windows of heaven and the heart of + the officer commanding the troops, and gave us exceedingly + abundantly above what we asked or thought, for this morning the + colonel met Mr. Cochrane, asked him if he were the Scripture + reader, and told him he would give any place on board the vessel we + liked to ask for. The orderly-room was granted us, and when we got + there a number of R.A. clerks were at work. I spoke to the + sergeant-major and told him we did not want to be objectionable, so + would come when they had finished. He said, "Take no notice of us, + go on." But there was too much commotion, so I went to see our + orderly-room sergeant, who let us into the clerks' room, and there + we had a real glory time. We know the Lord is with you at + Aldershot, for we have realized His presence there. But He is here + in wonderful power. We had a conversion last night on the hatchway. + A man came along and listened, and in the dark we did not detect + him till he spoke; so we have to report progress. We are to meet + every night for prayer, reading and praise. It would melt a heart + of cast steel to have been in our little meeting to-night, as one + after another of the dear fellows simply poured out his heart to + the Lord in prayer and praise. You thought I liked a good innings, + but why should not every blood-bought and blood-washed one be the + same? Do I realize what Jesus has done for me? Then + + "I must tell to sinners round + What a dear Saviour I have found," + + and point to the redeeming Blood, and say, "Behold the way to God." + Glorious times yesterday, about seventy or eighty at parade + service. I took John i. 29, "Behold the Lamb." Afternoon Bible + reading. Evening out-door meeting, about 400 or 500 men listening; + then indoor meeting. A dear fellow of our regiment gloriously + converted Saturday night. Took his place with us in the open-air + ring last night.' + +Such stories as these tell of intense devotion, of a consecration that +is indeed 'out and out.' They show that every Christian soldier is a +Christian missionary, and that a Christian army would be the most +powerful missionary society in the world. + +In many cases Christian officers were instrumental in bringing numbers +of the men to Christ: among these may be mentioned Captain Thompson, of +the 4th Field Battery R.A., who held services three times a week +throughout the voyage, and whose loving and earnest addresses had a +powerful influence upon his hearers. + +Tons of literature of all descriptions were put upon the troopships at +the port of embarkation. Mr. Punter, the Wesleyan Scripture reader, +himself distributed six tons at Southampton. One society seemed to vie +with another in thus ministering to the wants of the men. The Soldier's +Testament proved a boon to many, and as our lads return from the front, +many of them show with pride their Testaments, safely brought back +through many a fierce fight. + +In the evenings, on many of the ships, large numbers met and sang hymns. +A soldier never tires of singing, and his 'Sankey' is an unfailing +friend. Many a lad had thus brought back to memory days of long ago, and +gave himself to his mother's God. + +But, after all, the great Christian events of the voyage were the parade +services. If there were chaplains on board, they naturally conducted the +services. If not, the officers in some cases performed that duty, and we +read in one soldier's letter that on the Braemar Castle Prince +Christian Victor conducted a service, perhaps a somewhat unusual +occupation for a prince! + + +=Parade Services on a Troopship.= + +But men in the ranks conducted parade services also. The commanding +officer would send for some godly non-commissioned officer or private, +and make him for the time being the 'padre' for the ship. Nor were these +devoted Christians unduly exalted by the position in which they found +themselves. It was no slight acknowledgment of worth that, all +untrained, they found themselves for the time being Acting-Chaplains to +Her Majesty's forces. Godly Methodists like Sergt.-Major Foote or +Sergeant Oates, for instance, were not the men to be spoilt by such a +position. Sergeant Oates tells how the men pointed him out as the +'Wesleyan Parson,' but he tells also that being provost-sergeant he had +an empty cell under his charge and that there he used to go to be alone +with God. From such communings he came out a strong man--strong to +resist temptation and to win men for Christ. And as for Sergt.-Major +Foote, he was simply bubbling over with Christian enthusiasm--enthusiasm +that did not lead him astray because it was united with a well-balanced +judgment. + +The best pictures we get of such parade services at sea are however from +the pens of our chaplains. The Rev. E.P. Lowry gives us a vivid picture +of a Sunday at sea, which we venture to transcribe from the _Methodist +Times_:-- + + 'This day has really in large measure been given up to the feelings + and exercises of devotion. There has been no physical drill and + regimental "doubling" round the deck to the accompaniment, first of + the bagpipes, and then of the fifes and drums; no medical + inspection of the men's feet; no lectures to officers on first-aid + to the wounded; no rifle practice at the Boers in the shape of + bottles and boxes thrown overboard to be fired at by scores of + eager marksmen, and speedily sent to the bottom. + + 'Early came an inspection of the ship's crew, stewards, and + stokers, numbering about 180 in all, and including Africans and + Lascars, of almost every imaginable hue, all dressed in their + Sunday best. Then came the muster, at ten o'clock, of all our + soldier lads, in red tunic and forage cap, for church parade. + Nearly the whole 1,600 answered to their names, were divided into + groups according to their various denominations, and marched to + their various rendezvous for worship. The Presbyterians and + Wesleyans numbered nearly 500, which would make a very full parade + at Grosvenor Road Church. The place assigned to us was down below + on what is called the first and second decks, where the men usually + have their meals, and sleep in hammocks, or on the tables, forms + and floor, as the case may be. All the tinware and other + impedimenta had been carefully cleared away, and so the men at once + filed in between the tables. A special form was provided for the + two officers who attended, and another for Mr. Pearce, who acted as + my precentor, and myself. The 200 ha'penny hymn-books sent in by + the thoughtful kindness of the Rev. R.W. Allen rendered invaluable + aid in the brightening of the service, for they made it possible + for every man to join in the singing, which was touchingly hearty + and tender. Only favourite hymns would be in place in an assembly + so strangely mixed, so we began with "Jesu, Lover of my soul," + followed by "What can wash away my sin?" "Just as I am," and "Oh, + what a Saviour! that He died for me." Nearly half the men on board + are Reservists, fresh from home and home-ties, though now 4,000 + miles at sea, and to them the singing of such hymns would + inevitably be wakeful of all hallowed memories, and more helpful + than any sermon. + + 'Nevertheless, I ventured to speak to them solemnly, yet cheerily, + of the mobilisation order that Joshua issued to the Hebrew host on + the eve of battle, when he commanded them as the one supremely + essential thing to sanctify themselves. The men were reminded that + character tells, above all, on the field of battle, as Cromwell's + troopers proved, and that since, of all work, war is the most + appallingly responsible and perilous, every soldier is doubly + called to be a saint. Such was "Stonewall" Jackson, America's most + victorious general, and as in his case, so in theirs, grace would + not rob them of grit, but increase their store. That grace they all + might find in Christ. + + 'We also all seemed to feel it a consoling thing to bow in prayer + on that rolling lower deck for Queen and country, for comrades + already at the seat of war, and for "the old folk at home," so, in + our humble measure making ourselves one with that innumerable host + who thus seek "to bind the whole round earth by golden chains about + the feet of God." Not a man seemed unmoved, and the memory of that + first full and official parade will be helpful to me for many days + to come. + + 'The Roman Catholics were also mustered; but as there was no priest + on board, associated worship was for them quite impossible, and + they were accordingly at once dismissed. + + 'In the absence of an Anglican chaplain, Surgeon-Colonel McGill, + the principal medical officer, read prayers with the men of the + Royal Army Medical Corps. The captains of the various regimental + companies did the same for their Church of England men; while in + the main saloon the ship's captain conducted worship with as many + of the naval and military officers as found it convenient to + attend. At the harmonium presided Bandsman Harrison, of the + Northamptons, who for the last two years has helped ever so well at + the Sunday afternoon services of sacred song in Aldershot. + + 'After church there was an excellent gathering in the guardroom for + prayer and Bible reading, when we refreshed our hearts with the + thought of the glories of the ascended Saviour who is indeed "The + Almighty"; and although in this singular meeting-place we have + never before ventured to indulge in song, to-day we could not + refrain from an exultant voicing of the Doxology. + + 'At 6.30, just when loved ones at Aldershot were assembling for + worship, our praying men met once more; this time on the upper + deck, where there soon assembled a large and interested + congregation, sitting on the bulwarks or lying about in every + imaginable attitude on the deck. Close by there were half a dozen + strong horses that had not felt their feet for over a fortnight; + every now and then piercing bugle calls broke in upon us, and the + restless feet of many a man hurrying to and fro; but none of these + things moved us, and the service was vigorously maintained for + nearly an hour and a half. Mr. Pearce, the Army Scripture Reader, + gave out the hymns; I read a chapter and gave an address as + brightly tender and practical as I could make it; sundry soldiers + also spoke and prayed; and a manifestly gracious impression was + produced on all present. The men are eager to listen when + sanctified common-sense is talked, and are just as ready + good-naturedly to note anything that in the slightest degree is + odd. One of our godliest helpers has a powerful voice, but + sometimes inserts a sort of sentimental tremolo into his singing, + which makes it distinctly suggestive of the bleating of a sheep. I + was sitting in my cabin close by when this preliminary singing was + started, and was not left many moments in doubt as to its + unmistakable sheepishness, or lamb-likeness, for almost immediately + I heard some of the young rascals sitting round put in a subdued + accompaniment of "Baa-a-a." Yet none the less the song moved on to + its triumphant close. And thus, amid tears and harmless mirth, we + are sowing on board this ship the seeds of eternal life, humbly + trusting that the Lord of the harvest will not suffer our labour to + be wholly in vain.' + +Or take this as a later picture from a private letter sent home by the +Rev. Frank Edwards, Acting-Chaplain to the Welsh Wesleyan troops. Mr. +Edwards went out at his own charge to render spiritual help to his +countrymen. + + 'This morning we had a splendid parade service. It was held on the + upper deck. The captain had a large awning put up specially for the + service. A stand was then erected by the chief officer, and a few + of the men draped it with flags, and I had a large box covered with + the Union Jack to serve me as a pulpit. Then the men were marched + up and formed into three sides of a square, of which the preacher + and my choir formed the fourth side. The centre of the square was + occupied by the officers. + + 'It was the most memorable service of my life. We opened with the + hymn,-- + + "Stand up, stand up for Jesus," + + and the strains of that hymn from hundreds of manly voices was + carried far out upon the waters. Then we had the Liturgy, and the + responses came clear and strong in true military style. The singing + of the grand old Te Deum was most impressive. We sang an Easter + hymn with great feeling and earnestness, and before the sermon, + + "Jesu, Lover of my soul." + + Oh! how those men joined in the singing. It seemed to become a + prayer on every lip, and the fitting expression of the thought of + every heart. Its meaning was clearer than it had ever been before. + + "While the nearer waters roll, + While the tempest still is high." + + Then came the sermon, which was no sermon at all. True, I took a + text, Isa. lxiii. 1, and I had a sermon in my mind. But when I + looked round at those men, and thought how we were all standing on + the very brink of eternity, and how few, perhaps, would ever see + the dawn of another Easter morn, I knew it was not the place for an + elaborate sermon. The time was precious and my words must be few + and straight. I had a good time. It was impossible to miss it. + Looking round upon those men as they came pressing closer and + closer, with their hungry souls shining forth through their eyes, + as they listened to the old, old story of the Saviour's everlasting + love, and of His mighty conquest over sin and death, why, it seemed + to me that if I did not preach to them the very _masts_ would cry + out and proclaim the glad tidings. I forgot self, and time, and + place, and remembered nothing but my hearers and my message. And + although I had been warned not to keep them long, as they would + never listen, such was the sympathy between us, and so great the + fascination of the old story of Christ's love and power to save, + that they listened spellbound to the end. + + 'Then came the last hymn "Rock of Ages," and, oh! how it rolled + out, clear and strong and triumphant, vibrating through the ship + and echoing over the waters, a fitting close to a helpful and + impressive service.' + +In such manner ended a typical Sunday upon a troopship. And _only_ a +_typical_ Sunday, for on scores of troopships Sundays of a similar +character were spent. Such sacred hours must have proved splendid +preparation for the approaching campaign. And many a lad who had never +thought upon the great things of eternity before came face to face with +them then. + +And so with marvellous celerity the English army was transferred to +South Africa, and all eyes and hearts followed it. The pride of the +castle and of the cottage was there; the heir to vast estates, and the +support of his widowed mother's old age; the scape-grace of the family, +and the one on whom all its hopes centred. + + +=The Chaplains of the British Army.= + +And with them went the best that the Church could send. A noble band of +chaplains has our British army. Men like the venerable Dr. Edgehill, the +Chaplain-General--the soldier's preacher, _par excellence_. Men like the +Rev. A.W.B. Watson, who nearly killed himself by his acts of +self-sacrifice on behalf of the men in the Soudan campaign. + +Distinguished clergymen, Presbyterian and Wesleyan ministers, Army +Scripture readers, agents of the Soldiers' Christian Association--all +wanted to go; and the difficulty was not to find the men, but to choose +among so many. + +And so men of war and men of peace, soldiers of the Queen and soldiers +of the King of kings, found themselves together on the shores of South +Africa, sharing each other's dangers, privations and fatigues, all of +them loyal to their Queen, and each of them doing his work to the best +of his ability. + +And the prayers of Christian England were with them night and day. What +wonder that through the army went a wave of Christian influence such as +had never been felt before. + +And then from the Colonies they came. Australia and Canada sent their +choicest and their best. From the dusky sons of the British Empire in +India came representatives also. South Africa itself had its own goodly +tribute to offer. And with them all came Christian workers--chaplains +from Australia and Canada; missionaries by the score in South Africa, +ready to do everything in their power for the soldiers of the Queen. + +And so it came to pass that the whole British Empire was represented on +the South African veldt. And the prayers, not only of Christian Britain, +but of the whole Empire, ascended to Heaven as the prayer of one man for +our soldier lads across the sea. Never has the sentiment of Tennyson's +beautiful poem been so translated into fact before, for in very deed +the whole round world was every way + + 'Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.' + +The months that witnessed the welding of the British Empire into one +great family witnessed also one great effort for her soldiers, and one +glorious chain of prayer for their conversion. What wonder that +hundreds, if not thousands, turned to God! + +[Illustration: PARADE SERVICE ON THE TUGELA.] + + + + +Chapter IV + +TO THE FRONT + + +The two most important ports of disembarkation A were Capetown and +Durban. East London and Port Elizabeth necessarily came in for their +share of the troops, but that share was only small. + +It was therefore at Capetown and Durban that Christian workers specially +prepared to receive our soldiers and do all that was possible for their +comfort ere they departed for the front. These towns had already +thousands of refugees from the Transvaal upon their hands. Many of them +were absolutely destitute. They had left the Transvaal at almost a +moment's notice, and large numbers had only the clothes they were +wearing. But the generosity of the colonists knew no bounds, and gladly +they gave of their abundance and often of their poverty to help their +poor distressed brethren. Daily relief was granted where needed, and all +things possible were done for their comfort. + + +=South African Generosity.= + +And now the coming of the army gave fresh opportunity for the display of +generosity. Not only were the soldiers received with hearty cheers, but +lavish gifts were showered upon them. Flowers, fruits, tobacco, dainties +of all kinds were handed to them as they departed to the front, and in +many cases sent up after them. + +A gentleman from 'up country' wrote to Capetown to ask when any troops +would be going through a certain railway station, and he would undertake +to supply with fruit all troops passing for the next two months. + +At Christmas a number of ladies at one of the stations up the line had +all sorts of good things for the men who had to travel on Christmas Day. +Another gentleman accidentally heard that a certain train was going to +stop at the railway station nearest his house, and hastily collected +twenty-four dozen new-laid eggs for the men to have for breakfast! Such +Christian kindness as this appeals powerfully to Mr. Thomas Atkins, as +it does to most men, and he deserved all that South Africa could give +him. + + +=The Soldiers' Christian Association in South Africa.= + +At Capetown the Soldiers' Christian Association was specially active. +This enterprising and successful Association was inaugurated seven years +ago as the direct result of a series of recommendations submitted to the +National Council of Young Men's Christian Associations. It has its +branches in most military centres and is exceedingly popular with the +men. In connection with this war the S.C.A., as it is familiarly called, +has taken an entirely new departure. It has taken a leaf, and a very +valuable leaf, out of the book of the American Young Men's Christian +Association. That enterprising Association did a great deal of tent work +during the late war with Spain, and such work proving of the greatest +value, the S.C.A. has followed the same course during the war in South +Africa. At first there was considerable difficulty in getting permission +from headquarters; but at last it came, and on Saturday, Nov. 11, 1899, +Messrs. Hinde and Fleming sailed. A further band of seven workers +accompanied Mr. A.H. Wheeler, the General Secretary of the Association a +fortnight later, and on their arrival they found that a general order +had been issued to the following effect--'Permission has been given to +the Soldiers' Christian Association to send out tents and +writing-material for the troops. Facilities are to be accorded to the +Association to put up tents at fixed stations, as far as military +requirements will permit.' + +How well the work of the Association has been done has been told in the +organ of the S.C.A.--_News from the Front_. + + 'Eight tents, fully equipped and capable of seating two hundred and + fifty men, made of green rot-proof canvas, and ten smaller ones + made of the same material for sleeping purposes, besides four iron + buildings to take the place of tents in the colder districts, have + been sent out from the mother country The tents have been stationed + at Wynberg (No. 1 General Hospital), Orange River, Enslin Camp, + Sterkstroom, Dordrecht, Kimberley (after the siege), Bloemfontein, + Ladysmith (after the siege), Dewdrop Camp, Arcadia, Frere Camp, and + other places. It was Lord Roberts' special wish that two of the + iron buildings should be erected at Bloemfontein and one each at + Kimberley and Ladysmith.'[1] + +Lord Roberts himself opened the first S.C.A. tent pitched in +Bloemfontein, and the late Earl of Airlie, whose death none more than +his gallant lads of the 12th Lancers mourn, opened the tent at Enslin. +These tents became the Soldiers' Homes, and are free to men of all +denominations. In them stationery, ink, and pens are all free; and there +are books to read and games to play. + +Occasionally they have been put to other uses, such as hospital depots, +shelters for refugees, and temporary hospitals. Generals and their +staffs have been quartered in them for the night, and, in fact, they +have accompanied the British soldier to the front as his 'home from +home' wherever he has gone. + +But to return to the work of the S.C.A. at Capetown. When this work +began it was found that there was no post-office at the south arm or +jetty where the troops disembarked, and thousands of the troops were +proceeding to the front without the opportunity of posting the letters +they had written, or sending home the money they had received during +the voyage. With his usual carelessness, 'Tommy' was leaving his letters +with any one he saw on the jetty, and even confiding his money to be +sent home by any chance passer-by. + +The S.C.A. got permission to undertake this work and soon had an amateur +post-office in full working order. In this way thousands of letters +reached anxious friends at home which might otherwise have been delayed +for weeks. And more than this, thousands of pounds in money were +received by the workers and safely transmitted home, one regiment alone, +the King's Own Scottish Borderers, committing to the care of the S.C.A. +workers no less than L800. Large quantities of writing-material and +religious literature were also distributed amongst the troops before +they proceeded on their long and tedious journey up country. + +[Footnote 1: _Our Soldiers_.] + + +=Work Among the Refugees.= + +It will be remembered that when the war broke out the missionaries were, +with very few exceptions, compelled to leave the Transvaal. The General +Superintendent of Wesleyan Missions in the Transvaal District, the Rev. +Geo. Weavind, had been so long resident in the country as to be able to +take up his rights as a burgher. He therefore stayed to look after his +few remaining people, and four other Wesleyan missionaries remained by +special permission with him. For the rest, the missionaries were +scattered: some to Capetown, some to Durban, some to obtain +appointments as acting-chaplains, or officiating clergymen; but all of +them to work in some way or other for the Master, to whose service they +had given their lives. + +At Durban, similar work was done. The Transvaal Relief Committee (a +sub-committee of the Durban Town Council Relief Committee), with the +Rev. Geo. Lowe as chairman, did splendid work among the refugees, of +whom at one time there were 21,000 in Durban alone. This relief work was +splendidly organized and most effective. + +The Sisters Evelyn and Miriam, who organized much of this work, were +Wesley deaconesses employed in South Africa. Sister Evelyn Oats was +resting in England after five years' most exhausting and successful +work, but hurried back to South Africa on the first news of the outbreak +of war, and was soon hard at work among the refugees. Sister Miriam had +been employed at Johannesburg, and remained there until nearly every one +had gone, and she was left alone in the house. And then she also left +and found her way to Durban, where her nursing skill was of the utmost +value among the poor women, homeless and destitute, in the hour of their +deepest need. + +The rate of relief was one shilling per day for adults, and sixpence for +each child under fourteen; and the utmost care was taken in the +distribution of the money. Funds were most generously provided, but it +was a great relief when an application for 1,500 stretcher-bearers came +from the front, and thus the congestion among the men was rendered less +severe How eagerly the poor fellows accepted the offered employment, +and the drill hall was in a few minutes crowded with those eager to go! + + +=Welcoming the Troops at Durban.= + +At Durban also the heartiest of hearty welcomes was given to the +incoming troops. In connection with the Transvaal Relief Committee there +was a commissariat department for the purchase of bread and fruit, etc., +and a Welcome Committee to receive the soldiers as they came. + +At first the idea was only to provide bread and fruit for the men on +landing, but it was soon found, as at Capetown, that the men had letters +to post and money to send home. It was also found that the men wanted +some one to write letters for them, and this work also was undertaken, +young ladies gladly giving of their time to this work; and thousands of +friends by their assistance heard of the arrival of their dear ones at +Durban. + +Christmas cards were also freely given to the men, who wanted in this +way to send Christmas greetings home; and, in fact, Tommy Atkins had +hardly been so spoilt before--not even by some good ladies in +England--as he was during these eventful weeks at Durban. The letters +and messages sent home were in many cases of a most touching and tender +character, and once more Tommy Atkins proved himself to be anything but +an 'Absent-minded Beggar.' + +As at Capetown, money in large sums was entrusted to the workers to +send home, and quite a large number of watches were handed over for the +same purpose. In this work ministers and members of all Churches took +part. The military authorities cleared as many difficulties as possible +out of their way, and all who took part in it found it a labour of love. + +There was no time to do much direct spiritual work at either Capetown or +Durban. The troops were hurried to the front as fast as possible. But +whenever it was possible to speak a word for Christ that word was +spoken, and the kindly act was a sermon in itself. + +Thus were our soldier lads welcomed by our children across the sea. And +by their kindness to our men they have forged another link in the chain +of love which binds the colonies to the homeland. + +'Britannia's piccanini,' as Natal loves to call herself, has proved +worthy of the old mother; and the old mother who is making such +sacrifices for her children in South Africa will not forget that they +are striving hard to show themselves worthy of her care. + + + + +Chapter V + +WITH LORD METHUEN + + +To Lord Methuen was given command of the Kimberley Relief Column. He had +with him the Guards, the Highland Brigade, and several of the finest +infantry regiments in Her Majesty's army. A great task was allotted to +him, but he was considered equal to any responsibility. He has been +freely criticised for his conduct of this part of the campaign. It has +been stated that he was prodigal of the lives of his men by direct +assaults when he might have accomplished his purpose by sweeping flank +movements, as Lord Roberts did afterwards. But then Lord Roberts had +cavalry, and Methuen was sadly deficient in that arm of the service; and +how to make such turning movements without sufficient cavalry, no one +yet has been able to tell. However, it is not for us to enter into any +criticism or defence of a British General. + +What concerns us most for the purpose of this book, and what we rejoice +to know, is that Lord Methuen was a humble and sincere Christian, who +did all that lay in his power to further the spiritual work among his +men. What this means to a chaplain or Scripture reader at the front can +hardly be told. This we do know, that the direct assistance of the +commanding officer often makes all the difference between rich success +and comparative failure. + + +=Christian Work at De Aar and Orange River.= + +The rallying-point for the Kimberley Relief Column was, in the first +place, De Aar, the junction where the line to Kimberley connects with +the line to Bloemfontein. In course of time, De Aar became the great +distributing centre of stores for the forces on the way to Kimberley and +Colesberg. Here the Army Service Corps held sway, and enormous were the +stores committed to their care. + +But at first, as we have said, De Aar was the rallying place for our +troops, as they moved up from Capetown, and here it was that they got +their first sight of the Boers. As they placed their pickets and +sentries round the camp for the night, a Boer woman was heard to say, +'The rooineks are so afraid that their men will run away, that they have +had to put armed men round the camp to keep the others in.' That was her +way of interpreting the duties of British sentries! + +Here it was that Christian work among the troops began in real earnest, +and Sergeant Oates obtained permission from the leaders of the Railway +Mission to use the Carnarvon Hall for Soldiers' Services. The colonel +heard of it and put the service in orders, so that without any +pre-arrangement on the part of the promoters, Sergeant Oates obtained +the attendance of all the Wesleyan soldiers in De Aar at the time. + +By-and-by they moved up to the Orange River, 570 miles beyond Capetown. +Here they found that the station-master was a nominal Wesleyan, and he +most kindly gave them the use of his house for religious services. +Still, they were without chaplains, and what, perhaps, was, in their +opinion, quite as bad, without hymn-books! Sergeant Oates found the name +of the Rev. E. Nuttall, of Capetown, on a piece of dirty old paper in +the camp. He did not know anything about him, or even whether he was +still in Capetown, but he felt moved to write to him for those precious +hymn-books. So he read his letter to the lads, and they 'put a prayer +under the seal' and sent it off. The station-master at Belmont, who was +going '_down_,' promised to do what he could for these singing soldiers, +who were without their books, and so even in worse state than preachers +without their sermons; and, strange to say, letter, station-master, and +Rev. E.P. Lowry appeared at the Rev. E. Nuttall's house almost at the +same time! With Mr. Lowry came Mr. A. Pearce, Army Scripture Reader, +from North Camp, Aldershot. He remained at Orange River while Mr. Lowry +moved on with the Guards, to which Brigade he was attached. + +By this time the troops were ready for the advance, and the chaplains +were with their men. Rev. Mr. Faulkner was the senior Church of England +chaplain. The Rev. James Robertson and the Rev. W.S. Jaffrey represented +the Presbyterians, and the Rev. E.P. Lowry was the senior Wesleyan +chaplain. + + +=The Battle of Belmont.= + +And then came the battle of Belmont! From Orange River the troops had +been compelled to march, and had their first taste of the African sun in +the greatness of his strength. The legs of the kilted men were blistered +as though boiling water had been poured over them, and all but the old +campaigners in every regiment suffered acutely. Belmont was reached +after dark; the troops were without over-coats or blankets, and the +night was bitingly cold. But they lay down anywhere, glad enough to +stretch themselves upon the ground or seek the friendly shelter of a +ditch. Here they lay unmurmuringly--members of the proudest aristocracy +in the world, noblemen of ancient lineage, quite ready to sleep in a +ditch or die, for that matter, for their country. + +Before two o'clock in the morning, they were aroused, and marched out to +attack the stronghold of the Boers. And nobly they performed their task. +But let a Christian soldier--our old friend Sergeant Oates--describe the +battle. + + +=A Sergeant's Account of the Battle.= + +'On the 23rd November (Martinmas Day), we marched out early in the +morning, and at daybreak found ourselves facing the Boers in a +formidable position. All was so still during our march to this place. +While marching along, a young goat had got parted from its mother and +commenced bleating mournfully in front of us, and although I am not +superstitious, it made me feel quite uncomfortable, as it did many more. +What became of it eventually I cannot say, but I think the poor little +thing got roughly handled, if not killed. + +'We were not long before we came within rifle range, and then the +bullets began to fly about our ears as we advanced towards the Boer +position. We pressed on; first one and then another kept dropping out, +and shouts of "stretcher bearer" were heard very frequently. Nothing +except death would have stopped our men that morning, so determined they +seemed. On we went, and faster and thicker the bullets came, spending +themselves in the sand at our feet. At last we reached the kopje, and +rested at the foot a short while, and then up we went. Lieutenant Brine +and myself reached the top in advance of the others. As soon as we +popped our heads over the top, five of the Northamptons popped their +heads over the other side, facing us with their rifles, at the present, +and it was hard to convince them we were friends, so excited were they. +We were not allowed to remain at peace long, for evidently some one had +spied us. Ping, ping, came the Mauser bullets; swish, swish, the +Martinis. We soon got to rather close quarters and were able to do some +good shooting. I was still close to Mr. Brine, and we had been talking +some few minutes, when some one spied him and he had two or three +narrow escapes. He moved to what he thought was a safer place, and had +about four shots, which all told. He gave me the range, and was just +taking aim a fifth time when a Martini bullet pierced his throat, and he +fell to rise no more. That was the first death I saw, and I felt +somewhat sick. Soon, however, we charged, and up went the _white flag_; +but it was the most difficult piece of work I ever saw, trying to stop +our men in the middle of a charge. However, they were stopped in time, +and instead of being killed, the remaining Boers were taken prisoners. +The battle over, we returned to camp, and then came the sad duty of +burying our fourteen dead comrades. There were not many dry eyes, but I +venture to say there were many thankful hearts.' + + +=Mr. Lowry's Adventure on the Veldt.= + +The Rev. E.P. Lowry had a very trying experience in connection with this +battle. He had marched out with the colonel of the Grenadiers, intending +to return to camp as soon as the railway line was reached; but it was +impossible to find his way back in the darkness, and he therefore went +on with the men. Presently the bullets were whistling all around him, +and as soon as the heaviest fighting on the left was over, he busied +himself among the wounded. Feeling however, that he could do nothing +more, and that he had better be in camp to receive the wounded, he +determined to make the best of his way back. But he was wrongly +directed, and got lost on the veldt. Hour after hour he wandered about, +but could find no trace of the camp, into which he had marched in the +dark the previous night, and out of which he had marched in the dark +that same morning. His thirst consumed him, he could walk no further, he +was utterly exhausted. How many miles he had wandered he could not tell. +The din of battle had died away, and all was one unbroken stillness. He +sat down under the scanty shade of a thorn bush, and with a feeling of +intense desolation upon him made the following entry in his +pocket-book:-- + + 'Am now without water, without bread, and almost without hope, save + in Jesus Christ, my Saviour, in whom now, as ever, I trust for + everlasting life.' + +He knelt down and offered up what might well have been his last prayer, +and then had a vivid impression made upon his mind that he should go in +an entirely different direction from that in which he had been +travelling. After wandering in utter weariness for some time in this +direction, he saw in the dim distance a cart moving across the veldt. +With all the strength he had left, he shouted. Presently the cart +stopped, and he saw a man dismount. Slowly he came near, covering the +poor, weary wanderer with his rifle. Who it was--Briton or Boer--Mr. +Lowry did not know and hardly did he care. It was his one chance of +life, and 'all that a man hath will he give for his life.' In his +exhausted state, the heat and fury of the battle seemed as nothing to +the intense loneliness and desolation of the veldt. + +But a 'friend' drew near, for the man who so slowly came towards him +was a Rimington Scout, and he and his comrade in the cart soon carried +their chaplain to help and deliverance. They were in charge of some +battle-field loot which they were taking temporarily to a Dutchman's +house of which they had possession. Here there was a feather bed, and, +what was better still, food and drink. That same night the scouts were +ordered to Belmont, and back with them went the wandering chaplain, +still weary and faint, to carry with him as long as he lived the memory +of his awful experience upon the veldt. + +They were burying the dead when Mr. Lowry returned to Belmont. The first +to fall on that fearful day had been Corporal Honey. He had given his +heart to God on the passage out, and great was the rejoicing of the +comrades who had led him to Christ that he had been able to bear a good +testimony until that fateful morning. + + +=At the Battle of Modder River.= + +Then followed Graspan or Enslin, where the Naval Brigade suffered so +seriously; and then the fight that Lord Methuen considered the most +terrible in British history--the battle of the Modder River. For twelve +hours the battle continued. They had had a long and wearying march and +were looking forward to a good breakfast, but instead they had to go +straight into the fight, and it was twelve hours before that breakfast +came. Men who fought at Dargai and Omdurman tell us that these were mere +child's play compared with the fight of the Modder River. Hour after +hour the firing was maintained, until in many cases the ammunition was +all expended. And yet there was no relief. The pitiless rain of bullets +from the Boer fortifications continued, and it was impossible to carry +ammunition to our lads through such a fire. Our men could in many cases +neither advance nor retire, and men who had expended all their +ammunition had just to lie still--some of them for six hours--while the +bullets flew like hail just above them. To raise the head the merest +trifle from the dust meant death. Many a godless lad prayed then, who +had never prayed before, and many a forgotten vow was registered afresh +in the hour of danger. + +Let Sergeant Oates again give us his experience:-- + +'It was a terrible battle. I had two very narrow escapes there. A tiny +splinter took a small piece of skin off the end of my chin, and another +larger one just caught my boot and glided off. It almost went through. +Again I got away unharmed. That day was a long prayer-meeting to me. +Wherever I went and whatever I did, these words were on my lips:-- + + '"What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Jesus. + What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Lord." + +'Once and only once I grew weak, and almost wished myself wounded and +out of it all, when this text came in my mind: "The eternal God is thy +refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." Oh! how ashamed I felt +that I should be so weak and faithless! + +'The third day was the fiercest, and to me it was a day of prayer. Ten +long hours did the conflict last; the din was awful! The spiteful bizz +of the Remington bullet, the swish of the Martini, and the shriek of the +Mauser, coupled with the unearthly booming of the Hotchkiss quick-firer, +and the boom, roar, and bursting of the shrapnel on both sides, all this +intermingled with voices calling out orders, and shouting for +stretchers, went on until the shades of evening fell over a day which, +Lord Methuen says, has never had an equal. Yet above all this din, I was +able to hear that voice which calms our fears saying: "When thou passest +through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers they +shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt +not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." With such +promises as these, what would one not go through. + +'That night, after the enemy had retired, I had to lead my company +across a ford in the Modder River. It was very dark, and I was not sure +of the way; I had crossed the river by the same ford early in the +afternoon, but it was in the thick of the battle, so I was too busy with +something else to take any notice of the road. I was cut off from my +company, and got rather anxious about it. Looking with the aid of a +match, at my text-book I found these words: "Commit thy way unto the +Lord, trust also in Him, and He will bring it to pass." I was not slow +to follow this blessed advice, and within half an hour I was with my +company again, wet through and tired out. Yet, with these uncomfortable +things about me, I was able to thank God for His loving care, and now I +can write "tried and proved" against that text.' + +And yet, though the fight was so terrible, the number of casualties was +singularly few, considering the character of the encounter. Lord +Methuen, however, was slightly wounded, and Colonel Stopford, of the +Coldstream Guards, was shot dead. + +One of the Boer batteries was planted close to the native Wesleyan +Church, which was riddled with shot and shell from British guns intent +upon dominating the Boer position. + +That night, so far as possible, the chaplains gathered their men round +them on the field, and many a homely evensong was held. + +Then followed a period of quiet. There, frowning in front of them, was +the Boers' natural fortress of Magersfontein, rendered impregnable by a +wonderful series of trenches, at the extent and perfection of which they +could only guess. They knew that there must be at least one desperate +attempt to take them, if not more. But three great battles in one week +had exhausted officers and men, and it was absolutely necessary to rest. + + +=Fellowship and Work at the Modder.= + +This was the opportunity for the Christian workers. On the march or in +the battle all that they could do was to speak a word of cheer as often +as possible. Christian soldiers could not meet for fellowship; all that +they could do was occasionally to have a hearty hand-grip or shout +'494,' as a comrade passed by. With the shout of '494' they went into +the battle, and when they came out their little Christian company was +sorely depleted. But now they had time to look round, to count up their +losses, to greet their comrades of other regiments again, to receive +fresh accessions to their ranks. + + +=The Soldiers' Home.= + +Mr. Percy Huskisson, of the South African General Mission, quickly +secured the use of the native day school, which was also the worship +room for the Wesleyan natives, and fitted it up as a Soldiers' Home. He +and his colleague, Mr. Darroll, were indefatigable in their efforts on +behalf of the men, and night by night the newly transformed Home was +crowded. Lord Methuen himself opened it, and personally thanked the +workers for their splendid services on the field of battle. In the +course of his address, he said: 'I have heard of newspaper +correspondents risking their lives when they are well paid for it, but +you fellows seem to have no idea of danger; the shadow of the Almighty +seems over you, or you would have been, ere this, in your graves, with +many more of our brave men.' But under the shadow of the Almighty, the +workers were secure, and are secure to-day! + + +=Local Helpers in Good Work.= + +One of the best helpers the chaplains had was Mr. Westerman, who held an +important position on the railway line, and who was steward of the +Wesleyan Church at Modder River. He had been a prisoner among the Boers +for six weeks, and on many occasions they had threatened to shoot him as +a spy. They had not, however, injured him or his property in any way. It +was, therefore, a most unfortunate occurrence that this good man's house +and furniture should have been wantonly damaged by British soldiers on +their arrival at the place. Evidently they thought the house belonged to +a Boer. An order was, of course, promptly issued stopping such wanton +destruction for the future. + +Another good Christian man at Modder River was Mr. Fraser, a Scotch +Presbyterian, whose house had been most unfortunately wrecked by the +bombardment. He and Mr. Westerman met week by week, during the period of +the Boer invasion, for Christian worship. These two gentlemen rendered +splendid service to our Christian soldiers, and to them both we are +greatly indebted. Every chaplain, every scripture reader, every agent of +every society, every Christian soldier was now busily at work. The +battles had made a great impression on the men. The war had only just +begun, and they knew there were other terrible fights in store. The +sight of the dead and dying was something to which they had not yet +become accustomed. The stern reality of war was upon them, and, as Mr. +Lowry wrote, 'There are no scoffers left in Lord Methuen's camp.' Take +one instance out of many. + + +='After Many Days.'= + +Years ago, in Gibraltar, a sergeant came to a Christian soldier, and +with words of scorn and blasphemy asserted his own independence of any +power above him. Said he: 'My heart is my own. I am independent of +everything and everybody, your God included.' The reply was a soldier's +reply, straight and to the point: 'Jack, some day you will face death, +and, who knows, I may see you, and if the stiffness does not leave your +knees before then, my name is not what it is.' + +Three years passed since then--three years of prayer on his account--and +on the night of November 28, 1899, after the river had been passed, a +hand was laid on that Christian's shoulder, and a voice said: 'Joe, I +have done to-day what I have not done for thirteen years: I have offered +up a prayer, and it has been answered. I have these last few hours seen +all my life--seen it, as, I fancy, God sees it--and I have vowed, if He +will forgive me, to change my ways.' + +With Christian thoughtfulness his friend did not remind him of the +incident at Gibraltar, but it was doubtless present to both minds just +then. So does war melt the hardest hearts! + + +=Open-air Work.= + +The letters from Christian soldiers at the front are full of stories of +conversion. Again, we hear of private soldiers and non-commissioned +officers at outposts conducting parades. After Magersfontein, the +Christian influence deepened and the number of conversions increased. +By-and-by, enteric began to claim its victims, and the Home had to be +used as a fever hospital. Open-air work then became the order of the +day. Some of the Christian soldiers met between six and seven in the +evening, and marched to the camp of a regiment or battery, where they +held what they call an 'out and out' open-air meeting. Sometimes they +would get as many as a thousand listeners, and often the Word was so +powerful that there and then men decided for Christ. The Saturday +Testimony Meetings were gatherings of great power, as our soldier-lads +told to the others, who crowded round, what a great Saviour they had +found. + + +=Prayer under Fire.= + +Now and then the monotony of ordinary duty was broken by an engagement. +Such an interlude is pictured for us in vivid language in the following +extract from the pen of one of our Christian soldiers:-- + +'On January 22, my battery advanced to a position directly in front of +the hill occupied by the Boers, and almost within rifle range of their +trenches. We had no cover whatever, and they dropped shell after shell +into us for nearly two hours; and after dark we retired without a man or +horse wounded. One of our gunners was hit with a splinter on the belt, +which bruised him slightly, but did not wound him or stop the +performance of his duty. One of their shells hit one of our ammunition +wagons, and smashed part of it to matchwood. If God's mercy was not +plainly shown in this, I say men are as blind as bats, and less +civilized. During the whole of the two hours after I had taken the +range, I had to sit, kneel, or stand with my face to the foe, and watch +the Boer guns fire, then await the terrible hissing noise, next see the +dust fly mountains high just in front of me, finally press my helmet +down to prevent the segments hitting me too hard should any fall on me, +but not one touched me, though they pattered like large hailstones on a +corrugated iron roof. We amused ourselves by picking them up between +bursts. I prayed earnestly all through that battle.... + +'I sit and muse over the chatter of my little children many a time, and +almost reach out for them, as though they were here. They are near to my +heart, and in the precious keeping of my Saviour.' + +With those last pathetic sentences we may well close this chapter. The +picture they call before us is one we are not likely to forget. The +soldier grimed with the heat and dirt of battle; shells flying round him +on every hand; Death stalking unchecked but a few yards away; and then +the vision of little children, their chatter striking upon the father's +ear in that far-off land, hands even stretched out to receive them. +Absent-minded! nay, thou soldier-poet, thou hast not got the measure of +Thomas Atkins yet. 'They are near to my heart, and in the precious +keeping of my Saviour.' Thank God for that! + + 'Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away; + In Jesus' keeping we are safe and they.' + + + + +Chapter VI + +MAGERSFONTEIN + + +At a dinner party in 1715, in the Duke of Ormond's residence at +Richmond, the conversation happened to turn upon 'short prayers.' Among +the distinguished guests was Dr. Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester, who +listened with special interest. 'I, too,' said the Bishop, 'can tell you +a short prayer I heard recently, which had been offered up by a common +soldier just before the battle of Blenheim, a better one than any of you +have yet quoted: "O God, if in this day of battle I forget Thee, do +_Thou_ not forget me."'[2] + +Years have gone by. On December 10, 1899, when so many of our brave men +had to face death in South Africa, immediately before going into action +at Modder River, the gallant officer commanding the 65th Howitzer +Battery gathered his gunners around him, and offered up the very prayer +of the poor Blenheim soldier: 'Almighty God, if this day we forget Thee, +do Thou not forget us.' + +[Footnote 2: This, as the reader will probably note, is but a variant of +a still older story.] + + +=Prayer before Battle.= + +So begins a tiny booklet issued by the South African General Mission. +The picture it presents to us is one beautiful in the extreme. It +reminds us of the Covenanters of long ago. We have heard a great deal of +Boer prayer-meetings. Who is there to record for us the prayer-meetings +held in the British camp? But this artillery officer and his short +prayer will not be forgotten, and will remain as the most touching +expression of a soldier's need and a soldier's hope. + +And, surely, if such a prayer as this were needed at any time, it was +before the battle of Magersfontein. All was so sudden, so unexpected! In +a moment death was upon them! All unlooked-for that deadly hail of +bullets! No time for confession of sin! No time even for a whispered +prayer! A few brief moments, and the flower of the British army lay +prone to rise no more! + +It was the Highland Brigade that suffered most severely--the brigade of +which every true Britisher is so justly proud. Who that has not seen +these Highlanders march can have any idea of their perfect bearing and +splendid condition? The faultless line, the measured rising and falling +of the white gaiters, until you almost forget they are men who are +marching there, and fancy it must be the rising and falling of the crank +in some gigantic piece of machinery. + +And the individual men. What splendid fellows they are! of what fine +physique, of what firm character! It is an honour, surely, to command +such men as these. And as General Wauchope marches at their head to his +death, with stern, sad face and purpose fixed, what wonder that his +heart is racked with pain, as he fears, not for himself, but for his +men. A fine Christian was Andrew Wauchope. Quiet and reserved with +regard to his religion, as most Scotchmen are, but, if we are to believe +the reports that come to us on all hands, a man who lived near to God. + + +=A Scotch Chaplain.= + +There was another notable man with the Highland Brigade that day; and, +as there are few to tell the story of our chaplains, while there are +many to tell the story of our soldiers, we make no apology for +introducing to our readers in more than a few words one of the finest of +our chaplains--the Rev. James Robertson, of the Church of Scotland. + +By the courtesy of Dr. Theodore Marshall, we cull from _St. Andrew_ the +following particulars: 'Mr. Robertson is a native of Grantown, and, +after finishing his university course at Edinburgh, was licensed by the +Presbytery of Abernethy. He is a soldier's son, and very early in his +ministry determined to devote his life to soldiers. His first military +appointment was the acting-chaplaincy at Dover. In 1885 he was +transferred to Cairo, and accompanied the Cameron Highlanders on the +march to Abri, thence on the return journey to Wady Halfa. All the way +through, the men were loud in his praises. He spared himself no toil, +cheerfully shared the men's privations and dangers, and became to them +almost more than a friend. The May _Record_ tells how Robertson was +specially reported by his Church for bringing in Lieutenant Cameron, who +had been mortally wounded in the previous December; how, in the absence +of a second doctor, he had volunteered to go out with a stretcher party +under heavy fire, and look after the wounded; and, as Lieutenant Cameron +had got hit while apart from the others, he had to be brought in at all +risks. For his services he was mentioned in despatches, and received the +medal and Khedival star.'[3] + +Shortly after the close of the Egyptian War, Mr. Robertson received his +commission. He served for some time as junior chaplain in London, and +then was removed to Dublin. From Dublin he went to Edinburgh, and +remained there until he was ordered to South Africa, as a member of +General Wauchope's staff and chaplain to the Highland Brigade. In South +Africa he has greatly distinguished himself, and it goes for saying that +'Padre' Robertson, as he is affectionately called, is one of the most +honoured and best-loved men in Her Majesty's army. + +We will, however, allow the head of the military work in the +Presbyterian Church (the Rev. Dr. Marshall) to tell himself of Mr. +Robertson's work in South Africa. We quote from an article published by +him in the _Home and Foreign Mission Record_:-- + + 'Of the work of the Rev. J. Robertson in the field, it is + unnecessary to write, as the newspaper correspondents have referred + so often to his bravery and splendid services. One correspondent + writes to me: "It is no exaggeration to say that the whole of + Methuen's army, and especially the Highland Brigade, deem his + bravery worthy of the V.C. Everywhere, in train or camp, officers' + mess or soldiers' tent, Padre Robertson is proclaimed a hero." I + was pleased to notice in the _Record_ (the Church of England + weekly), the other day, a letter from the Church of England + chaplain who is with Lord Methuen. After describing the battle of + Magersfontein, he refers to the Highland Brigade: "Being chiefly + Highlanders, they were in Robertson's charge. He, good-hearted + fellow, was risking his life in the trenches and under fire to find + General Wauchope's body. Why he was not killed in his fearless + efforts I cannot say." In one of the latest telegrams I see + reference to him at the battle of Koodoosberg, whither he had + accompanied General Macdonald and the Highland Brigade. "One + interesting feature of the fighting was the activity of Chaplain + Robertson. He acted in turns as a galloper, as a water-carrier, and + as a stretcher-bearer. Wherever a ready hand was wanted, the + chaplain was always to the fore, and won golden opinions from + officers and men alike." + + 'You must not, however, suppose Mr. Robertson's exertions are + altogether in the field or connected with matters which lie + outside his duty as a minister of Christ. While employed by his + general as a despatch rider and intermediary with the Boers, and in + many other ways in which as "non-combatant" he could be useful to + the army, and especially to his own Highlanders, he has given his + chief thought and work to their spiritual concerns. We have all + noticed his name in connection with the pathetic funeral of his + much-loved chief, General Wauchope; but for days after each of the + battles of Modder River and Magersfontein he was busy identifying + and burying the dead. Being, as a Presbyterian minister, a _persona + grata_ to the Boers, he was allowed nearer to their lines than any + one else, in the discharge of those sad duties, and conducted many + funerals both of Boer and Briton. Speaking of his feelings in the + field hospital and alongside the burying trench he says: "War seems + devil's work. But all the same, war has its better side, and out of + evil has come good. Hearts have been softened. We have frequent + meetings of an evening. Hundreds attend. I've never been at heart + so touched myself, nor so evangelical. I seem to hear repeated, + 'Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel.' I thank God the Gospel at + Modder is proving in not a few cases the power of God unto + salvation."' + +In another letter to a mutual friend, Mr. Robertson speaks of his +services on the last Sunday of the year, and as showing how deep is the +spiritual impression produced, he wished me to be informed that at the +close of the short service he asked all who desired to partake of the +Holy Communion to remain. To his joy some 250 officers and men came and +took their places at the Lord's Table. To any one who knows how +difficult it is to get soldiers to come to the Communion, that fact +speaks volumes for the extent and depth of the religious movement among +our men. They have had much to make them serious. The death of their +beloved General Wauchope and of so many of their comrades must have +greatly affected them. Mr. Robertson says, 'There is only one heart in +the Highland Brigade, and it is _sad and sore_. But good is being +brought out of evil.' + +At the meeting of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, held +this year, the Moderator said he wished to read the following letter +from Scottish soldiers at the front, which had just been put into his +hands:-- + + 'WINBURG, _May 7th_, 1900. + + 'From the warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of + the Highland Brigade, to the Moderator of the General Assembly, + Church of Scotland. + + 'Sir,--We, the undersigned, as representatives of the regiments now + forming the Highland Brigade at present serving in South Africa + under General Hector Macdonald, do hereby desire to express our + appreciation of the untiring energy and praise-worthy zeal of Major + J. Robertson, our chaplain, not only in camp, but also on the + field. He is invariably among the first to succour our wounded, and + many a Scottish mother's heart will be gladdened by the knowledge + that her lad's last moments were brightened by our chaplain's kind + administrations. At Magersfontein, Paardeberg, and other + engagements, he was always to be found in the firing line, with a + cheerful word or a kindly nod of encouragement, and on many + occasions has acted as A.D.C. to our generals. Sir, soldiers are + proverbially bad speakers, but we venture to request that this + short note may be read aloud on the occasion of the meeting of the + General Assembly at Edinburgh during May, 1900.' + +The letter bore twenty-five signatures, including that of the +sergeant-major and sergeants and corporals in the Black Watch, the +Highland Light Infantry, the Seaforths, and the Argyll and Sutherland +Highlanders. + +[Footnote 3: _St. Andrew_.] + + +=Mr. Lowry at Magersfontein.= + +Such was the man whom General Wauchope chose for his companion on that +fateful day. Rumour says that the General had a presentiment that he +would be killed, and certainly he asked Mr. Robertson to keep near him, +perhaps longing for Christian society at the last. What really happened, +perhaps we shall never know with any degree of certainty. All seems to +have been confusion. Perhaps the best and most connected account that +has come to us is from the pen of the Rev. E.P. Lowry, who was present +during the battle. We quote from the _Methodist Times_:-- + +[Illustration: REV. E.P. LOWRY. + +(From a photograph by Neale, of Bloemfontein.)] + +'Our second Sunday on the Modder River commenced so peacefully that we +were actually able to carry out in detail the various arrangements +for voluntary parade services in different parts of this wide camp. +Just a little this side of the great railway bridge, that lies shattered +by dynamite, is an excellent day-school building, which Messrs. +Huskisson and Darroll, of the South African General Mission, succeeded +in requisitioning for the purposes of a Soldiers' Home, and excellent +work is being done in it, though necessarily on a small scale. Here, at +seven o'clock in the morning, my first service was held and was gracious +in its influence as well as cheering, by reason of the numbers present, +including not a few whose faces had grown familiar to me in the homeland +long, long ago. Amid the stir and strain of actual war we sang of a "day +of rest and gladness"; and turned our thoughts to the Saviour who knows +each man "by name." I then hurried back to the camp of the Guards' +Brigade for a similar service in the open air at eight o'clock; but here +a common type of confusion occurred. I had arranged to hold it in front +of the Scots Guards' camp, but in one battalion it was announced that it +would take place precisely where the Church of England service had just +been held, and in another precisely where the Roman Catholic service had +just been held. So before my service could begin, the shepherd had to +seek his sheep and the sheep their shepherd. Finally, by several +instalments, we got together, forming a circle, seated on the sand; and +then we gave ourselves to prayer and praise, followed by a brief +sacramental service of glad remembrance and renewed consecration. A camp +mug and a camp plate placed on the bare sand for table betokened a +ritual of more than primitive simplicity; but thus on the eve of battle +did a band of godly soldiers give themselves afresh to God in Christ. + +'A similar open-air service was fixed for the evening, but never came +off. It may have been one of the sad necessities of war time, but was a +fact, nevertheless, deeply to be deplored, that at four o'clock on +Sunday afternoon our guns, which had been silent for a fortnight, again +opened fire and shelled the Boers with lyddite. As I listened to the +thunder and the thud of them I could not quite repress a wonder whether +that was quite the best possible way of propitiating the God of battle. +At eight o'clock, under cover of the darkness, we marched silently out +of camp, confident and strong, and bivouacked till midnight just beyond +the river. Nearly every other night since we came upon this ground had +been brightened by starlight, but on this occasion rain had fallen +during the day, and dense darkness covered us at night. So, with my +mackintosh wrapped around me, I lay for hours among the troops on the +damp ground awaiting the order to resume our midnight march. Soon after +one o'clock we were again on the move; but our only light was the +tell-tale searchlight from Kimberley, and many a vivid flash of +lightning, which only served to make the darkness visible. It was not +long, therefore, before the whole brigade hopelessly lost its way, and +had to halt by the hour, while the persistent rain drenched almost every +man, standing grimly silent, to the skin. + +'Precisely at earliest dawn the splendid Highland Brigade appears to +have stumbled into a horrible snare, and in such close formation as to +render them absolutely helpless against their foes. Instantly their +general fell, mortally wounded; for a moment the whole Brigade seemed in +a double sense to have lost its head, and, in spite of the fierce and +terribly effective fire of our artillery, there followed, not indeed an +actual defeat, but none the less a grave disaster, involving further +delay in the relief of Kimberley and the loss of over 700 brave men +killed and wounded. + + +=War's Terrible Harvest.= + +'The incoming of the wounded to the hospital camp was the most pitiful +sight my life has thus far brought me; but I scarce know which to admire +most--the patient endurance of the sufferers or the skilled devotion of +the army doctors, whose outspoken hatred of war was still more +intensified by the gruesome tasks assigned them. + +'That night I slept on the floor of a captured Boer ambulance van, +fitted up as a physic shop with shelves fitted with bottles mostly +labelled poison. It was for me, even thus sheltered, a bitterly cold +night, much more for the scores of wounded who lay all night upon the +field of battle. Early next morning I buried two, the first-fruits of a +large harvest, and later on learned that among the killed was the +Marquis of Winchester, who a fortnight ago invited me to conduct the +funeral of his friend, Colonel Stopford. To-day I visited the two +graves side by side in the same war-wasted garden, and thought of the +tearful Christmas awaiting thousands in the mountains.' + + +=Mr. Robertson at Magersfontein.= + +Add to this pathetic statement the following letter from the Rev. James +Robertson, read by Principal Story to the General Assembly of the Church +of Scotland on May 25, 1900. The letter was dated Bloemfontein, April +12:-- + + 'I have already buried over 400 men, killed in action or who died + of wounds or disease; and our hospitals are full of enteric cases, + day by day swelling the total. It goes without saying that--at + Magersfontein especially, all alone, no one being allowed with + me--it was terribly trying work collecting, identifying, and + burying our dead, so many of whom were my own personal friends; but + I experienced more than I ever did before how the hour of one's + conscious weakness may become the hour of one's greatest strength. + Of General Wauchope I won't write further than to say that I was + beside him when he fell. I think he wished me to keep near him, but + I got knocked down, and in the dark and wild confusion I was borne + away, and did not see him again in life, though I spared no effort + to find him, in the hope that he might be only wounded. As one of + the correspondents wrote of him, he was a man of God, and a man + among men--a fitting epithet. Not to mention other warm friends, in + my own mess (General Wauchope's) there were seven of us on + December 18; when next we sat down there were only two. We were a + sad, a very sad, brigade, for though we tried to hide it, we took + our losses to heart sorely; for "men of steel are men who feel." + But out of evil came good. The depth of latent religious feeling + that was evoked in officers and men was a revelation to me; and + were it not that confessions, and acknowledgments, and vows were + too sacred for repetition, I could tell a tale that would gladden + your hearts--not that I put too much stress on what's said or done + at such an impressionable solemnising time, but after-proof of + sincerity has not been wanting.'[4] + +[Footnote 4: _Scotsman_, May 26, 1900.] + + +='Prepare to meet your God!'= + +A few more words may serve to complete the picture. + +When all at once the Highland Brigade stumbled upon the Boer trenches, +and speedily all the officers of his company was struck down, +Colour-Sergeant McMillan (we believe a member of the Salvation Army) +found himself in charge, and, waving his arm, shouted to his men, 'Men +of A Company, prepare to meet your God! Forward! Charge!' The next +moment a bullet went through his brain, and he fell dead. But surely +that was not the time to prepare for such a dread meeting. Thank God +that _he_ was ready. We have heard him singing for Jesus in the old camp +at home, and now he is singing in heaven. + + +=A Christian Hero.= + +Many hours passed ere the wounded could be relieved. They lay under the +fierce rays of the African sun, suffering agonies from thirst, and no +succour could reach them. At last there were those who ventured to their +help. But the wounded were many, and the helpers were few. The +water-bottles were soon exhausted, but there was one soldier who had a +few drops left. He saw two lads lying side by side in the agonies of +death. He went to the first and offered him the water still remaining in +his bottle. The dying man was parched with thirst, and he looked at the +water with a strange, sad longing, and then feebly shook his head. +'Nay,' he said, 'give it to the other lad. _I_ have the water of life,' +and he turned round to die. _That_ was Christian heroism! + +But we will not linger longer over this tragic and pathetic tale. +Suffice it, all was done for the wounded that could possibly be done; +and that Christian ministers committed reverently to the earth 'until +the morning' those who fell so bravely and so suddenly at Magersfontein. + +Mr. Robertson shall close the chapter for us, in words as eloquent and +as pathetic as any we have read for many years, and with his sad +_requiem_ we will let the curtain drop on the tragedy of Magersfontein. + +[Illustration: REV. JAMES ROBERTSON. + +(By permission of the publishers of _St. Andrew_.)] + + +=The Scottish Dead at Magersfontein.=[5] + + 'Our dead, our dear Scottish dead! How the corpse-strewn fields of + the Modder, Magersfontein, Koodoosberg, and Paardeberg sorrowfully + pass before me! Let me picture the scene, sad, yet not without its + solace to those whose near and dear ones lie buried there, + otherwise I would not paint it or reproduce my comments thereon, + even by request. 'Tis only a miniature, with a few details, that I + attempt to draw. One field--nay, one corner of the field--is + descriptive of the rest, so I lift but a little of the dark-fringed + curtain. + + 'Reverently, tenderly, lovingly handle them, and carefully identify + them, for their own brave sakes, and that of the bereaved ones far + away. There, you will find the identity card in the side-pocket. + No, it's missing. Well, then, what's this? A letter; but the + envelope's gone. Let me see the signature at the end. Ah, just as I + thought, "Your loving mother!" God help her, poor body! Ah, boys, + don't forget the dear mother in the old home. She never forgets + you, but morning, noon, and night thinks and prays for her + soldier-son. Mindfulness of her brings God's blessing; + forgetfulness bitter remorse, when too late--after she's gone. + There's something more in the breast-pocket. His parchment + probably. No; something better still--a small copy of St. John's + Gospel, with his name thereon. Let us hope that its presence there, + when every extra ounce carried was a weighty consideration, is + more than suggestive of thoughts of higher things. Pass on. No + identity card on this body either, but another letter--a + sweetheart's one. Oh, the poetry and pathos, the comedy and tragedy + of love's young dream! Please see this burnt, sergeant; I don't + wish others to read what was meant for his eye alone. Poor lassie! + She'll feel it for a while; but Time is the great healer, and the + young heart has wonderfully recuperative powers. There are only two + kinds of love, men, that last till death and after--your mother's + love and your God's--and both are yours, yearning for a return. + + 'Oh, here's a sad group--seven, eight, nine, close together. Who's + that in front? An officer. I thought as much. _Noblesse oblige_. + Yes, I know him. Are we to bring him with the others? did you ask. + Certainly. What more appropriate resting-place than with the men he + so nobly led, and who so gallantly followed him--all alike faithful + to the death, giving their life for Queen and country! Pass on. + Here are three, one close after the other, as they moved from the + cover of this small donga. I saw them fall, vieing with one another + for a foremost place, for here "honour travelled in a strait so + narrow that only one could go abreast." All three mere boys, but + with the hearts of heroes. A book, did you say, in every one of + their pockets? _Prayers for Soldiers_--well marked, too. My friend + was right, dear mothers. There _is_ some comfort in the sadness--a + gleam of sunshine showing through the gloom. + + 'Ah, how thick they lie! What a deadly hail of Mausers must have + come from that rock-ribbed clump on the kopje. Three--and--twenty + officers and men, promiscuously blent; and fully more on that + little rise over there, as they showed in sight. God help their + wives and mothers, and strengthen me for this sacred duty! Nay, + men, don't turn away to hide the rising sob and tear. I'm past + that. I've got a new ordination in blood and tears. It's nothing to + be ashamed of--so far the opposite, it does you honour, for "men of + finest steel are men who keenest feel." Look at this man with the + field-dressing in his hand, shot while necessarily exposing + himself, trying to do what he could for a wounded comrade. Noble, + self-sacrificing fellow! Such deeds illumine the dark page of war. + Of a truth, some noble qualities grow under war's red rain. + Methinks I hear the Master's voice, "Well done, good and faithful + servant, inasmuch as ye did it to the least of these, ye did it + unto Me." Yes! Get these two groups together; we'll make a trench + midway. More Gospels and prayer-books, and friendly words for + soldiers, and Christian mottoes! I thank God for that. The sight of + them cheers me. Perhaps it should not, but it does. They knew, at + least, of the Father's forgiving love, and in their better moments + must have thought thereof, otherwise these books would not be there + at such a time; and though it does not do to presume too much + thereon, who can set a limit to God's mercy? Who can say what + passed in those closing moments, while the life-blood was ebbing + away? Often in the field I think of Scott's dying soldier-- + + "Between the saddle and the ground, + He mercy sought and mercy found." + + Oh, here's an officer I've been expecting to find. I knew he was + missing, for I especially asked. He had a presentiment amounting to + a preintimation of his coming end. In vain I argued with him. He + calmly gave me his last messages. I've known several such. "There + are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our + philosophy." Thank God, when he said "the hour of my departure's + come," he was able to add, "I hear the voice that calls me _home_" + and "is the traveller sad," he asked, "when his face is turned + _homeward_?" + + 'Who's that you've got next? Oh, I know him well. We rejoiced + together. Come here, all of you, and look on his face. I'm not to + preach, boys--we have other work to do--but I wish you to lay his + case to heart. Some of you know him. You know the stand he took at + one of our meetings at the Modder River station, and what proof he + afterwards gave of the sincerity of his profession. Look at his + face. What a sweet, peaceful expression--what a contrast to his + surroundings! Death swift and sudden, in the horrid din of battle + stript of all its terrors. As earth's light faded he must have got + a glimpse of the glory beyond, for it's reflected in his face. + That's what Christ can do, and came to do, for a man. + + 'Sergeant, get some of the handiest of the men to break up these + empty ammunition-boxes and construct a rude cross for the trench. + It's the most appropriate "memorial." It signifies self-sacrifice, + and did they not, "obedient unto death," give their lives for + others; it indicates the cheering hope in which we lay them to + rest. By-and-by, we will erect something more permanent, and place + a fence around, for 'tis holy ground, consecrated by tearful prayer + and by the very fact that the remains of brave men mingle there. + Scotland to-day is poorer in men, but richer in heroes? + + "Saviour, in Thy gracious keeping, + Leave we now our loved ones sleeping."' + +[Footnote 5: _St. Andrew_, June 7, 1900.] + + + + +Chapter VII + +THOMAS ATKINS ON THE VELDT + + +It will be a relief to turn from this sad record and give a sketch of +Thomas Atkins upon the veldt as he appears to Christian workers. Nowhere +else have we been able to see him apart from the fierce temptations +which particularly assail him. Untrained, except in so far as military +discipline is concerned, he is a child of nature, and nature not always +of the best. + +But the South African veldt has witnessed the remarkable spectacle of a +sober army. No intoxicating drink was to be got, and the cup that cheers +but not inebriates has been Tommy's only stimulant. + +A further fact must be borne in mind. War has a sobering effect even +among the most reckless. A man is face to face with eternal things, and +though after a little while the influence of this to some extent passes +off, and either an unhealthy excitement or an equally unhealthy +callousness takes its place, it never wholly goes, and any serious +battle suffices to bring the man to his senses again. + + +=The Soldier's Temptations.= + +The consequence of these things has been that we have seen the soldier +at his best in South Africa--and that best has often been of a very high +order. It is no kindness to him to make light of his vices, and they +have been sufficiently pronounced even there. + +We are afraid, to begin with, that we must confess to an army of +swearers. It seems natural to the soldier to swear. He intersperses his +conversation with words and phrases altogether unmeaning and anything +but elegant. It is his habit so to do, and even the Christian soldier +who has belonged to this swearing set often finds it a great difficulty +to break away from his old habits. + + +='Old Praise the Lord.'= + +An amusing and pathetic instance of this comes to our mind. A soldier +who worked at the forge was soundly converted to God, and as usual had +to go through the ordinary course of persecution. It was astonishing how +many pieces of iron fell upon his feet, and how often a rod was thrust +into his back! At such occurrences prior to his conversion he would have +sworn dreadfully, and he had to guard himself with the greatest care +lest some ungodly word should escape his lips. And so when any extra +cruelty in the shape of a red-hot piece of iron came too near, or a +heavy weight was dropped upon his toes, he used to cry, 'Praise the +Lord.' 'Old Praise the Lord' they called him, and truly he often had +sufficient reason for some such exclamation. He came to the Soldiers' +Fellowship Meeting one night, and told how he had been tested to the +limit. He had taken his money out of the Savings Bank, and locked it in +his box; but the box had been broken open, and the money taken away. He +stood and looked at it, hands clenched, teeth set. For a moment the fire +of anger flashed in his eyes, and words that belonged only to the long +ago sprang to his lips. A year's savings had gone. The promised trip to +the old home could not be taken. And a vision of the old mother waiting +for her boy, and waiting in vain, brought a big lump in his throat which +it was difficult to choke down. The lads stood and looked at him. What +would he do? And then that strange fire died out of his eyes, and his +hands relaxed their grasp, and with the light of love shining out from +his face he said, 'Praise the Lord,' and came into the meeting to tell +how God was flooding his soul with His love. + +But the number of such as he in comparison with those who still pollute +the air with their oaths is small indeed, and we have sorrowfully to +admit that ours has been a swearing army upon the veldt. + +Gambling, too, has been very rife, and if there was a penny to spin +Tommy would spin it. This, of course, is not by any means true of all +regiments, and as one of French's cavalry naively put it, 'You see, sir, +we had not even time to gamble!' + +There are some brutes even among our British soldiers, and sad stories +reach us of men who have robbed the sick in hospital, and stripped the +dead upon the battlefield. But swearing and gambling apart, and these +horrible exceptions left out of the reckoning, what noble fellows our +soldiers have proved themselves! + + +=The Patience of our Soldiers.= + +Their patience has been wonderful. We have all heard of the _patient_ +ox, and away there on the veldt he has patiently toiled at his yoke +until he has laid down and died. But the patience of the private soldier +has exceeded the patience of the ox. He has undergone some of the +severest marches in history. He has endured privations such as we can +hardly imagine. He has lain wounded upon the veldt sometimes for three +or, at any rate in one case, for four days. He has in his wounded state +borne the terrible jolting of the ox-waggon day after day. If you talk +to him about it, he will not complain of any one, but will make light of +all his dreadful sufferings and merely remark that you cannot expect to +be comfortable in time of war! + +And how much he has endured! The difficulties of transport have made it +impossible for him to receive more than half rations, and sometimes not +more than a quarter rations for days together. On the march to +Kimberley, for instance, General French's troops for four days had +nothing to eat but what they could pick upon the hungry veldt. Stealing +has been abolished in South Africa--it is all commandeering now! + +'Where did you get that chicken, my lad?' asks the officer in angry +tones. + +'Commandeered it, sir,' says Tommy, and the officer is appeased. + +And there was plenty of commandeering done during that dreadful march, +or the men would have died of starvation. A strange spectacle he must +have presented as he rode along. His kettle slung across his saddle, a +bundle of sticks somewhere else, a packet of Quaker oats fastened to his +belt, and a tin of golden syrup dangling from it. These he had provided +for himself from the last dry canteen he had visited, and often even +these could not be obtained. + +What stories are told us of sticks and Quaker oats! They say that when +the troops started with Sir Redvers Buller from Colenso each man had his +bundle of sticks and a packet of Quaker oats fastened somewhere upon +him. His canteen was as black as coal, but that did not matter. And if +he had his sticks and his Quaker oats, and could manage to get a little +'water' that was not more than usually khaki-coloured, he was a happy +man. So as he marched along he was always on the look-out for sticks and +water. The two together furnished him with all things necessary: the +sticks soon made the water boil, and the Quaker oats made--tea! + + +=The Men in Khaki.= + +As regards dress he was a picture! He started khaki-clad, and no one +could tell one regiment from another, but he was only allowed to take +the suit he wore to the front, and before long, what with marching and +sandstorms and fighting, that suit became unrecognisable as a suit. Bit +by bit it went. Tailors of the most amateur description plied their +needles and thread upon it in vain. It went! and Tommy's distress +occasionally knew no bounds. We hear of one man who at last marched into +Ladysmith with two coat sleeves but no coat; of another with not a bit +of khaki about him, but garments of one sort and another 'commandeered' +as he went along. One of the facts that impressed them most as they +marched into Ladysmith was that the garrison were clean and neatly +dressed in khaki, but that _they_--bearded, dirty, ragged--looked rather +the rescued than the rescuers! + +Mr. Lowry tells how when at last he determined to have his khaki suit +washed, and retired to his tent to wait the arrival of his clothes from +the amateur laundry on the banks of the Modder, it seemed as though they +would never come, and he was fearful lest the order to advance should +arrive before his one suit returned from the wash! + +But through it all our men kept cheerful. One Christian man who had +earned among his comrades the nickname of 'Smiler,' and who was wounded, +signs himself, 'Still smiling, with a hole in my back.' And this was +typical of all. During that dreadful march to overtake Cronje, the +officers of the Guards had as their mess-table on one occasion a +rectangular ditch about eighteen inches wide and as many deep. It was +dug so as to enclose an oblong piece of ground about sixteen feet by +eight, which, flattened as much as possible, served as table. At this +earth table, with their feet in the muddy ditch, sat several +representatives of England's nobility, but as our soldier lad said, +'Still smiling.' When the rain came down and deluged both officers and +men, and sleep was impossible, tentless on the veldt and seated in the +mud, the men hour after hour sang defiance to the storm. + +How kind they were to one another! How brave to save a fallen comrade or +officer! One of our chaplains relates that in the advance to Ladysmith +an officer was struck down and could not be moved. When the regiment +retired, and his men knew their officer would have to stay there during +the night, four of them elected to remain, and one of them lay at his +head, another at his feet, and one on each side to shield him from the +Boer bullets which were flying around. + +But we must not be tempted into stories such as these. They abound, and +if the Victoria Cross could be given wherever it was deserved, the sight +of it upon the breast would be common indeed! + + +=Their Dread of the 'Pom-pom.'= + +Of one thing, however, our men were afraid--the dreaded 'pom-pom' of the +Boers. Some two hundred one-pound shells a minute these Vickers-Maxim +guns are supposed to fire. But as a matter of fact we are told the +number rarely reached a score. Still the dull pom-pom-pom of the gun, +with the knowledge that shell after shell was coming, always made Tommy +shake; and when he got to the camp fire at night, one man would say to +another, 'I cannot get used to it. It frightens me nearly out of my +life.' + + +=The Christian under Fire.= + +We have asked many of our Christian soldiers how they felt when they +went into fire. All sorts of answers have been given. Most have +confessed to a nervous tremor at first. Said a lance-corporal of the +12th Lancers: 'The worst time I ever had was when we were relieving +Kimberley. There were Boers in front of us and Boers on our flank. We +rode through a perfect hail of bullets. At first I wondered if I should +get through it, and then I became utterly oblivious of shells and +bullets. I rode steadily on, and the only thing that concerned me as we +rode right for the Boer position was to keep my horse out of the ruts.' + +Perhaps this is the general experience. No thought of turning back, no +particular fear, no great exultation, simply a keeping straight on. No +wonder from before such a wall of determination the Boers fled for their +lives. + +The soldier's great complaint is that he has been kept ill-informed of +the progress of events. He has simply been a pawn on the chess-board, or +a cog in the great wheel. And he laments that often at the end of a long +day's march or fighting he lies down to rest in his wet ragged clothes, +not knowing where he is or whether he has accomplished little or much. + +This is inevitable, of course, and the officers themselves were, in +many cases, but little better informed. But one and all have implicit +faith in their generals, and those who added to that faith implicit +trust in God could after the most trying days lie down and rest in +perfect peace. Even at his worst the British soldier is capable of +better things, and out there upon the veldt he has many a time thought +of God, and wondered what possibilities for good there were within him. +Going to the front has made a _new_ man of Tommy. It remains to be seen +whether in the easier times of peace the _old_ man will come back. + + + + +Chapter VIII + +WITH LORD ROBERTS TO BLOEMFONTEIN + + +The advent of that splendid Christian soldier, Field-Marshal Lord +Roberts of Kandahar, put an entirely different face upon the war. He +came with a heavy sorrow resting upon him. His son had been struck down +at the front, earning, however, the Victoria Cross by a conspicuous act +of bravery before he died. He himself had by long service earned the +right to rest upon his laurels. He was an old man, but at the call of +duty he cheerfully left home and friends, and, with heart sore at his +great loss, went out to win for England the victory in South Africa. His +first thought was to send for Lord Kitchener, and when these two men +landed in South Africa England knew that all things possible would be +accomplished. + +And surely their task was great. England's prestige had suffered +severely. Lord Methuen had fought at Belmont, Graspan, Modder River and +Magersfontein, but the enemy's entrenchments were apparently as strong +as ever and Kimberley as far off. + +On the other side of the field of operations Sir Redvers Buller was +confronted with insurmountable obstacles, and his forces seemed +altogether inadequate for the task before him. Gallant little Mafeking +was holding out, but with no hope of speedy relief. How Lord Roberts' +advent changed all this in a few brief weeks the country knows right +well. + + +=Lord Roberts Issues a Prayer for Use in the Army.= + +Perhaps the most remarkable fact in the history of this or any war is +that a few days after landing in South Africa Lord Roberts issued a +prayer for the use of the troops. Many army orders have been issued +which have stirred the blood and fired the heroism of the British +soldier as he has gone forth to fight for his country or has returned +triumphant from the field. + +'When on the eve of Trafalgar the signal floated out from the mast-head +of the _Victory_, "England expects every man to do his duty," it told of +the exalted courage of the hero who was about to fight his last fight +and win his last victory. It kindled a like courage in every man who +read it, and it ever after became a living word, a voice that is heard +everywhere, an inspiration to our race. + +'But an army encouraged to pray, an army order in which the +commander-in-chief hopes that "a prayer may be helpful to all her +Majesty's soldiers now serving in South Africa"! And doubtless many of +our comrades have so used the prayer that now they know all the +blessings of pardon, purity, power and comfort which it teaches them to +ask of God.'[6] + +THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S LETTER. + + 'ARMY HEADQUARTERS, CAPE TOWN, _January 23rd_. + + 'DEAR SIR,--I am desired by Lord Roberts to ask you to be so kind + as to distribute to all ranks under your command the "Short Prayer + for the use of Soldiers in the Field," by the Primate of Ireland, + copies of which I now forward. + + 'His Lordship earnestly hopes that it may be helpful to all of her + Majesty's soldiers who are now serving in South Africa. + + 'Yours faithfully, + + 'NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN, Colonel, Private Secretary. + + 'To the Commanding Officer.' + + +THE PRAYER. + + 'Almighty Father, I have often sinned against Thee. O wash me in + the precious blood of the Lamb of God. Fill me with Thy Holy + Spirit, that I may lead a new life. Spare me to see again those + whom I love at home, or fit me for Thy presence in peace. + + 'Strengthen us to quit ourselves like men in our right and just + cause. Keep us faithful unto death, calm in danger, patient in + suffering, merciful as well as brave, true to our Queen, our + country, and our colours. + + 'If it be Thy will, enable us to win victory for England, and above + all grant us the better victory over temptation and sin, over life + and death, that we may be more than conquerors through Him who + loved us, and laid down His life for us, Jesus our Saviour, the + Captain of the Army of God. Amen.' + +We venture to speak of the issue of this beautiful prayer as the most +notable fact in the history of the war. We do not remember that anything +of the kind has ever been done before. It testifies to the personal +trust of the British general in God, it takes for granted that ours was +a righteous cause, and it recognises the fact that above the throne +which we all reverence and respect there is another throne--the throne +of God. + +[Footnote 6: _Army and Navy Messenger_, April, 1900.] + + +=The Christian Influence of Lord Roberts.= + +Lord Roberts had been for years the idol of the troops. It was touching +to hear our Christian soldiers at Aldershot pray for 'dear Lord +Roberts,' or familiarly speak of him as 'our Bobs.' All their fears went +when they knew he was going to the front, and they were ready to follow +him anywhere. Moreover, the Christian soldiers always remember that he +was the founder of the 'Army Temperance Association,' which has become +such a power for good all over the world. + +He is a gentle, lovable man. The story is told that soon after the entry +of the troops into Pretoria Lord Roberts was missing, and when at last +he was discovered he was sitting in a humble room with two little +children upon his knees. The officer who found him apologised for +intruding, but said that important business required attention. Lord +Roberts merely looked up smiling and said, 'Don't you see I am engaged?' + +But Lord Roberts is not only a Christian man, he is a great soldier. +This is what concerns the country most; only in his kindliness and +Christianity we have the assurance that he will never unnecessarily +sacrifice life, and that he will enter upon no enterprise upon which he +cannot ask the blessing of God. To our chaplains and other Christian +workers his sympathy and help have been invaluable. + +It is outside the purpose of this book to follow the general in his +movements, or to discuss the scheme which turned the victorious Cronje +into a vanquished and captured foe. Suffice it to say that that great +flanking movement--perhaps the greatest on record--has won the +admiration of all military critics, and, brilliantly conceived, was as +brilliantly carried out. + +There was a stir at the Modder River for some little time before the +actual advance took place. Lord Roberts had come and gone. Various +little attacks on some part of the enemy's position--some real, some +only feints--had taken place. Every one wondered, none knew what would +be the next order of the day. For two months they had been waiting at +the Modder River, and they were heartily tired of their inaction. Even +the shells from Magersfontein, which had fallen every day but Christmas +Day, had become a part of the daily monotony. It had been a glorious +time for Christian workers, and that was all that could be said. + +But even the Christians were longing for an advance. By-and-by came the +summons to the cavalry, and off they went, not knowing whether it was +for an ordinary reconnaissance or for something more serious, and little +dreaming what they would be called upon to do. For them until +Bloemfontein was reached all definite Christian work was at an end. All +that the Christians could do was to get together for a short time among +the rocks, when the long day's work was done, to talk and pray. And yet +these cavalry men look back upon those few moments snatched from sleep +as among the most precious in the whole war. They had been in the saddle +for many hours at a stretch; on one occasion at any rate the saddles had +not been taken off the horses for thirty-six hours. + + +=Religious Meetings while on the March.= + +It seemed as though General French would never tire. He rode on far +ahead of his men--stern, taciturn, resolved--as they rushed across the +veldt to Kimberley, or hastened to the doom of Cronje. Our soldiers did +their best to follow, and did so till their horses dropped dying or dead +upon the veldt. It says much for their Christian enthusiasm that after +such days as these, and knowing that only two or three hours' sleep was +before them, they should step out of the lines and meet behind some rock +to pray. They talked of the old home, of Aldershot, of Sergeant-Major +Moss and his class. They pictured to themselves what we should all be +doing at home, and then they knelt in prayer. Very touching were those +prayers, very sweet that Christian intercourse. Its precious memory is +cherished still. And then they would sing a verse--one of the soldiers' +favourites--perhaps:-- + + 'Some one will enter the pearly gate, + By-and-by, by-and-by; + Taste of the glories that there await-- + Shall you, shall I?' + +Or may be that soldiers' favourite _par excellence_ would be rung +out--the 'Six further on,' of which they all speak:-- + + 'Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; + Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! + Heir of salvation, purchase of God, + Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.' + +And then a verse of 494:-- + + 'God be with you till we meet again.' + +And then back to the lines for rest and sleep. 'Good-night, Jim.' +'Good-night, my boy.' '494.' 'Aye! and "Six further on."' And so they +part. A delightful picture! a sad one too! Who knows whether they will +ever meet on earth again? + + +=The March to Paardeberg.= + +Meanwhile, on Sunday, Feb. 17, 1900, the Guards had been suddenly +ordered to follow the cavalry from Modder River. At the mess that +evening the chaplains had been positively assured by the officers +present that there would be no move until Wednesday at the earliest. +Little they knew what was in the mind of the great general! But late at +night the summons came, and within two hours the whole brigade of +Guards, suddenly roused out of sleep and called in from outpost duty, +were marching out into the darkness. Whither they did not know. They +took with them neither blanket nor overcoat, but, as their chaplain +says, 'only an ample store of pluck and smokeless powder.' They did not +stop till they had covered about twenty miles, and before their +destination was reached hardly a man of them fell out. They too were +part of the great movement--a movement that would continue until they +marched into Bloemfontein with Lord Roberts. + + +=The Chaplains on the March.= + +The chaplains were not allowed to accompany them. They followed with the +doctors and the baggage. Whether they were considered impedimenta or not +they hardly knew. Certainly their work was over for a short time, to be +renewed all too soon when the first batch of wounded came down from the +ever-advancing front. + +So the senior Church of England chaplain and the senior Wesleyan +chaplain trudged off side by side, and marched steadily through the +night until, about sunrise, they set foot for the first time since they +had landed in South Africa on hostile soil. A few miles further on they +passed a deserted Boer camp, and among the _debris_ strewing the floor +of a farm-house found two English Bibles. + +About nine o'clock in the morning Jacobsdal was reached. In England it +would be called a village, for it had only seven hundred inhabitants; +but it was quite an important town in those parts. + +Here a halt was called and a few hours' rest permitted. Mr. Lowry +climbed into a captured Boer ambulance, and found lying on the floor of +it a Dutch Reformed minister, the Rev. T.N. Fick, who had been General +Cronje's chaplain, and who only the night before had joined in the +general flight from Magersfontein. These two, both ministers of the +Gospel, had been for two months on different sides of the famous kopje. +One had been praying for the success of the Boer arms and the other for +the success of the English! And yet here they lay side by side in +amicable Christian converse. Strange are the ways of war! + +But though the chaplains were denied the privilege of proceeding to the +front with the soldiers, two Christian workers at any rate--we have not +heard of more--managed to secure that privilege. By the kindness of Lord +Methuen, and as a token of his appreciation of their efforts for the +men, Mr. Percy Huskisson and Mr. Darroll, of the South African General +Mission, were attached to the Bearer Company of the Highland Brigade. +'On Monday, February 12th, they went out, not knowing whither they were +going. Their luggage was limited to changes of socks and shirts and +rugs, but at the last moment they managed to get permission to take a +little box of food also. At about five o'clock on Monday afternoon they +entrained in open trucks, which were shared alike by officers and men; +at about eleven o'clock at night they got out at Enslin, and slept on +the veldt surrounded by horses, oxen, and mules. At four in the morning +the whole camp was astir, and by half-past seven the entire force was on +the march.'[7] + +Then followed the capture of the British convoy, consisting of some two +hundred waggons, and meaning to our army the loss of about a million +pounds of food. Every one was put on quarter rations, consisting of a +biscuit and a half a day and half a tin of 'bully' beef. On such a food +supply as this were our troops expected to perform their terrible march. +Until they passed Jacobsdal they thought they were going to the relief +of Kimberley, but all unknown to them General French's cavalry had +already performed that feat, and the direction of their march was +changed. It was theirs to follow in pursuit of Cronje instead. In one +terrible twenty-four hours they marched thirty-eight miles, and on +Sunday morning, February 18th, they reached Paardeberg. Thoroughly +exhausted, the men flung themselves upon the ground to sleep, but after +two or three hours the artillery fire roused them from their slumbers +and the order came to advance. There was no time for breakfast, and from +five o'clock in the morning until late at night they had to go without +food. + +The battle of Paardeberg is not likely to be forgotten by any of those +who were engaged in it. The Boers commanded the left of the Highland +Brigade, and as it advanced on level ground, and destitute of cover, it +was exposed to a terrible fire. + +Messrs. Huskisson and Darroll went into the firing line with the +Highlanders. Men fell on all sides of them, and they had numberless +chances of helping the wounded. Of course they had many hairbreadth +escapes during this awful day, but they were abundantly rewarded by the +privilege of straight talk and prayer with the wounded men, who were +thankful indeed for such ministrations as they could offer. + +[Footnote 7: _The Surrounding of Cronje_.] + + +=Relief of the Wounded at Paardeberg.= + +We venture to quote a few paragraphs from a little booklet published by +the South African General Mission, entitled _The Surrounding of Cronje_. +It sets forth in vivid language the heroic work done by these two in the +midst of the heat and fury of the battle, and Christian men in all +churches will honour the brave men who fought so nobly for God in the +interests of those who were fighting so nobly for their country. + + 'During the day, as Mr. Huskisson was helping a wounded man back to + the hospital, he had a very narrow shave of being shot. The wounded + man had his arm round Mr. Huskisson's neck for support, and as + they were walking back to the rear a Mauser bullet shot off the tip + of the man's finger, as it was resting on Mr. Huskisson's shoulder. + Had there not been the weight of the man's arm to depress the body + this would have resulted in a nasty wound in the shoulder. At + another time the case of field glasses hanging by his side was hit + by a bullet. + + 'Our workers could often see that they were specially aimed at by + the Boers, as the moment they raised their heads a small volley of + bullets would fly all around them. Sometimes they had to lie down + for long periods, on account of this. At one stage of the battle, + one of our men was lying down behind a tree, and a sharpshooter was + perched in another tree. If even the foot was moved an inch or two + beyond the tree a bullet would come with a "ping," and a little + puff of dust would show how keenly every movement was watched. + + +=Singing though Wounded.= + + 'While helping one wounded man, Mr. Huskisson heard his name called + out, and looking round, saw the face of one of the men who had been + converted in our Soldiers' Home at Wynberg, some years ago. Going + up to the lad he said:-- + + '"Are you wounded?" + + '"Yes," said the man, "but praise God it is not in my head." + + 'A bullet had gone right through the back of his neck, and though + he was bleeding profusely he was humming a chorus to himself. + + 'Later on a Major came up and said to Mr. Huskisson--"Do you know + that lad?" + + 'On hearing that he did, the Major said, "He is the most chirpy man + that has been in the dressing-room to-day; he was brought in + singing a hymn." + + 'When Mr. Huskisson turned away from him, he left him still humming + one of our favourite choruses; and an unconverted man was heard to + say later on, "A chap coming in like that to the dressing-room does + more good than anything else, as he keeps the fellows' spirits up + so." + + 'There were, of course, many terribly sad sights--enough to make + our men feel as if war could hardly ever be justifiable. One poor + Highlander was lying dying, and on our men asking him if he knew + God, received no answer; but on repeating the question the dying + man said that he did once, but he had evidently grown cold in his + love to Christ. It was _such_ a cheer to be able to point out, that + though his feelings towards God had changed, _yet God's feelings + and love toward him had not changed!_' + +Events like these differentiate this war from many other wars. They are +an eloquent testimony to the force of Christianity. They disclose the +power of a supreme affection towards Christ. They declare that the most +toilsome duty can be transformed by love into the most blessed +privilege. They show that there is no compulsion but the compulsion of +love in the Christian workers' orders, so often sung,-- + + 'Where duty calls, or danger, + Be never wanting there.' + + +=The Chaplains at Work.= + +And now came the chaplains' work! It is not in the firing line that war +seems the most dreadful. It is when the wounded are gathered from the +field, and the results of the battle are seen in all their ghastliness. +And in this case the wounded could not be tended where they were. It was +onward, ever onward, with our men. Only two hospitals, instead of at +least ten--the number the doctors thought necessary--had been sent to +the front, and the wounded must be got back to base hospitals as quickly +as possible. + +Back they came, a ghastly procession, in heavy, lumbersome ox-waggons, +with no cover from the sun or rain. Oh! the terrible jolting; oh! the +screams of agony. 'Better kill us right out,' cried the men, 'than make +us endure any more!' + +It is not for us to say that all this was unnecessary. It is for others +to judge. You cannot conduct war in picnic fashion. The country ought to +know its horrors and get its fill of them. But we will not attempt the +description. Already others have done that. Suffice it to say that the +baggage camp, in which were the chaplains and some of the doctors, +seemed an oasis in the desert to these agonized travellers. + +The day for parade services had gone by, and all days were now the same; +but there was other work the chaplains could do, and this they attempted +to the best of their ability. + +[Illustration: BRINGING BACK THE WOUNDED.] + +The Rev. E.P. Lowry wrote:-- + + 'Yesterday a long convoy arrived bearing over 700 sick and wounded + men. They were brought, for the most part, over the rough roads in + open waggons (captured from the Boers) from the fatal front, where + days before they had been stricken more or less severely. They + still had a long journey before them, and it so happened that they + set out from here in the midst of a thunderstorm; but as I passed + from one waggon to another I found them bearing their miseries as + only brave men could. About 300 of them belonged to the unfortunate + Highland Brigade. One of these had been shot through the wrist of + his left hand at Magersfontein, and he was now returning shot + through the wrist of his right hand. The next, said he, with + gruesome playfulness, will be through the head. Corporal Evans, of + the Gloucesters--one of two brothers whose name is much honoured at + Aldershot--I found in the midst of this huge convoy stricken with + dysentery. The Cornwalls seemed to have suffered almost as heavily + in proportion as the Highlanders, and it was to me no small + privilege to be permitted to speak a word of Christian solace and + good cheer to men from my own county. + + +=The Wounded Canadians.= + + 'But I was struck most of all by the number of noble-looking + Canadians among this big batch of wounded soldiers, all of them + proudly glorying in being permitted to serve and suffer in the name + of so great a Queen and in defence of so glorious an Empire. Among + them I found Colour-Sergeant Thompson, the son of one of our + American Methodist ministers, Rev. James Thompson. Resting against + the inner side of a waggon-wheel was a most gentlemanly Canadian, + shot through the throat, and quite unable to swallow any solids. To + him, as to several others, I was privileged to carry a large cup of + life-renewing milk. Lying on another waggon was a middle-aged + Canadian, shot through the mouth, and apparently unable at present + to swallow anything without pain; but he begged me, if possible, to + buy for him some cigarettes, that he might have the solace of a + smoke. But there is nothing of any kind on sale within miles of + this camp. Yet the cigarette, however, was not long sought in vain; + and a word of Christian greeting was made none the less welcome by + the gift. Lying by this man's side was a wounded French-Canadian, + who could scarcely speak in English, but had come from far to + defend the Empire which claimed him also as its loyal son; and yet + another sufferer told me that he had come from Vancouver, a + distance of 11,000 miles, to risk, or, if needs be, to lay down his + life for her who is his Queen as well as ours. As in the name of + the Motherland I thanked these men for thus rallying around our + common flag in the hour of peril, and tenderly urged them to be as + loyal to the Christ as to their Queen, the meaning look and hearty + hand-grip spoke more eloquently to me than any words. In almost + every case the responsive heart was there. Of these Canadians--the + first contingent--our generals speak in terms of highest praise; + but already some twenty have been killed and nearly seventy + severely wounded. The Dominion mourns to-day her heroic dead as we + mourn ours. They sleep side by side beneath these burning sands; + but thus are forged the more than golden chains which bind the + hearts of a widely-sundered race to the common throne around which + we all are rallying.'[8] + +The scene here depicted is one which must be imagined not once but many +times during that terrible march from the Modder to Bloemfontein. It +tells in simple but eloquent language how Christian kindliness tried to +assuage human woe. + +[Footnote 8: _Methodist Times_.] + + + + +Chapter IX + +KIMBERLEY DURING THE SIEGE AND AFTER + + +The siege of Kimberley began on Sunday, October 15, 1899, and continued +until Thursday, February 15, 1900. It was somewhat unexpected, for +although so near the border it was hardly expected that the Boers would +invade British territory. In fact, so little did the military +authorities at Cape Town anticipate a siege that it was with great +difficulty the Kimberley inhabitants secured any military assistance. On +September 21, however, a detachment of 500 men of the Loyal Lancashires, +Royal Artillery, and Royal Engineers, under the command of +Lieutenant-Colonel Kekewich, put in an appearance. These were the only +regular troops in the town, and but a handful in face of the Boers +gathering on the frontier. + +There were, of course, local volunteer regiments--the Kimberley Rifles, +the Diamond Fields Artillery, and the Diamond Fields Horse--and there +were also about 400 men of the Cape Mounted Police. But what were these +to guard the treasures of the Diamond City and its population of 50,000 +souls? + + +=The Defence of Kimberley.= + +It was evident that Kimberley must set to work to defend itself, and +that it did right nobly. A town guard was formed consisting of about +2,500 men, but they were men of all sorts and conditions. Never was +there a happier or a more ill-assorted family! A director of De Beers +side by side with a needy adventurer; a millionaire shoulder to shoulder +with a beggar! There they were! all sorts and conditions of men, but all +animated by one great purpose--to keep the flag flying. + +By-and-by the lack of cavalry was severely felt, and Mr. Cecil Rhodes, +resourceful as ever, brought up some 800 horses, and the Kimberley Light +Horse--now a famous regiment--came into being. The command of it was +given to Colonel Scott-Turner, and it was composed of the best riders +and keenest shots that could be found. Plenty of these were fortunately +available and they greatly distinguished themselves. + +No one thought of surrender, and when the length of the siege drew into +weeks and from weeks into months, and food ran short and water was cut +off, they still kept cheerful. They knew they were practically safe from +assault. Surrounding the town is a belt of level country some six miles +wide, and they felt certain the Boers dare not cross this belt and face +the fire that would be poured into them from the huge cinder heaps which +had been transformed into forts. + +By-and-by the number of shells dropped into the town increased rapidly. +New and more powerful guns were brought to bear upon it, and no man's +life was safe. They did their best to reply, and actually, under the +direction of Mr. George Abrams (chief engineer of De Beers), they +manufactured a 30-pounder gun called 'Long Cecil,' which proved +effective at a range of 10,000 yards. Unfortunately, Mr. Abrams was +himself killed by a shell not long after he had completed this great +work. + +From time to time sorties were carried out, and in the boldest of them +all, when the Kimberley men got so near that they could look down their +enemy's guns, Colonel Scott-Turner was killed. + + +=Perils of the Siege.= + +But notwithstanding all they could do the enemy's attack grew fiercer. +It is estimated that between three and four thousand shells fell in +Kimberley during the siege, and the destruction wrought by these was +very great. Most of the churches suffered seriously. Many women and +children lost their lives. If there was any special function of any kind +in progress the Boers were almost sure to know about it and give it +their marked attention. + +Bugle calls, taken up and repeated through the town, warned the people +of coming shells, and then they knew they had only fifteen seconds to +reach some place of shelter. Bomb-proof shelters were improvised, caves +were dug by the side of houses, and into these the inhabitants ran, +with more speed than ceremony, when those bugle notes were heard. + +It was, however, felt unsafe to allow the women and children to remain +longer in the town, and by the kindness of the De Beers Company they +were lowered into the mines, and there for a full week they lived. Among +the rest the families of the Baptist and Wesleyan ministers were lowered +there. It happened that these two reverend gentlemen met in the street +shortly after the descent of their families, and on parting the Baptist +said to the Methodist--all unconscious of the suggestiveness of his +statement--'Good-bye, my friend; we shall soon meet again either above +or below!' + +It was no laughing matter, however, to the thousands of women and +children living day and night in the mine tunnels some eight or twelve +thousand feet below the surface. Theirs was a pitiable condition, and +how much longer they could have held out had not help come it is +difficult to say. + +All this time the Kimberley searchlight was night by night searching the +neighbourhood lest any Boers under cover of the darkness should approach +the town; and for most of the time, by heliograph or searchlight, the +authorities were in communication with Lord Methuen on the other side of +those forbidding kopjes. And yet help came not, and the situation was +becoming desperate. + + +=Various Forms of Christian Work during the Siege.= + +In the first place refugee relief work was attempted and successfully +carried out. Large numbers had fled for refuge to Kimberley when war was +declared, and many of these were penniless. A fund of some L3,000 was +raised, and a committee composed of all the ministers of the town +carried out the work of relief. Throughout the siege all the ordinary +services with one or two exceptions were maintained, and though the men +for the most part were on duty, yet the congregations were remarkably +good and the men were present whenever they could get away. + +The Wesleyan Church has eight churches in Kimberley. As soon as the +military camps were formed, the Rev. James Scott organized services for +the troops. The Rev. W.H. Richards, the Presbyterian minister, gladly +joined in the work, and united Presbyterian and Wesleyan services were +held. + +The hospital work was effectively done, and Miss Gordon (the matron) +with her staff of nurses cheered and soothed the last moments of many a +poor dying lad. + + +=The Relief of Kimberley.= + +But the time of relief was drawing near. Lord Roberts had appeared upon +the scene, and his great flank movement was being carried out. General +French, at the head of his cavalry division, was making one of the most +famous marches in history. The days of inaction were over. Cronje and +his forces were saying a hasty good-bye to the hills at Magersfontein, +which had so long defied Lord Methuen and his troops, and were flying +for their lives. + +On Thursday, February 15, huge clouds of dust appeared upon the +horizon, and the tidings spread throughout the town that the relief +column was in sight. Every available eminence was speedily crowded with +people eager to catch a glimpse of the coming troops. Bugle warnings and +shells were things of the past. Here they come! They have travelled far +and fast! Look at them! Worn and weary, they can hardly sit their +horses. But they are here, and at their head is the most famous cavalry +officer of the war--our Aldershot cavalry leader, General French. Ahead +of his troops, fresh and vigorous, as though he had only just started, +he proudly rides into the town. The people gather round and cheer; they +almost worship the soldiers who have brought them relief, and then, +secure for the first time for four long months, they turn to greet +friends and relatives, and the glad intelligence spreads far and +wide--Kimberley is relieved! + + +=Christian Work after the Relief.= + +Very speedily a branch of the South African General Mission was +established in Kimberley, and was soon in good working order. + +The tent of the S.C.A. was opened in Newton Camp, Kimberley, on March +12. The Mayor of Kimberley was present, and Mr. A.H. Wheeler, the +organizing secretary of the association, took charge of the proceedings. +The soldiers' roll-call hymn was sung. In this tent large numbers +afterwards gave themselves to Christ. + +The Rev. Mr. McClelland, Presbyterian chaplain, also moved into +Kimberley from Modder River, and for some time assisted in the work. He +tells of the sad death of the Rev. Cathel Kerr, of the Free Church +Highland Committee. He had been acting chaplain to the Scots Guards, and +died in Kimberley hospital. + +During the siege an eminent South African missionary passed away--the +Rev. Jas. Thompson, M.A., ex-President of the South African Wesleyan +Conference. He died with the sound of bursting shells in his ears, +wondering what was in store for his church and people. He died as +Christians die, and passed + + 'Where beyond these voices there is peace.' + +The work of God spread from Kimberley on every hand. The S.C.A. workers +spread out as far afield as Boshof, worshipping in the Dopper Church, +and making it ring with Sankey's hymns, where all had been the quiet of +the Psalms. We read of conversions here and there and everywhere. Thus +in Kimberley also the word of God 'had free course and was glorified,' +and the workers 'thanked God and took courage.' + + + + +Chapter X + +WITH GATACRE'S COLUMN + + +We turn now to another part of the field of operations, and the place +that demands our attention is Sterkstroom. Here, following the disaster +to the Northumberland Fusiliers, there was a long halt. General Gatacre +could not advance without reinforcements. Those reinforcements were not +for a long time forthcoming, and all that he could do was to keep that +part of Cape Colony clear of the enemy, and ultimately join hands with +General French. + + +=Christian Workers at Sterkstroom.= + +But these long pauses between actual engagements gave the opportunity +for Christian work, and General Gatacre's camp at Sterkstroom was +besieged by a large number of Christian workers. In addition to the +recognised chaplains the Soldiers' Christian Association, represented by +Messrs. Stewart and Denman, had their large green tent, and pursued +their usual work with much success. The Salvation Army was also in +evidence, and their captain and lieutenant rendered capital service, +especially in the open air. Mr. and Mrs. Osborne Howe, well known in +South Africa for their devoted work, had another tent, splendidly fitted +up, and known as the 'Soldiers' Home.' Mr. Anderson, an Army Scripture +Reader from Glasgow, was also very useful. The Anglican and Wesleyan +chaplains both had tents, in which they carried on their work +incessantly. Captain England started a branch of the A.T.A., and worked +it till he died. And so, what with the workers living in camp and others +paying flying visits to it, the call to repentance was loud and long, +and no soldier at Sterkstroom was left without spiritual ministration. + + +=Comforts for the Troops.= + +And not only did the spiritual interests of the soldier receive +attention--the workers bore in mind that he had a body as well as a +soul. All Christian South Africa bore that in mind. From far and near +came presents for the soldiers. Churches gave collections for that +purpose; ladies' sewing circles sewed to buy them comforts; business +firms sent donations of goods; comforts, aye, and even luxuries, poured +into the camp, and while in other parts of the field our men were on +half or quarter rations, in the camp at Sterkstroom there were fruit +distributions night by night. Fresh butter and eggs came from the ladies +of Lady Frere and other places. Stationery, almost _ad libitum_, was +supplied. So that, notwithstanding rain and wind and many other +_dis_comforts, on the whole the troops at Sterkstroom managed to pass a +cheerful time. Hardships were before them, death was both behind and +before. Enteric fever was already dogging their steps, but still, +compared with many of their comrades, they might indeed 'rest and be +thankful.' + + +=The Soldiers' Home at Sterkstroom.= + +Let us first of all glance at Mr. and Mrs. Osborne Howe in the midst of +their work. It is the opening of their Soldiers' Home. The date is +Thursday, February 15. About two thousand men are present at the opening +ceremony, and the general and his staff are also there. The assemblage +is thoroughly representative. There are the war correspondents of the +different papers; the chaplains of the Division; the Rev. Thomas Perry, +Baptist minister from King Williamstown; 'Captain' Anderson and +'Lieutenant' Warwicker of the Salvation Army; the workers of the +Soldiers' Christian Association, as well as of the Soldiers' Home; and +last, but not least, the ladies of the nursing staff from the Hospital +and Soldiers' Home. The band of the Northumberland Fusiliers is also +present to delight the company with its music. All sorts of good things +are provided by the generous host and hostess to delight the most +fastidious appetite--if there is such an appetite upon the veldt. + +The general is in his happiest mood. He thanks the friends of King +Williamstown and Mr. and Mrs. Osborne Howe for their noble gift to his +men. + + +=The S.C.A. Tent Services.= + +The Soldiers' Christian Association had their tent splendidly fitted up, +as all their tents are. But it was most unfortunate. Twice was it blown +down by fierce sandstorms, and on the second occasion the tent-pole was +broken beyond repair. A tree was, however--not commandeered, +but--bought. Handy men of the Royal Engineers speedily reduced its size +and placed it in position, and there it stood braving its native winds. + +In this tent splendid work was done. Night by night men were seeking +Christ. The demand for Bibles was great. On one occasion the workers +were employed for two hours giving out Bibles and Testaments to soldiers +who came crowding round and begging for them. From the first night of +its erection the tent was crowded. The workers had never in their long +experience seen such a blessed work of grace. Men by the score were +delighted to be spoken to about the salvation of their souls. + +The pens, ink, and paper, provided free, were a great boon to the +soldiers. From three to four hundred sheets of paper per day were given +to the men, who, of course, had to make special application for it. + +[Illustration: MORNING SERVICE ON THE VELDT.] + +Mr. Denman reports: 'Many whole days we have done nothing but receive in +our private tents men who were anxious and troubled about their souls' +salvation; others came to us who had got cold and indifferent, because +of the absence of the means of grace. These in very many instances, +under God's blessing, were helped and restored to the enjoyment of +the means of grace and the Christian privileges. One dear Christian man +came in, threw his arms around my shoulders, and burst into tears, and +said, "God bless you dear men for coming out here to care for us, and to +help us on in the Christian life. He will reward you both for leaving +home and dear ones. I am sure you have been such help to so many of +us."'[9] + +Thus was the work of the S.C.A. appreciated, and eternity alone will +reveal the good accomplished by its means. + +[Footnote 9: _News from the Front_, April, 1900.] + + +=Christian Work under Mr. Burgess.= + +The work of the Wesleyan Church at Sterkstroom was also actively carried +forward. The chaplain at Sterkstroom was the Rev. W.C. Burgess. At one +time he was assisted by no fewer than five Wesleyan soldier local +preachers. These were Sergeant-Major C.B. Foote, of the Telegraph +Battalion Royal Engineers, a much respected local preacher from the +Aldershot and Farnham Circuit; Sergeant-Major T. Jones, of the 16th +Field Hospital R.A.M.C.; Corporal Knight, of the 8th Company Derbyshire +Regiment; Trooper W.W. Booth, of Brabant's Horse; and Mr. Blevin, of +King Williamstown, and late of Johannesburg, one of Mr. Howe's workers. + +Parade services, of course, received careful attention, and were largely +attended. But such services, however picturesque and interesting, are +but a small part of the chaplain's duty. He makes them the centre of his +work, for at no other time can he get so many of his men around him; and +standing there at the drumhead, he gives God's message with all the +power he can command. + +But, after all, it is in quieter, homelier work that he succeeds the +best. Mr. Burgess, for instance, tells us how he began his open-air +work. He went over to the Royal Scots camp, and, as soon as the band had +finished playing, stepped into the ring. It might have been a shell that +had dropped into that ring by the speed with which all the soldiers +cleared away from it! and the preacher, who had hoped he could hold the +crowd which the band had gathered, was woefully disappointed. However, +he commenced to sing,-- + + 'Hold the fort,' + +and he had not long to hold it by himself. Before he had finished the +hymn other soldiers had gathered courage, and he had a crowd of two or +three hundred round him, and at the close of the service there were many +earnest requests to come again. + +Thus night by night, in the tent and in the open air, Christ was +preached. Perhaps, however, the most blessed of all the services were +the meetings of Christian soldiers upon the veldt. Here and there among +Mr. Burgess's letters one chances on such passages as this:-- + + 'At 7.30 p.m. eight of us went a little distance from the tents + into the veldt, and read the fifteenth chapter of St. John's + Gospel together, and knelt down on the grass, and had a happy time + in prayer. The lads got back to their tents in time for the first + post, when the roll is called.' + +Such records as these give us a glimpse of the Christian soldier's life +at once beautiful and pathetic. Such intercourse must have been of the +sweetest character; and, far away from home and friends, they drew very +near to God. + +For weeks from this time Mr. Burgess's letters are full of stories of +conversion. Now a corporal that he chats with at the close of a hard +day's work, now the trumpeter of the regiment, now several together at +the close of an open-air service. Thus all workers rejoiced together in +ever continued success, and the greatest joy of all--the joy of +harvest--was theirs. + +But the time of inactivity was over. For weeks reinforcements had been +gathering, and the chaplains' work had covered a larger area. It was now +time to strike their tents and march. But this unfortunate column was +unfortunate still. With the memory of the disaster to the Northumberland +Fusiliers at Stormberg still in their minds they marched forward, only +to meet with fresh disaster at Reddersburg. + + +=The Disaster at Reddersburg.= + +Perhaps the best account of that disaster is given by the Rev. W.C. +Burgess in a letter to the Rev. E.P. Lowry; and as it gives a vivid +picture of a chaplain's work under exceedingly difficult circumstances, +we venture to quote at some length from the _Methodist Times_:-- + + 'On Thursday, March 29, four companies of the Royal Irish Rifles + were under orders to go by march route to De Wet's Dorp, and to + leave one company behind at Helvetia, which is midway between the + two townships. We reached this place on the Friday, leaving Captain + Murphy in charge, and the remaining three companies, under command + of Captain McWhinnie, reached De Wet's Dorp on the Sunday morning + at nine o'clock. We marched through the town and took up a position + on the surrounding hills, when all at once we heard firing in the + distance, and our mounted infantry were soon engaging the enemy's + scouts. About sunset we were reinforced by about 150 of the + Northumberland Fusiliers and Royal Irish Rifles Mounted Infantry. + Our men bivouacked for the night along the ridges, and I slept with + them. About three o'clock on Monday morning our officer commanding + received the order to retire upon Reddersburg. At dawn we marched + out in the pouring rain. We bivouacked that night on or near a Mr. + Kelly's farm, about fifteen miles from De Wet's Dorp. At two + o'clock the next morning--Tuesday, April 3, 1900--a man, of the + name of Murray, of the Cape Mounted Rifles, brought despatches, + informing us that the enemy were in considerable numbers in the + direction of Thaba 'Nchu, on the Modder River, and were likely to + threaten our advance. + + 'Murray rode with despatches from Smithfield to De Wet's Dorp, and + finding that our column had left, he decided to overtake us, after + having rested his horse; but in the meantime some of the enemy's + scouts had entered the town, had taken his horse, saddle and + bridle, and were making a vigorous search for him, but in vain; and + under cover of the darkness he walked out and reached us in the + early morning. He came and woke me up, and I took him to the + commanding officer. We marched out again in the grey of the + morning, and at about ten o'clock a.m. we saw dense clouds of dust + rising away in the distance to our extreme right, and shortly + afterwards saw horsemen galloping towards us, whom we vainly hoped + might be our own cavalry, sent to our relief by Lord Roberts at + Bloemfontein; but in a few minutes all our hopes were shattered, + when we heard firing and saw our men engaging the enemy and + retiring upon the adjacent kopjes, which we at once took possession + of, and arranged our hospital, planting the Red Cross flag + immediately in front of our ambulance wagons and hospital tents. + + 'The battle, now known as the battle of Muishond-fontein, commenced + at 10.45 a.m. on Tuesday, April 3, 1900, and continued all day. At + 3.40 p.m. the enemy's guns arrived on the scene of action, and + began shelling us from three different positions. We were + completely surrounded by a force of 3,200, under Commandant De Wet, + who, according to his own testimony to us afterwards, had five + guns, four of which were in action, as well as a Vickers-Maxim. + Shortly after the fighting began bullets and shells were dropping, + and exploding in close proximity to our hospital. The Red Cross + flag had four bullet-holes. Two of the mules, standing in harness + and attached to one of our ambulance wagons, were killed. The + operating tent, in which Dr. Smyth was attending to a wounded man, + had two bullet-holes through it. One tent had four bullet-holes. + Part of the seat of one of our ambulance baggage wagons had the red + cross on its right side cut clean away by a shell. Pieces of shell + struck the wheels of our ambulance wagon, and one of our Cape + Medical Staff Corps was slightly wounded in the foot by a segment + of a shell while close to the ambulance wagon. We had one mule + whilst in harness cut in two by a shell and three mules wounded, so + that they had to be shot. One mule was shot while tied to an + ambulance wagon bearing the red cross; shrapnel and common shell + were fired. It was considered absolutely necessary to cast up a + parapet as a protection from the shot and shell fire, and we all + threw off our coats, and with pick and shovel worked away until + about midnight casting up earthworks. + +[Illustration: SOLDIERS' HOME ON THE FIELD.] + + 'The firing ceased at dusk. The men slept in their positions in the + ridges, and without either food or water. At eight p.m., hearing + that Captain Kelly was slightly wounded in the head, we scaled the + heights, and took him and some of his men a little water; but it + was very little. Still he seemed grateful. He would not leave his + men, but slept with them on the ridges. In stumbling over boulders + amongst the bushes on the ridges, whom should I meet but the Earl + of Rosslyn, who had escaped from the Boer lines, and had come + into our camp in the afternoon. He had rather a rough time of it, + for our men, not knowing who he was, and mistaking him for an + enemy, fired upon him, but fortunately without effect. He very + kindly told me that I might sleep in his buggy, which was near the + ambulance party. However, I did not avail myself of his kind offer, + but slept near the trenches. Captain Tennant, R.A., our + Intelligence officer, came down from the fighting lines at night, + and said to the five Dutch prisoners whom our mounted infantry had + captured the day before, "You now see how your own men are firing + upon our hospital, and if you are killed or hurt it will be by the + shells of your own people, and not by ours." They saw at once the + perilous position they were in, and asked for permission to dig a + trench for themselves, which was granted. The natives also followed + suit, and digged one for themselves. + + 'We were not molested during the night, but the battle was resumed + the next morning (Wednesday, the 4th), and was fiercer than ever, + until at last it was evident that the position was taken, and we + surrendered at nine o'clock a.m. The enemy immediately galloped in, + tore down the Union Jack, which they burnt, disarmed our men, and + marched them off as quickly as they could in a column five or six + deep. They sang a verse of a hymn and the Volkslied (their national + anthem), and after listening to a short address from their + commandant, they dispersed. + + 'Commandant De Wet was annoyed at our having dug trenches within + the lines of our hospital, and said it was a breach of the Geneva + Convention, and that we were taking an undue advantage of our + privileges; but when we pointed out to him that it had been done to + protect the wounded, some native women, and an old native man and + child who came in for protection, and not as a protection to our + troops who were in the firing lines, he was satisfied. + + 'The trenches were dug under a tolerably heavy fire. The enemy + captured all our horses and saddlery, some of our kits and + water-bottles, and one of our buck wagons marked with the Red + Cross. Both the medical officers and I had our horses and kits + taken from us, but the commandant assured each of us that they + would be returned, but we have not seen them yet. In the evening + these two officers with an orderly walked a distance of three or + four miles to the Boer laager in the hope of recovering their kits, + only to find that the laager had been removed and the enemy were + nowhere to be seen. They took my servant, and would not hear of his + remaining behind. We were released by Commandant De Wet, who told + us to bury our dead and take the wounded where we liked. + + +=Consolation to the Dying.= + + 'Our casualties were ten killed and thirty-five wounded. I went + over the battle-field with the ambulance party seeking for the dead + and wounded, and came across a man who was dying, and said to him, + "Do you know Jesus?" He replied, "Yes, I'm trusting Jesus as my + Saviour." I said, "That's right, brother. 'This is a faithful + saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into + the world to save sinners.' 'Christ died the just for the unjust + that He might bring us to God.' 'The blood of Jesus Christ His Son + cleanseth from all sin.' Do you know me?" I asked. "Yes," he + replied, "you are our chaplain," and turning his dying face to me, + he said, "Pray for me." I knelt down by his side, surrounded by our + stretcher-bearers, as well as by the Boers on horseback, who were + witnesses of this pathetic scene, and commended him to God. He then + said he was thirsty, and asked for a drink of water, which it was + my privilege to give him from the water-bottle slung by my right + side. We then laid him on the stretcher and carried him as gently + as we possibly could to the field hospital, but in a few minutes + his disembodied spirit had left its tenement of clay and gone to + answer the roll call up yonder. + + 'One cannot speak too highly of the unremitting care and attention + bestowed upon our dear wounded fellows by the army surgeons. Our + officers in the field behaved most gallantly, and were as cool as + possible under the most galling fire. The "O.C.," Captain + McWhinnie, could be seen against the sky line again and again, + walking about amongst his men, directing the defence, and giving + orders as coolly as if he had been on parade. While telling his men + to avail themselves of every bit of cover he seemed utterly + regardless of his own personal safety. The other officers were + directing their men in more distant parts of the field, and could + not be so easily seen by us. Our ammunition was getting low, and we + had no artillery, not even a machine gun, and had a long series of + ridges to occupy, extending over an area of three miles, so that it + was no wonder our position was untenable. On Thursday, at two p.m., + we left the battlefield with our wounded for Reddersburg, where the + people received us most kindly and placed the Government + school-room at our disposal.'[10] + +After burying the dead, and assisting the wounded to Bethany railway +station, Mr. Burgess returned to headquarters at Springfontein and gave +General Gatacre an account of the disaster. He was then attached to the +Royal Berks, as his own regiment was in captivity, and advanced with +them through the Orange River Colony. + +[Footnote 10: _Methodist Times_, May 17, 1900.] + + +='I Must Go to the Muster Roll.'= + +'He notes as he passes along a pathetic little incident. Bugler +Longhurst, who was mortally wounded in the fight on April 4, died soon +after, and shortly before he passed away he sat up in bed and said to +his orderly, "Hush! hush!! give me my uniform. I hear them mustering. +There are the drums! I must go to the muster roll. Hush!"--and sinking +back he died. + +'The advance for a long time was a continuous battle. Even the transport +had a warm time of it. On one occasion a forty-pounder shell struck a +transport wagon and exploded, cutting off the native driver's leg as he +sat upon the box. The poor fellow showed conspicuous courage. "Don't +mind me, lads," he shouted, "drive on." They carried him to the +operating tent, and he was singing all the way. Shortly after his +operation he died.' + + +='I'm not Afraid, only my Hand Shakes.'= + +The Sterkstroom column were fighting at last, and bravely they bore +themselves. It was not their fault if disaster dogged their steps. No +braver men could be found than those under Gatacre's command. And yet +they, like the rest, had a great objection to the pom-poms. 'I'm not +afraid,' said one lad, when that strange sound began and the shells came +rattling around. 'I'm not afraid, only my hand shakes.' + +It reminds us of a story told of a certain officer who was going into +action for the first time. His legs were shaking so that he could hardly +sit his horse. He looked down at them, and with melancholy but decided +voice said, 'Ah! you are shaking, are you? You would shake a great deal +more if you knew where I was going to take you to-day; so pull +yourselves together. Advance!' + +We are not told whether the legs so addressed at once stopped shaking, +or whether they were taken still shaking into the battle. But this we do +know, that the highest type of courage is not incompatible with +nervousness, and that the courage that can conquer shaking nerves, and +take them all unwilling where they do not want to go, is the courage +that can conquer anything. The '_I_' that is not afraid even when the +'_hand_' shakes, is the real man after all, and the man of exquisite +nervous temperament may be an even greater hero than the man who does +not know fear. + +Sir Herbert Chermside had succeeded General Gatacre, who was returning +home, and the column was now joining hands with General French, and +coming under the superior command of Sir Leslie Rundle. It was stern +work every day, and the chaplains, like the rest, were continually under +fire. Services could not be held, but night by night the chaplains went +the round of the picquets and spoke cheering words to them in their +loneliness, and, day by day, in the fight and out of it, they preached +Christ from man to man, ministering to the wounded, closing the eyes of +the dying and burying the dead, until at last they too reached +Bloemfontein and cheered the grand old British flag. + + + + +Chapter XI + +BLOEMFONTEIN + + +'Look, father, the sky is English,' said a little girl as they drove +home to Bloemfontein in the glowing sunset. + +'English, my dear,' said her father, 'what do you mean?' + +'Why,' replied the little one, 'it is all red, white, and blue.' + +And in truth, red, white, and blue was everywhere. The inhabitants of +Bloemfontein must have exhausted the stock of every shop. They must have +ransacked old stores, and patched together material never intended for +bunting. Wherever you looked, there were the English colours. No wonder +to the imagination of the little one even the sun was greeting the +victorious English, and painting the western sky red, white, and blue. + +We cannot, of course, suppose that all these people who greeted the +victorious British army enthusiastically were really so enthusiastic as +they appeared. But 'nothing succeeds like success,' and those who had +cursed us yesterday, blessed us to-day. + + +=The Advantages of Bloemfontein.= + +It is a matter for thankfulness that the town was spared the horrors of +a bombardment. It was far too beautiful to destroy. Of late years, as +money had poured into the treasury, much had been expended upon public +buildings. The Parliament Hall, for instance, had been erected at a cost +of L80,000. The Grey College was a building of which any city might be +proud. The Post Office was quite up to the average of some large +provincial town in this country, and several other imposing buildings +proved that the capital of the Orange Free State, though small, was 'no +mean city.' + +It was literally a town on the veldt. The veldt was around it +everywhere. It showed up now and then in the town where it was least +expected, as though to assert its independence and remind the dwellers +in the city that their fathers were its children. + +Wonderfully healthy is this little city. Situated high above sea level, +with a climate so bracing and life-giving that the phthisis bacillus can +hardly live in it, it seemed to our soldiers, after their long march +across the veldt, a veritable City of Refuge. Alas! how soon it was to +be turned into a charnel house! + + +=The March to Bloemfontein.= + +It was to this oasis in the South African desert that Lord Roberts +marched his troops after the surrender of Cronje. It had been a terrible +march from the Modder River, and its severity was maintained to the +end. The difficulty of transport was great, and sickness was beginning +to tell upon the troops. The river water, rendered poisonous by the +bodies of men and cattle from Cronje's camp, and the horrible filth of +his laager, were responsible for what followed. The men for the most +part kept up until the march was over. They had determined to reach +Bloemfontein at all costs, and many of them in all probability lost +their lives through that determination. They ought to have given up long +before they did, but struggled on until, rendered weak by their +prolonged exertions, they had no strength to fight the disease which had +fastened upon them. + +The last march of the Guards was one which the Brigade may well remember +with pride, as one of the most famous in its annals. They actually +marched over forty miles in twenty-two consecutive hours, over ground +full of holes of all sorts and sizes, and with barbed wire cut and lying +on the ground in all directions. They marched hour after hour in steady +silence, broken only by the 'Glory! Hallelujah!' chorus of the +Canadians, marched with soleless boots, or with no boots at all, but +with putties wrapped round the bare feet. An hour and a half's rest, and +then on again! On, ever on! They are so tired, they feel they can march +no further, and yet on they go, steadily marching straight forward, a +silent, dogged, determined army out there upon the veldt. Lord Roberts +had promised the Guards that they should follow him into Bloemfontein, +and they intended to be there to do it. + + +=The Work at Bloemfontein.= + +Bloemfontein reached, Christian work began in real earnest. Every one +became 'hard at it' at once. The Rev. E.P. Lowry opened a Soldiers' Home +in the schoolroom of the Wesleyan Church, and day by day provided the +cheapest tea in the town at three-pence per head, of which many hundreds +of the men availed themselves. Here, too, he had meetings night by +night. The Rev. James Robertson was also incessantly at work. The large +tent of the Soldiers' Christian Association was erected in the camp of +the Highland Brigade, and became as usual a centre of splendid Christian +effort. Mr. Black tells us that Lord Roberts gave permission for him to +accompany him to Bloemfontein, and gave every possible encouragement to +the work. + + +=Lord Roberts Visits the Tent.= + +Mr. Glover writes:-- + + 'The tent of which I now have charge--surrounded by thousands of + men of the Highland Brigade, and pitched yesterday on a high + plateau about one and a half miles from town--is, I believe, in + answer to prayer, on the spot where God would have it be, + especially if the numbers attending the first Gospel meeting may be + any criterion. + + 'In the early morning I had plenty of willing helpers. By about + nine the tent was completed, by ten I had literature, games, etc., + unpacked and arranged, and before eleven--after inspection of + Naval Brigade--Lord Roberts honoured me with a visit. This was more + than we might have expected, and having shown a keen interest in + inspection--Sankey's hymn-books included--he gave me a hearty + handshake, saying he was pleased to see it, and it would be a great + boon to the men. This visit was a very prompt one. Mr. Black just + handed up a request after Naval inspection. Lord Roberts replied, + "Certainly," and galloped over with his other officers before our + workers could get across.' + + 'There has been a very heavy demand on writing material by the many + men, who have had scarcely any opportunity to write for two or + three weeks. I hardly know what I shall do for paper, as I have + only one packet left, and could not get a line through by wire + yesterday; I hope, however, you received my wire to-day. There is + room here for a dozen--or even twenty--tents now. We had over + 40,000 men before yesterday, when the whole of the Seventh Division + arrived. + + 'Our first three meetings have been marked by a very hallowed + influence. To-night the tent was packed to overflowing, and our joy + at the close was beyond expression, when twenty dear fellows took a + stand for Christ. The weather is very wet to-night, the men have no + tents, and I gave them the opportunity to remain under the shelter + of our tent. As I write (10.30 p.m.), I suppose there are 120 to + 150 here.'[11] + +Later on our old friend, Mr. Stewart, took charge of the tent, and Mr. +Hinde assisted him. Mr. Percy Huskisson also spoke at some of the +meetings, and they had glorious times. The Rev. R. Deane Oliver, a +devoted Church of England chaplain from Aldershot, took the meeting on +one occasion, and no fewer than eighteen stood up for prayer. + +[Footnote 11: _News from the Front_, May, 1900.] + + +=Sunday Services in Bloemfontein.= + +The Sabbath services held in the camps and town were full of blessing. +In the Wesleyan Church khaki was everywhere, crowding not only every +available seat, but the Communion and the pulpit stairs, and even the +pulpit itself. + +Mr. Lowry writes:-- + + 'There must have been not less than 700 soldiers actually with us + that morning. In the afternoon a delightful Bible-class and + testimony meeting was held, at which about forty were present, and + at its close, thanks to the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin, a + capital tea, though not a fruit tea of the Aldershot type, was + provided for all. The evening service, conducted by Mr. Franklin, + was well attended by the military, and as the clock struck nine, + those that remained to the after-meeting bethought us of + Sergt.-Major Moss and his men, and made ourselves one with them by + singing at the self-same moment their unfailing song, "God be with + you till we meet again."'[12] + +The Rev. Stuart and Mrs. Franklin, to whom Mr. Lowry refers, were the +resident Wesleyan minister and his wife. They rendered conspicuous +service to our soldiers, and in fact thought no sacrifice too great to +make on their behalf. + +But not long was there a pause in the battle. The troops had to be moved +further and further out. The chaplains went with them. The onward march +to Pretoria commenced, and only an army of occupation was left behind in +Bloemfontein. + +[Footnote 12: _Methodist Times_, May 3, 1900.] + + +=Glimpses of Good Work from Soldiers' Letters.= + +We, however, stay with them in Bloemfontein for a short time, that we +may read a few of the Christian soldiers' letters received from that +town, and get some further glimpses of the good work carried on there. + +Corporal Lundy writes:-- + + 'Through all the trying marches and battles in which I have been + engaged I have found time to read a portion of God's Word. I have + found my Heavenly Father a personal Friend in this campaign. We + have been on short rations for about a month: just enough to keep + one together. + + 'The prisoners we have in the fort are always singing psalms and + hymns, but they do not seem to be quite right; there is something + lacking.' + +Corporal Simpson says:-- + + 'I am still enjoying the best of health bodily, and so happy in + soul that I could not express myself. Storm clouds gather and + trials come, but still it's Jesus. When bullets are flying around + my head and hunger is pricking me sorely, I can lift up my head + with praise. 'When I saw the little English children at + Bloemfontein running about so gay, many of them so like my own + lambs, my heart seemed as if it would break.' + +Another soldier writes:-- + + 'I want to tell you of the great Christian work that is going on in + this great camp. There are four or five very large tents, which are + full every night, and hundreds are turned away. There are men there + who would laugh at the Soldiers' Home in England and scorn to be + seen in the company of Christians. Many such men have been brought + to know Christ through this great and awful war. Mr. Lowry often + speaks to us. He is a grand worker, and we love him. We have been + under the Saviour's care and keeping all the time. We are very + anxious to get back home, and shall welcome peace with one great + shout of joy.' + +Another gives us a further glimpse of Christian work:-- + + 'Going along I saw three marquees, on one of which there was + written "Soldiers' Home." I peeped in and saw Pearce, of the + Gloucesters. I marched up to him and told him who I was. Four of + them knew me, and we had a good old talk of the home land. They had + just finished a good old Bible reading, and tea came in. I sat down + for tea with them. At about 6 p.m. we were in the large marquee + putting things ready, and about 6.30 it was full of soldiers, + perhaps about 600. Then we had the dear old Sankey hymns.' + +Another grows quite eloquent as he writes:-- + + 'At home I hear there has been much rejoicing, and the reverses + have given place to victories. But the victories have been bought + by the sacrifice of human souls. The altar has been saturated with + the blood of fathers and sons. The bitterness of sorrow has wrung + human hearts in the dear old homeland. In the mansion, in the + cottage, in city and in village, tidings of death have found a + place. But Christ, the Prince of Peace, has given peace to many + lads on the battlefield. Words which were apparently sown in the + darkness have bloomed in the light. Life eternal has been accepted, + and the life of sin has become the life of joy. Behind the veil the + Master stands and sees the awful strife. The Divine plan is hidden + from view, but our faith can see in the distant years the continent + of Africa revealed as a continent of God's people. + + 'Men have been, and still are, seeking for fame and glory. The + things of heaven, the Christ who died, have been forgotten in the + struggle for things of the world. Thank God for the many souls who + have found Jesus out here. We feel a mighty power within, and we + know it is in answer to the prayers of loved ones in the dear old + land. A wall of prayer surrounds us and we are safe. I feel that I + have let many golden opportunities slip. The harvest is passing and + labourers are few. + + 'The hearts of our Christian lads have been kept true, and God has + been glorified.' + +So testify these Christian men to the power of our holy religion to save +and keep. We thank God that they in their own way have 'kept the flag +flying.' + + +=The Enteric Epidemic.= + +But now began another battle--a battle fiercer and more disastrous to +our men than any other in this Boer campaign. Enteric fever had been +dogging the steps of our army all the way from Cronje's camp, and it +overtook it in full force in Bloemfontein. Very soon the hospitals were +full--crowded--overcrowded. A state of things obtained which, whether it +be a scandal or not, will be a lasting source of regret to every +Englishman, and a dark stain upon the war. + +So rapidly did the men fall that accommodation could not possibly be +found for them. They lay about anywhere. The space between the bed-cots +was full of groaning, struggling, dying humanity. In inches of mud and +slush they lay, breathing their lives out all unattended. The supply of +doctors, nurses, and orderlies was altogether inadequate. Tents and +medicines could not be got to the front, for the railway was required +for food supplies, and the army must be fed. It is too early to pass +judgment on the arrangements. We record a few facts, vouched for not +only by the papers from which we quote, but by scores of men who have +come from Bloemfontein, and with whom we have talked. + +It is in the remembrance of all that Mr. Burdett-Coutts wrote an article +in the _Times_, and afterwards delivered a speech in the House of +Commons, in both of which he told of the terrible sufferings of our men, +and severely criticised the hospital arrangements. The men returning +from the front, while they one and all declare that everything was done +by the hospital authorities which it was possible for those on the spot +to do, yet mournfully admit that the terrible accounts are not +exaggerated. + + +=Dr. Conan Doyle's Testimony.= + +The _Daily Telegraph_ published the number of deaths from disease at +Bloemfontein during the months of April, May, and the first part of +June. They reach the awful total of 949. Dr. Conan Doyle, in a recent +letter published in the _British Medical Journal_, says:-- + + 'I know of no instance of such an epidemic in modern warfare. I + have not had access to any official figures, but I believe that in + one month there were from 10,000 to 12,000 men down with this, the + most debilitating of all diseases. I know that in one month 600 men + were laid in the Bloemfontein cemetery. A single day in this one + town saw 40 deaths.' + +He speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of the sick soldiers. + + 'They are uniformly patient, docile, and cheerful, with an + inextinguishable hope of "getting to Pretoria." There is a + gallantry even about their delirium, for their delusion continually + is that they have won the Victoria Cross. One patient whom I found + the other day rummaging under his pillow informed me that he was + looking for "his two Victoria Crosses." Very touching also is their + care of each other. The bond which unites two soldier pals is one + of the most sacred kind. One man shot in three places was being + carried into Mr. Gibbs' ward. I lent an arm to his friend, shot + through the leg, who limped behind him. "I want to be next Jim, + 'cos I'm looking after him," said he. That he needed looking after + himself never seemed to have occurred to him.' + + +=The Hospital Orderlies.= + +Dr. Conan Doyle, however, reserves his highest praise for the hospital +orderly. We venture to quote at length, because of all workers during +this campaign none deserve higher praise, and none will receive less +reward than the men who have so nobly, so uncomplainingly done the +horrible work of nursing--'the sordid and obscene work,' as Dr. Doyle +calls it--through this frightful epidemic. + + 'In some of the general hospitals, orderlies were on duty for + thirty-six hours in forty-eight, and what their duties were--how + sordid and obscene--let those who have been through such an + epidemic tell. + + 'He is not a picturesque figure, the orderly, as we know him. We + have not the trim, well-nourished army man, but we have recruited + from the St. John Ambulance men, who are drawn, in this particular + instance, from the mill hands of a northern town. They were not + very strong to start with, and the poor fellows are ghastly now. + There is none of the dash and glory of war about the sallow, tired + men in the dingy khaki suits--which, for the sake of the public + health, we will hope may never see England again. And yet they are + patriots, these men; for many of them have accepted a smaller wage + in order to take on these arduous duties, and they are facing + danger for twelve hours of the twenty-four, just as real and much + more repulsive than the scout who rides up to the strange kopje, or + the gunner, who stands to his gun with a pom-pom quacking at him + from the hill. + + 'Let our statistics speak for themselves; and we make no claim to + be more long-suffering than our neighbours. We have three on the + staff (Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Scharlieb, and myself). Four started, but one + left us early in the proceedings. We have had six nurses, five + dressers, one wardmaster, one washerman, and eighteen orderlies, or + thirty-two in all, who actually came in contact with the sick. Out + of the six nurses, one has died and three others have had enteric. + Of the five dressers, two have had severe enteric. The wardmaster + has spent a fortnight in bed with veldt sores. The washerman has + enteric. Of the eighteen orderlies, one is dead, and eight others + are down with enteric. So that out of a total of thirty-four we + have had seventeen severe casualties--fifty per cent.--in nine + weeks. Two are dead, and the rest incapacitated for the campaign, + since a man whose heart has been cooked by a temperature over 103 + degrees is not likely to do hard work for another three months. If + the war lasts nine more weeks, it will be interesting to see how + many are left of the original personnel. When the scouts and the + Lancers and the other picturesque people ride in procession through + London, have a thought for the sallow orderly, who has also given + of his best for his country. He is not a fancy man--you do not find + them in enteric wards--but for solid work and quiet courage you + will not beat him in all that gallant army.' + +Dr. Conan Doyle has told the story of the hospital orderly, but who +shall tell the story of the doctor and the hospital nurse. In many cases +they have laid down their lives for the men, and all have worked with a +devotion that has seemed well-nigh super-human. But a medical staff +sufficient for two army corps was altogether insufficient to supply the +needs of an army of 200,000 and fight an epidemic of terrible severity. +They did their best. Some person the country will blame, but to these +who so nobly worked and endured the country will say, 'Well done!' + + +=Terrible Incidents during the Epidemic.= + +Tales of horror crowd upon one; stories of men in delirium, wandering +about the camp at night; stories of living men in the agonies of +disease, with dead men lying on either side; stories of men themselves +hardly able to crawl about, turning out of bed to nurse their comrades +because there was no one else to do it. + +'Why do you let 'em die?' asked a young soldier by way of a grim joke, +pointing to two dead soldiers close to him, while he himself was +suffering from enteric. 'Why don't you look after 'em better?' + +'What can I do? I know nothing about nursing!' was the sad reply. + +Just so! That was the difficulty--there was no one to prevent them +dying. How many might have been saved if such had been the case! + +It is too early to tell yet in detail the story of Christian work in +connection with this epidemic. Many of the chaplains had left for the +front before it broke out in its intensity, and we have as yet only +fragmentary evidence as to the work done by those left upon the spot. We +have not the slightest doubt that one and all did their work with the +devotion we should expect from such men. We hear of Christian soldiers +who bore splendid witness for Christ in the hospitals, and who were the +means of leading their comrades to the Saviour in the midst of their +sickness, and for such stories we thank God. + + +=Christian Work in the Fever Hospitals.= + +We close this chapter with an extract from a letter from the Rev. Robert +McClelland, Presbyterian Chaplain 1st battalion Cameron Highlanders, +published in _St. Andrew_, and sent us by the courtesy of the Rev. Dr. +Theodore Marshall. It is an eloquent testimony to the value of hospital +work, and gives us a glimpse of what was done at Bloemfontein:-- + +'When we reached Bloemfontein we found a dozen large hospitals all as +full as they could hold, and at the cemetery gate it was solemn and +painful to see many funerals outside the gate waiting entrance to the +house of the dead. I was told that an Episcopal clergyman was told off +at the cemetery for the sad but necessary work of Christian interment. +You will ask, why this great sickness and mortality? The water, on the +whole, is bad (sometimes absolutely vile), and our masses of soldiers +are not so careful about what they eat and drink as they should be in a +trying climate, scorching sun by day and white frost by night. Dysentery +and enteric fever are the worst. Here is the minister's noblest +vocation, and we could take a dozen Father Damiens for this grand work. +When the fever runs high, or the strength gets wasted and the heart goes +down, a pleasant smile, a kind word, a verse of Scripture, a brief +prayer, goes a long way to revive the drooping spirits. I record my +solemn conviction that hospital work, rightly done, is by far and away +the most needful and the most acceptable of the chaplain's work. But, of +course, like the doctors at the base, we are all wanting to the front to +see the "pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war," while the brave +fellows battling with fever, sickness, and wounds in the hospital are +fighting the stiffest fight of all. And yet there is work for us on the +march and at the front, too. To make yourself a friend and brother, to +seek out and comfort the exhausted and ailing, to speak a word in season +to the weary, to preach "the glorious Gospel of the blessed God" as +opportunity offers--this is a task worthy of the highest powers and +greatest gifts. After being nearly four months on the field, I do not +regret the great sacrifices made in going there.' + + + + +Chapter XII + +ON TO PRETORIA + + +The march from Bloemfontein to Pretoria was one never to be forgotten. +It taxed the strength of the strongest. There was fighting most of the +way, and many a soldier who started full of hope never reached the end. +The first stage was from Bloemfontein to Kroonstadt. + +Mr. W.K. Glover, of the S.C.A., arrived at Kroonstadt in company with +Mr. D.A. Black, but there was taken ill and compelled to rest. The Rev. +T.F. Falkner and the Rev. E.P. Lowry marched nearly the whole way to +Kroonstadt with the troops, and the latter speaks of it as the most +trying march of the whole campaign. Opportunities for Christian work, +with the exception of the hearty handshake or the whispered prayer, were +but few, though during the pauses at Brandfort and at Kroonstadt several +successful services were held. + +A new name now appears on the line of march--that of the Rev. W.G. Lane, +chaplain to the second Canadian contingent. He accompanied the Canadian +Forces as Chaplain-Captain, and had the spiritual charge of all +Protestants except those of the Episcopal Church. + + +=The March to Pretoria.= + +We have, however, our fullest account of Christian work on the line of +march from the pen of the Rev. Frank Edwards, the acting Wesleyan +chaplain attached to the South Wales Borderers. He came out late in the +war at his own charges to preach to the Welsh soldiers in their own +language, and only overtook Lord Roberts at Brandfort. He shows us in +vivid outline the sort of work our chaplains did between Bloemfontein +and Pretoria. + +'And now for the regular routine of "life on the march." We rise at 4 +a.m. in the dark and cold, breakfast hastily on biscuit and tea made of +very doubtful water, stand shivering in the piercing cold of dawn while +troops are paraded, then start on our way long before the sun rises to +warm our frozen frames. We march an hour and rest ten minutes--the hour +is very long, the ten minutes very short. + + +=South African Dust.= + +'The marching would be tolerable were it not for the heat and dust, the +latter lying in some places quite nine inches deep, rising in clouds. It +fills your eyes, nostrils, mouth and throat, causing one's lips to crack +and bringing on an intolerable thirst, which makes it impossible for the +men to be very fastidious, or even prudent with regard to the quality or +source of the water which they greedily drink. At night when we reach +our camping-ground our first thought is of our great-coats, for we are +bathed in perspiration, and as the sun goes down about 5.30, night +immediately following without any twilight, the intense heat of the +almost tropical day is changed in a few minutes into the bitter cold of +what might almost be called, from its length and severity, an Arctic +night. + +'At the Zand River I saw my first fight. That morning, as the troops +were drawn up in marching order, the ominous command was given, "Charge +magazines," and every man knew that something was about to happen, and a +murmur ran along the ranks. After an hour's march we came in sight of +the Zand River, with its kopjes on the farther side. As our battalion +came in view of the river we saw the enemy's guns flashing on the +distant kopjes, and showers of shells fell on this side the river into +the trees in our front. On our right some mounted infantry were lying +behind a kopje, and nothing could be more magnificent than to see the +volleying shells burst in a successive line along the ridge of their +sheltering kopje. At the edge of the wood we were halted and ordered to +lie down; as the artillery dashed by us to the front, where they were +soon busily pounding the Boer position, "Advance!" our Colonel cried. Up +we arose, marched through the trees down into the river-bed, and there +we lay while the shells screamed over us. + +'The first shell that came screaming--I can use no better term--towards +us seemed to cause a cold feeling inside, and I felt as though my last +hour had come; but that soon passed, and I became so accustomed to them +that I found myself speculating as to where they would burst. While we +lay in the river-bed, one monster burst with a roar like thunder upon +the bank behind, shaking the ground like an earthquake. + +'Our rest here was the calm before the storm, and as we awaited the word +to advance into the fight that was raging overhead, I had an opportunity +of studying the faces of the soldiers who were going, perhaps, to death. +Some were pale with excitement, and their eyes flashed as they clutched +their rifles and compressed their lips. Others laughed wildly, another +was hungrily gnawing a hard biscuit, while many were smoking furiously. +A few appeared quite indifferent, and might have been awaiting the order +for a march. The officers were splendidly cool, and gave their orders as +clearly and calmly as on parade. + + +=On the Firing Line.= + +'"Advance!" was again the cry, and up the banks we went and into the +trees on the further side. Here we saw the effect of the shell fire and +war upon the battle plain. Our batteries were busily engaged about two +hundred yards away, and the death-dealing missiles of friend and foe +flew mercilessly about. As we were likely to remain in the tree shelter +for a while, I strolled out as far as the batteries, for I wished to +have a better view of the Boer position; but here the shells were +falling fast between the guns, and one poor gunner was cruelly mutilated +by a bursting shell, his dead body presenting a ghastly sight. + +'I went back, and met the General and some of his staff inspecting the +Boer position with a huge telescope. I had a good look, and clearly saw +our shells burst in the embrasure of a gun, which was hurriedly taken +away. + +'Just then the General wanted to send a message, but had no available +messenger. Saluting, I asked that I might be sent. He gave me the +message, and springing on a horse which a servant held near, I galloped +away. It was a strange experience that entry into the fire-zone, but I +forgot all fear in the fight, and delivered my message. I returned to +the General, who thanked me for my promptness. + +'Our line had meanwhile advanced, and it was grand to see the steadiness +of our men. Though bullets spat viciously in the sand before, between, +and behind them, not a man flinched, but went steadily on to the heights +beyond. I asked the General to send me with another order, which he +wished taken to a half battalion some distance ahead, but as he was +about to do so, he saw the cross upon my collar, and asked me if I was +not a chaplain. I replied in the affirmative, and he inquired where my +red cross armlet was. I told him I did not possess one, and was told +that I must get one at once. The General then told me he was very sorry, +but he could not use me again, as I was a non-combatant, and if he +availed himself of my services, he would be infringing the Geneva +Convention; while, on the other hand, if the Boers captured me, I should +be shot. + + +='I was Thinking of the Last Verses of the Twenty-third Psalm.'= + +'One incident which occurred during the day made a deep impression upon +me. While in the river drift, on the point of moving into the thick of +the fight and fire, I observed a soldier thoughtfully leaning upon his +elbow, and was moved to ask him what his thoughts were at that moment. +Lifting his eyes steadfastly to mine, he replied, "I was thinking, sir, +of the last verses of the twenty-third Psalm"; and as he spoke I knew I +was face to face with a man for whom death had no terrors, one who was +looking for the crown of life. It was a word in season, and was very +helpful. + +'We encamped that night upon the heights lately occupied by the enemy. +Friday was taken up with another tedious march upon Kroonstadt, and on +Saturday we advanced in fighting formation upon that place, momentarily +expecting to meet the Boers, whom our scouts reported entrenched in +position some miles this side the town. However, we found they had gone, +and Kroonstadt was entered about mid-day, and we encamped outside. + +'The next day being Sunday, my first thought was to make arrangement for +services. I interviewed the General, and he allowed me to fix my own +time--an hour later than the Church of England parade--in order that the +men of the 14th Brigade might be able to come down. On Sunday morning I +held my first parade service with my regiment. There was a splendid +attendance--men of the Borderers, Cheshires, Lancs, Engineers, and many +from the other Brigade. + + +=A Service on the Veldt.= + +'At the close of the morning service, after a conversation among +themselves, several stepped out and asked for an evening service. I had +not intended holding one, as I thought they had been marching for weeks +and were tired and weary, and had clothes to wash and mend, and this +might be their only opportunity for weeks, perhaps; so I asked that all +who wished for an evening service would put up their hands. Every man +did so, and the Colonel was only too glad to arrange it for me. That +evening, half an hour after the time for tea, we met again on the open +veldt, in front of our lines, and we had a splendid muster--more than +the morning. The hymns went splendidly. Two soldiers led in +prayer--short and very earnest--then we sang and prayed. Two addresses +by two more soldiers--straight and good and to the point--addresses +which had a deep effect upon all. Another hymn, then I spoke to them +about the "Standard of Jesus," and we felt the power of the presence of +God. Kneeling on the veldt, man after man broke down. Many openly +confessed their sin, others rejoiced in true Methodist style. Even then +they were not satisfied; a prayer-meeting was asked for and all stayed. +It was truly a grand prayer-meeting. Prayers and hymns followed free and +fast, and many at the close, as they pressed forward to shake hands with +me and thank me for coming, said it was one of the happiest Sundays of +their life. "More like a Sunday at home sir, than any we have had out +here; we did not know what Sunday was before." Many found peace with God +that night and determined to lead a new life. + +'That night I got permission to have hymns sung in the lines, and you +should have heard the Welsh hymns as they rose and fell in the night +air. Men crowded from all parts. Officers and men jostled in the +crowding ring while the sweet melodies and beautiful harmonies thrilled +every soul. It was a happy ending to a happy day. The Colonel has asked +me to arrange for this hymn-singing every Sunday night, for he says it +is very beautiful, and not only is it highly appreciated by the men, but +it has a beneficial influence on them. + +'On Tuesday I had permission to arrange a camp concert. We had a huge +wood fire. A wagon drawn up served for a platform. The Colonel took the +chair. The officers were in the ring and the men grouped around. It was +a weird and romantic sight--all those laughing and appreciative faces in +the flickering fire-light--and we had a very pleasant evening. + +'On Monday, as we were still encamped here, I organized a football match +and acted as referee, which in a tropical sun is no sinecure, I can tell +you. On Wednesday I rode into Kroonstadt and had the pleasure of meeting +Mr. Lowry, Mr. Lane, the Canadian chaplain, and Mr. Carey, the resident +Wesleyan minister, and we had a pleasant time.' + +Thus progressed the work; thus one Christian worker after another +distinguished himself, while all the time Lord Roberts was rapidly +drawing nearer his goal. Now Brandfort was reached, now Kroonstadt, and +at last the Diamond City, Johannesburg--no, not last, Pretoria lies +beyond, and by-and-by the victorious forces entered the capital of the +Transvaal, and the British flag--symbol of world-wide empire--floated +over the Government Buildings. + +And here we pause. The day is now not distant when the British flag will +be respected throughout both those one-time Republics, and peace shall +once more hold sway. When that time comes we predict a magnificent +extension of the kingdom of Christ in South Africa; for we trust that, +with old feuds forgotten and the Spirit of Christ taking possession of +both British and Boer, all forms of Christianity will join hands to make +Christ King throughout the Dark Continent. + + + + +Chapter XIII + +HERE AND THERE IN CAPE COLONY + + +'Bother war!' writes a guardsman to the Rev. J.H. Hocken. 'Let me get +out of this lot, and never no more.' It is not a very heroic sentiment +certainly, but he wrote from the hospital at Orange River, and doubtless +expressed not only his own sentiments, but the sentiments of a good many +of his comrades. And certainly there seems to have been reason as well +as sentiment in his statement. Listen to this, for instance:-- + +'At the engagement of Graspans we had some food about 4 p.m. All that +night my battalion was on outpost duty. Next morning we marched about 3 +a.m., caught up the division, and took part in the engagement at +Graspans, followed up the enemy, captured a building with forty Boers in +it and a large tent filled with medical comforts, and when we thought of +having some rest and some grub, we were ordered on top of some hills for +outpost duty that night, and we did not have our dinner until the next +day, Sunday morning, at 9 a.m. That is quite true. Forty-one hours +without anything but dirty water, and yet Miss Morphew says Guards are +only for show. But I don't think she meant it. No wonder I am bad.' + + +=Work at the Orange River Hospital.= + +Aye, no wonder, indeed! And week by week, month by month, the Orange +River Hospital has been full ever since the beginning of the war. Here +Army Scripture Reader Pearce, from North Camp, Aldershot, has been in +charge. For a long time he was single-handed in this great hospital +camp. He performed the duty of acting chaplain to all denominations. +General Wauchope before he died spoke of Mr. Pearce's eagerness for +work, and verily there was enough for him to do. At one time he was +assisted by the Canadian chaplain, and latterly by the chaplain of the +Australian contingent. But month by month he went his weary round of +hospital visitation alone. He buried the dead, wrote letters home to the +friends of the dying and the dead, and performed faithfully and well all +the many tasks in a chaplain's routine. At one time there were at least +a hundred Canadians down with enteric at Orange River. The Australian +hospital was also crowded. + +The monotony of work must have been terribly trying. It was not for him +to know anything of the excitement of the battle. It was only his to +witness the horrors of the carnage. His pulses did not thrill at sights +of deeds of daring on the field. He only saw the train-loads of wounded +all smeared with dust and blood, and heard the groans that told of +agony. But when the day of reward shall come, the quiet, earnest work of +such as he will not be forgotten, and the great Head of the Church will +say, 'Well done.' No wonder after eight months of such work as this his +nerves gave way, and he was obliged to return home. + +At Orange River, too, the Soldiers' Christian Association did good work. +Messrs. Glover, Fotheringham, and Ingram were the means of leading +scores of men to Christ. Dr. Barrie, of the Canadian contingent, who was +temporarily attached to the hospital, gave several addresses, which were +much appreciated, and conducted a weekly Bible Class. Later Messrs. +Charteris and Bird were in charge of the tent, and tell the same blessed +story of nightly effort and nightly success. + + +=Experiences at Arundel and Colesberg.= + +From De Aar, Naauwport, and Arundel we have before us several graphic +letters from the Rev. M.F. Crewdson, late of Johannesburg. Mr. Crewdson +is a Wesleyan minister, and for conspicuous service on the field was +appointed acting chaplain. His hospital stories are full of point and +pathos. He tells of one man with twenty-two shell wounds, and yet living +and cheerful; of another with a hole as big as a hand in his leg, and +another big hole in his arm, and yet refusing to grumble, and professing +himself quite comfortable. Of this man an Australian said, 'He +exasperates me; he never has any pain.' He pictures to us a corporal +seeing to the comfort of his men and horses, and then, by way of a +change, teaching his men the ditty-- + + 'Life is too short to quarrel.' + +[Illustration: ARUNDEL.] + +From Colesberg we have a graphic letter from the Rev. E. Bottrill. He +refers to the imprisonment by the Boers of the resident Wesleyan +minister, the Rev. A.W. Cragg, whose health suffered severely from his +three months' confinement. He tells of earnest work in that town so +difficult to capture, of splendid parade services, and of an +extemporised Soldiers' Home in the Wesleyan Church. At Arundel there was +a tent of the S.C.A. and another at Enslin, and at each of these good +work was done. + +Everywhere God was with His workers, and gave great success. The spirit +of inquiry was present in all the meetings. Everywhere in this region, +as indeed throughout the whole theatre of war, in camp and hospital, on +the march and on the battlefield, our soldier lads were inquiring, 'What +must I do to be saved?' and not far off was some one ready to reply, +'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' + + +=An Ostrich Story.= + +As a variation from our long record of work in camp and hospital, we +close this chapter with an ostrich story, and venture to take it intact +from _News from the Front_ for April, 1900. + + 'In conjunction with the Rev. M.F. Crewdson, Mr. Ingram, of the + S.C.A., went to Arundel to take charge of a tent which was to be + erected there. The tent not having arrived he says:-- + + '"We went across the country some seven or eight miles, a terrible + tramp, to visit some graves. It was a lonely, hot, and trying walk, + and as we were half way back, about 1 p.m., having been walking + since 6.15 a.m., and having had no meal, we saw an ostrich making + for us about a mile away. It was up to us in three minutes (a male + bird), and had evidently seen us from its nest, where it was + sitting, and thought we were going to interfere with it. It was an + enormous bird, and was in a rage. It stopped some dozen paces from + us, and whirled round, flapping its wings and looking truly awful. + I gave Crewdson my pocket-knife, the only weapon we had, and as the + wretched thing went circling round us, getting nearer and nearer, I + suggested to Crewdson that if we came to close quarters, its neck + would be our only chance (its body was higher than my head). He did + not think it would come to close quarters, but seemed in a great + state about our safety, and said, 'Keep together, old man.' 'All + right,' I said; but the next moment Crewdson had turned to try and + walk on. I felt to separate, or take our eyes off it, meant an + attack, so walked backwards; but it no sooner saw that I was a pace + or two nearer it than Crewdson than it came on me like a very + whirlwind. I had been reading Psalm xci. in the rain that morning, + and how grandly it was fulfilled! By a God-given instinct I dropped + my haversack and your fieldglasses, and did not wait for it to + reach me, in which case it would have pecked out my eyes and struck + me with its claws, probably tearing my chest open, but sprang to + meet it. Death seemed absolutely certain, and though my nerve was + set, and, as it were, I mentally gave up my life, I met the bird + with a thud. With both hands I caught its neck before it could lift + a foot to strike; we both rolled over, and, with strength given me + at the moment, I clung to its neck until I came up, 'top dog.' But + then with full fury it began to kick, and had I received a full + blow I should have probably died, but I hugged too closely to it, + and then wriggled on to its back, so that it kicked into the air + away from me, and I only got a 'short arm' blow, and received + bruises instead of wounds. + + '"Crewdson did not know whether I was alive or dead at first, but + at my shouts brought my knife; and while I was gripping its throat + with both hands so that it could not breathe at all, and rolling + about to avoid kicks, Crewdson tried to cut its gullet. This he + could not do at first, so I took the knife with my left hand, + holding the neck with my right, and dug the blade under the + uplifted wing. It took effect, and the wing seemed to lose force, + but the blade of my knife was broken, leaving half in the bird. I + threw Crewdson the knife, and he opened another blade, and managed + to cut the gullet. The thing was nearly stifled, and, feeling the + knife, it gave a last and awful struggle, and I really feared I + should be beaten; however, I also put forth a last effort, and + gradually the kicks and the struggles subsided. I loosened my grip + and let the blood flow; and when I thought it was pretty far gone, + I jumped off and joined Crewdson. Even then it made a wild attempt + to rise, but could not. Covered with dirt and blood, we plucked a + few feathers, thanked the Lord for life, and tramped to Arundel, + and arrived truly tired out. + + '"The stationmaster told us that in 99 cases out of 100 the ostrich + would have killed me. He says there is not a man in the country who + would attempt to do what I did."' + +So there are in South Africa not only perils of Boors, of bullets, of +shells, of snakes, and of scorpions, but perils of ostriches too! And +from them one and all His workers may well pray, 'Good Lord, deliver +us!' + + + + +Chapter XIV + +WITH SIR REDVERS BULLER + + +Christian work among the troops in Natal went on apace for months prior +to the advance upon Ladysmith. The Pietermaritzburg Y.M.C.A., for +instance, provided two correspondence tents, which were of great service +to the troops. + +We have the report of No. 1 tent before us. From December to April this +tent was pitched successively at Chievely, Frere, Springfield, +Spearman's, Zwart Kopjes, beyond Colenso, outside Ladysmith, Modder +Spruit, and finally at Orange River Junction. Its work can be divided +under four heads--Correspondence, Evangelistic, Literary, and Social. + +Every day saw the tent full of letter writers, and they were lying on +the ground in front of it also. As a rule not more than two sheets of +paper and two envelopes were given to each applicant. But in this way no +less than twelve thousand sheets and an equal number of envelopes were +distributed during the period named. These workers also performed +amateur post office duties. They sold L25 worth of stamps, and received +over nine thousand letters and three hundred papers and packages. +Efforts were made to supply newspapers for the men, but the difficulties +of transport proved in the end too great to be satisfactorily overcome, +though whenever possible they were obtained. + +Nearly every night evangelistic services were held, conducted by some +member of the tent staff of workers, or by an Army Scripture Reader, or +an S.C.A. man. + +Various social functions were successfully carried out, and our soldiers +rejoiced over the good things provided for them. They do not, as a rule, +care for free teas at home. You may coax them to go to them, as some +benevolent ladies do; but they can afford to pay for what they get, and +they prefer that plan. The other only spoils them. But abroad things are +different, and Tommy of the capacious appetite took all he could get. +And so would you, my reader, had you been in his place. + +The South African General Mission was also in evidence. Mr. Spencer +Walton kept sending good things into the camp of all kinds, and kept up +his ministry of 'comforts' even after Ladysmith was reached. + +Our old friends of the Soldiers' Christian Association were, of course, +to the fore. They knew just how to do the rough-and-tumble work +required. Tommy could understand them, because they understood him. +Throughout the campaign there was evidence of Mr. Wheeler's careful +organizing. His agents seem to have been most capable and successful +men, ready for every good word and work, and the work itself such as +will stand the test of time. + + +=Bivouac in a S.C.A. Tent.= + +Take this as a specimen of the readiness to take advantage of any and +every opportunity. Mr. Fleming writes from Frere Camp:-- + + 'We were preparing for a meeting last night, when we discovered + something like Boers in the distance coming towards our camp, but + they turned out to be S.A.L.H. They pitched before our tent to + bivouac for the night. When they had dismounted the rain began to + fall in torrents. A major came over to me, and asked me where the + canteen was; of course, it was shut. I asked him what he wanted to + buy, as perhaps I could help him. He wanted socks. I took him into + my tent, and gave him a bath and a pair of socks--made him a drop + of "sergt.-majors'." His gratitude was unbounded. He said, "Ah, + this is true Christianity; you're a brick, old boy. Here's a + sovereign subscription for your kindness." I refused it. "Well, + I'll never forget you!" "All right," I said, "my name is on the + socks"; then off I went to see about the others. Met the colonel. + Offered him the freedom of our large marquee for his men to sleep + in or shelter as they pleased. He was most grateful, so in the + midst of a dreadful rainfall about two hundred of these fellows + found shelter. All were hungry. We had five boxes of biscuits for + our own use, and fifteen gallons of gingerbeer. Mr. Young, of the + S.A.G.M., who was a great help to me, took a bucket of the + gingerbeer and some biscuits to the men on duty on the lines. + + 'It was impossible to have our meeting, but we had individual + dealing with several. I never shall forget the sight of those men + sleeping in the marquee. Two of them were huddled up in a box like + monkeys. One man was wringing out his socks; he had fallen into a + gun pit up to the waist in water. I wanted to lend him a pair, but + he evidently thought that the feeling of dry socks would be too + great a contrast to his wet body, for he positively refused my nice + warm ones. About 10 p.m. I found three men sleeping outside in the + rain. I asked one of them to come and share my tent. "No, thank + you, sir, we have only one blanket between us." "Come on, then, the + three of you." Then the invitation was accepted, and didn't they + smile as I served them with hot coffee! Mr. Hide's tent (he is at + Durban) I lent to a major and a captain. + + 'The water ran like a river through our camp, so heavy was the + rainfall. I kept lights in our marquee all night, and toddled out + and in to see all was right. I was not out of my clothes all night, + but my lot was a happy one compared with those dear lads--they have + not been out of their clothes for months, and have never had a tent + to cover them. This morning, as they left, the gratitude of both + officers and men was so intense that I had to clear off the + scene--could not stand it. It has rained in torrents to-day. Got + wet through. Had splendid meeting to-night. Sure there was definite + working of the Holy Spirit. The Rev. James Gray, who gave the + address, has been a great help to us.'[13] + +Among the men of the Lancashire Fusiliers, who subsequently lost so +heavily at Spion Kop, there were many conversions. And among the naval +men there were many grand Christians, who were delighted to avail +themselves of the privileges and opportunities which the tent supplied. + +The chaplains were, of course, at the front with the men, or as near the +front as they could get, sharing their fatigues and many of their +dangers. + +[Footnote 13: _News from the Front_, May, 1900.] + + +=A Bit of Christian Comradeship.= + +Differences of denomination were for the most part forgotten, and the +Rev. Mr. Gedge, the Church of England chaplain, and the Rev. T.H. +Wainman, the Wesleyan, were the best of friends and comrades. Mr. Gedge +soon became a power for good. His tent meetings were crowded, and his +preaching told with great effect, many being brought to Christ. His +open-air work was splendidly done. Here is a delightful bit of Christian +comradeship, which we wish we could see oftener repeated in this +country. The Rev. T.H. Wainman writes:-- + + 'After watching the men who were formed for guard duties, etc., for + some time, I noticed Major Gedge, the Church of England army + chaplain, and several Army and Navy League workers come along, + evidently intent on holding a voluntary service. I joined them, and + helped in the singing of half a dozen hymns, which by this time had + brought together a large number of the soldiers. Mr. Gedge asked me + to give the address. I did so, and had a most happy time, the men + listening for twenty minutes or more with evident interest. I + interspersed my address with illustrations from my travels and + experience in this country, which seemed to hold them in attention + to the finish. The General Confession was then recited and a few + other prayers from the Liturgy, and one of the most hearty and + successful voluntary services was concluded by the singing of the + hymn "Glory to Thee, my God, this night." I went to my tent + thankful for the good work being done by the various Christian + organizations, and convinced that many went home with new + aspirations after a better and nobler life.'[14] + +[Footnote 14: _Methodist Times_, Feb. 8, 1900.] + + +=The Chaplains of the Church of England.= + +Here, perhaps, we may refer for a moment to the services of the Church +of England chaplains in general. The Church is singularly fortunate in +the men it has sent to the front. The senior chaplain with the Guards, +Colonel Faulkner, has set an example to all the others by his intense +devotion. He has advanced all the way with Lord Roberts to Pretoria and +beyond. He has returned invalided, but not until he has nobly done the +work he was commissioned to do. + +The chaplains sent out from Aldershot were men whom every one esteems +and loves. The praise of the Rev. R. Deane Oliver is on every one's +lips. Of the Rev. A.F.C. Hordern we shall have occasion to speak when we +come to the siege of Ladysmith. The Rev. T. P. Moreton is an eloquent +preacher and a Christian gentleman, interested in all good work. And +what shall we say of the Rev. A.W.B. Watson? He is a hero, though, like +all other heroes, he would be the last to believe it. + + +=Mr. Watson in the Soudan and in South Africa.= + +Sitting at the tea table of a corporal of the Medical Staff Corps a +short time ago, we began to talk of Mr. Watson. 'Ah!' said he, 'Mr. +Watson is my hero. You know he went through the Soudan campaign. I had +charge of the cholera tent. At one time I was left alone to manage it. +Not another chaplain but Mr. Watson came near. Twice a day he came +without fail. One day he came in, and found me lying on the floor in a +state of complete prostration. He lifted me up and carried me to his +tent. He then came back to the tent of which I had charge, and all day +he attended to my poor cholera patients, washed them, and performed all +my most loathsome duties. Love him! of course I love him. I would lay +down my life for him.' + +Mr. Watson has gone to South Africa at the risk of his life, but he +would go. He had been through a severe operation, and was in a most +critical condition. He begged permission to go, but of course the +doctors could not pass him. He could not, however, bear to think of his +men being there without him. And after trying one expedient after +another, he, who had been refused permission on the ground of +ill-health, at last got out under the plea that the climate of South +Africa might be beneficial! May God spare him for many years! + + +=The Rev. T.H. Wainman.= + +But this is a long digression! The Wesleyan chaplain was the Rev. T.H. +Wainman, a sturdy Yorkshireman, who had spent many years in South Africa +as a Wesleyan missionary. He was not new to the duties of a chaplain, +for years ago he was with Sir Charles Warren in Bechuanaland. He took to +his new work as though he had only just laid it down, and bullets and +shells seemed to have no terror for him. + +At the parade service at Chievely on the day of the advance to +Spearman's Hill, Mr. Wainman took for his text, 'Speak unto the children +of Israel that they go forward.' He might have known what was coming, +for the last line of 'Onward, Christian Soldiers' had hardly been sung, +and the Benediction pronounced, before rumours of the advance spread +through the camp, and by two p.m. the advance had really commenced. At +daylight next morning the battle began, and Mr. Wainman describes what +he calls a 'cool piece of daring.' + + +='A Cool Piece of Daring.'= + + 'At the same time the firing of cannon to our right was fast and + furious, the shells dropping and bursting right among our field + artillery. I watched with breathless anxiety, expecting all our + guns to be abandoned, and half the men killed, when to my + astonishment the men rode their horses right among the bursting + shells, and hooking them to their guns rode quietly away, taking + gun after gun into safety. In some instances a horse fell, and this + necessitated the men waiting in their terrible position until + another horse could be brought, harnessed, and attached to the gun. + Eventually all were brought out of range, but a more plucky piece + of daring and heroism I have never witnessed, and never expect to + witness in my life. The officers rode up and down directing their + men as though heedless of danger, and the only casualty I heard of, + excepting the horses, was a captain having his foot shattered.'[15] + +He himself showed many a cool piece of daring before he got to +Ladysmith, and when, after the fight at Spion Kop, some one had to go +and bury the dead, he bravely volunteered, and performed this last +ministry for his dead comrades under heavy fire. For his bravery on that +occasion he was promoted to the rank of major. Those associated with him +in this awful task were Major Gedge, the Church of England chaplain, and +Fathers Collins and Matthews (Roman Catholics). This was the Father +Matthews who was captured with his men at Nicholson's Nek, and +afterwards released. + +There was now but little opportunity for ordinary Christian work. The +last struggle for the relief of Ladysmith had commenced, and was to be +carried on in grim earnest to the end. The men were ready to follow +their leaders anywhere, but could not understand the frequent retreats. +This much every man knew, however, that when he marched out with his +regiment in the morning it was very doubtful whether he would be alive +at night. This thought sobered every one, and many a man prayed who had +never prayed before. + +[Footnote 15: _Methodist Times_.] + + +=General Lyttleton's Brigade Formed up for Prayer Before Going into +Action.= + +One of the most remarkable facts of the campaign is this. Before General +Lyttleton's brigade marched out from its camping ground for its +desperate task it was formed up in close column--formed up not for an +inspection, but for prayer. We have never heard of anything else like it +in the history of war. The Bishop of Natal was with the troops, and he +suggested to General Lyttleton that the best preparation for the battle +was prayer. He himself led in prayer for the other regiments, while at +the request of the colonel the Army Scripture Reader attached to the +Scottish Rifles offered prayer. With prayer rising for them and +following them, they marched to the conflict. It was to many a +Sacrament. It was their _Sacramentum_--their oath of allegiance to the +King of kings. + +Strange things happen in war. Perhaps this is one of the strangest. And +yet if there were more prayer there would be less war. May be the voice +of prayer rising from our British army to the throne of God--rising also +from friends in the homeland far away, is another Sacrament--a sign and +a seal of the blessings foretold when the Prince of Peace shall reign. + + +=The Struggle for Spion Kop.= + +Potgieter's Drift, Spion Kop, Pieter's Hill--these are names that will +live in the memory of every British soldier with Sir Redvers Buller. Of +all fights Spion Kop was perhaps the most terrible, as it was the most +disastrous. It was called Spion Kop, or Spying Mountain, because it was +from this eminence the old Boer trekkers spied out the land in the days +gone by. It was more than a hill--it was a mountain, and a mountain with +a most precipitous ascent. To climb it meant hauling oneself up from one +rock to another. It was a task that required all a strong man's +strength. Yet up it went our men without a moment's hesitation. It was +almost like climbing a house side. But one man helped another, the +stronger pulling up the weaker, until they halted for a moment +breathless at the top. 'Charge!' and away they went. The bayonets were +covered with blood after that awful charge, and then, their work for the +moment accomplished, they lay down, for the bullets were whistling +around them. In the dense darkness they began to build sangars as best +they could. All night long they worked, and never for a moment were +they allowed to work in peace. When morning broke they saw that their +entrenchments were far too small, and though they held out all day, +their position was commanded by the Boers on higher ground, and so +became untenable. Shells burst behind every rock. Bullets like hail +rained upon them, and although they fought as all true Britishers can, +they were at last withdrawn--withdrawn, perhaps, when victory was almost +within their grasp. + +It is not our purpose to describe the fight; that we leave to others. +What we have said serves but as a reminder. The question that concerns +us is, How did our men hold themselves through that awful day? + + +=Touching Incidents at Spion Kop.= + +We read of one, a Wesleyan local preacher,--Mr. W.F. Low,--wounded by a +bullet through his collar bone and shoulder blade; wounded again by a +fragment of shell striking his leg, worn out by excitement and +fatigue--so worn out that he actually slept, notwithstanding the pain of +his wound, until awoke by sharp pain of his second wound. We read of +this man crawling over to the wounded lying near him, passing water from +his water-bottle to one and another, gathering the water-bottles of the +dead men round about, and giving them to those yet living. And yet the +cry of 'Water,' 'Water!' was heard on every side, and there were many to +which he could not respond. He tells how many of the men were praying, +how their cries of repentance seemed to him too often cries of +cowardice; though who would not fear to enter the presence of God all +unprepared and unforgiven? Well might many of them cry for mercy. + +One man spent his last moments in writing a letter to his chum, who had +led him to Christ but the day before. 'Dear brother in Christ Jesus,' he +wrote, 'I owe my very soul to you. If it had not been for you, I should +not have been ready to die now. It seems hard only to give the last few +hours of my life to His service, but I must say "Good-bye." The angels +are calling me home. I can see them and the glorious city. Good-bye, and +may God bless you!' + +Says the one who in rough-and-ready fashion had so recently led his chum +to Christ, 'It cheered me to know he was all right with the Master. Now +I must look out for more work for Him.' + + +=The Tortures of the Wounded.= + +Then started that sad procession to the rear--the procession of +ox-waggons containing the poor mangled bodies of our wounded. Oh! the +horrors of it! 'How much longer will it be?' 'Will the road soon be +smoother?' cried the longsuffering lads. Who shall tell the tale of +agony? Aye! who shall tell the heroism then displayed? Who shall +describe how rough men became as gentle women, and how those racked with +pain themselves yet tried to minister to the wants of others? Oh! war is +devil's work; but surely at no time do human love and human sympathy +show themselves so often, or prove themselves so helpful, as amidst its +horrors. + +Of all hospitals that at Mooi River was the best. This is the testimony +of one and all. 'You went in there,' said one lad, 'a skeleton. You came +out a giant.' And at Mooi at last, many of these poor wounded soldier +lads found themselves, and amidst comfort that seemed to them luxury and +rest that was heaven itself they were many of them wooed back to life. + +But what of the men still at the front? Effort after effort! Retreat +followed by advance! Misunderstanding and mistake here and there. And +then Pieter's Hill! Ask the soldier who has come back wounded from +Pieter's Hill--and how many of them are there?--what he thought of it. +He can give you but a confused picture of the fight. He has no idea of +the plan in the general's mind. But ask him of his experiences. His +wound was nothing; he will not dwell upon that. But the time spent upon +the ground after the wound was received--twenty-four hours, forty-eight, +three days, and in one case, at any rate, so the poor fellow told us, +four days--before the stretcher party carried them to the rear. It could +not be helped. There was no reaching the wounded. They were scattered +far and near. They lay where they fell, starving for want of food, dying +of thirst under a South African sun. Oh! the horror of it! But your +soldier cannot describe it. It will be a nightmare to him for life. You +speak to him on the subject 'How long did you lie there?' You want to +inquire a little further; but he shakes his head,' Don't ask me, 'twas +too awful,' and he turns his head away. + + +='Men, Christ can Save Me even Now.'= + +Seated in the Buckingham Palace Soldiers' Home the other day, some men +from Pieter's Hill were chatting together. 'And what was your +experience?' said the chaplain. 'Oh! I just realized how God could save, +and God could keep. It was terribly hard, but all through those fearful +battles I had always peace--always joy.' + +And then he continued, 'I never think of Pieter's Hill but I think of +Armstrong. You did not know Armstrong. He used to be in the orderly room +every week--a bad lad was poor old Armstrong. But when we were in India +he gave himself to Christ. He was never in the orderly room after that. +One day his major met him. "Armstrong," said he, "what's the matter? we +never see you in the orderly room now." + +"No, sir," he said, "old Armstrong's gone. A new Armstrong's come." +"What do you mean?" queried his officer. "Just this, sir; I've given my +heart to God, and chucked the sin." + +'So he lived until he went to the war, and so he died. He passed through +Spion Kop unscathed, but on Pieter's Hill a bullet went through his +head. As he fell he cried, "Men, Christ can save me even now! It's all +right, I'm going home," and he died.' + +The Guardsmen came thronging round while this man of the Royal Irish +Rifles told about his chum They listened with tears in their eyes; they +listened to tell the story again to others. And so the good news that +Christ can save upon the battle-field is sent flying through the British +army. + +'Were you in that night attack at Ladysmith?' asked one turning to +another. 'Yes, I was there.' 'Did you see Lieutenant Fergusson when he +fell?' 'Yes, I was close to him. I went up to him and said, "Are you +much hurt, sir? Can I take you in?" "No thank you, my lad; I'm done +for," replied the dying officer. "Take some fellow you can save.'" And +so he, too, died like a hero. + +The officer inside the besieged town and the private soldier outside +attempting to save him--are one in this, that they know how to die; and +England calls each 'hero'! + +And so through blood and fire, over heaps of slain, General Sir Redvers +Duller passed into Ladysmith--passed in just in time; passed in to see +men with wan cheeks and sunken eyes--an army of skeletons; but passed in +to find the old flag still flying. + +[Illustration: AMBULANCE WORK ON THE FIELD.] + + + + +Chapter XV + +LADYSMITH + + +The defence of Ladysmith by Sir George White and his heroic band of +soldiers will rank as one of the finest feats in British history. It is +not for us to tell the story of the siege. Historians of the war will do +that. We need only remind our readers that from October 30, 1899, when +the bombardment began, to February 28, 1900, when General Buller's +advance guard marched into the town, our troops were closely +besieged--besieged so closely that the Boers thought there was no +possible chance of relief. 'Ladysmith will never be relieved,' said a +Boer to one of our chaplains. 'No troops in the world will ever be able +to get through Colenso to Ladysmith. It is absolutely impregnable.' But +they did, and one hardly knows which to admire most the dogged +persistence of General Buller and his men or the heroic defence, the +patient, confident waiting of the beleaguered troops. + + +='Thank God, We have Kept the Flag Flying.'= + +It is, however, with the Ladysmith garrison we are concerned at the +present time. These men had but little of the excitement of battle to +stir their nerves and inspire them for fresh efforts. They had to fight +the sterner fight,--the fight with disease and famine. They watched +their comrades sicken and die--not one at a time, but by scores and +hundreds--but they held on and held out for Queen and country. + + 'While ever upon the topmost roof + Our banner of England blew.' + +'Thank God, we have kept the flag flying!' said Sir George White, when +at last deliverance came. The words will become historic, and fathers +will tell their sons for long centuries to come how in Ladysmith, as at +Lucknow, English soldiers preferred rather to die than to surrender; and +how, surrounded as they were, they, for old England's sake, kept the +flag flying. + +It remains for us to tell the story of Christian work in connection with +the siege, and through all the darkness of those terrible four months +such work runs as a golden thread of light. + + +=Christian Workers in Ladysmith.= + +There were in Ladysmith when the siege began three Church of England +chaplains and one acting chaplain, viz.: Rev. E.G.F. Macpherson (senior +chaplain), at first attached to the Divisional troops; Rev. A.V.C. +Hordern, attached to the Cavalry Brigade; Rev. J.G.W. Tuckey, attached +to the 7th Brigade; and the Rev. D. McVarish (acting chaplain), attached +to the 8th Brigade. In addition to these there were Archdeacon +Barker, of the local civilian church, and the Rev. G. Pennington, a +local clergyman attached as acting chaplain to the Colonial Volunteers. + +[Illustration: REV. A.V.C. HORDERN. + +(From a photograph by Knight, Newport, I.W.)] + +The Presbyterians had one chaplain, viz., the Rev. Thomas Murray, of the +Free Church of Scotland, and one acting chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Thompson. + +The Wesleyan Methodists had one acting chaplain, the Rev. Owen Spencer +Watkins, who had but a short time before returned from the Soudan, where +he had accompanied the troops to Omdurman. There were also in the town +the Rev. S. Barrett Cawood, the local Wesleyan missionary, and the Rev. +S.H. Hardy, of Johannesburg, who happened to be on a visit to the town, +and who, though without official position, rendered yeoman service +throughout the siege. + +In addition to these chaplains there were two or three Army Scripture +Readers. + + +=Every Man Hit except the Chaplain.= + +Most of these chaplains had already received their baptism of fire. At +Reitfontein Messrs. Macpherson and Hordern had found themselves in a +particularly warm corner. Some fifteen men of the Gloucesters, with an +officer, were in a donga which provided hardly any cover, and the two +chaplains going out to the Field Hospital had perforce to share with +their comrades the dangers of the terrible position. The Boers were +firing at them with awful precision, and when the Liverpools--all +unconscious that a handful of English were seeking cover in the +donga--commenced to fire at the Boers, it made retreat for the +dauntless fifteen impossible. They had unwillingly to remain where they +were until the Boers were put out of action by the Liverpools. When at +last the firing ceased, it was found that nearly every man of that +unlucky fifteen was hit, with the exception of the chaplains, who came +out unscathed. + +This was an experience that perhaps would have been enough for most men, +but chaplains, like private soldiers, have to get used to bullets flying +around them. It is no use preaching religion to the men, if the chaplain +is not able to show by his own coolness in the hour of danger that he is +fit for something else than preaching, that he is ready to share the +men's dangers and privations, and that he too can set an example of +courage. + +Mr. Watkins had received his baptism of fire in the Soudan, and, like +the rest, did not fear the sharp ping, followed by the dull thud, of the +Mauser, or the deeper swish of the Martini. No one got used to shells. +They ever continued a terror, and when the whistle sounded, giving +warning that the wisp of smoke had been seen coming from one of the Boer +Long Toms, and intimating that in some twenty-eight seconds the dreaded +shell would burst above them, it was astonishing how fast and how far +even the oldest and the stoutest could travel in search of cover. + + +=Personal Dangers Met by Chaplains on Duty in the Field.= + +One or two short stories may put into clearer perspective the personal +danger of our chaplains on the field. Messrs. Hordern and Tuckey were +both with their men in the Lombard's Kop fight. Mr. Hordern was attached +to the Field Hospital, which was sheltering from the shot and shell +under the shadow of a huge hill. By-and-by came the order for the +hospital to retire. It was about a mile and a quarter from Ladysmith, +and there were no sheltering hills. The Red Cross was distinctly marked +on the ambulance wagons, and the Indian dhooli-bearers must have been +clearly seen; but as soon as the hospital emerged from the cover of the +hill a Boer gun opened fire upon it, and very soon shell was falling +upon all sides. With Mr. Hordern was the Rev. S.H. Hardy, and both of +them were exposed to the full fire of the enemy. Mr. Hordern, thinking +there might possibly be a safer place than the very centre of the +cavalcade, spurred his horse forward, and the moment after a shell burst +on the very spot where he had been. + +On another occasion Mr. Owen Watkins was out with the Field Hospital, +and he and the doctor dismounted in order, if possible, to bring in some +wounded from under fire. They had just accomplished this self-imposed +mission when a shot, coming a little too near, disturbed Mr. Watkins' +horse, which bolted. In trying to find it he lost sight of the hospital, +which had moved away, and found himself in desperate plight. Neither +horse nor hospital to be seen, and a mile and a half of open country +between him and safety. The Boers' bullets were falling around him, and +there was nothing for it but to run, and amid a perfect hail of bullets +he fled in the direction of Ladysmith. That run seemed the longest in +his life, but unscathed he came through it, and found another hospital +wagon full of wounded, returning to the town. Into it he got, and other +horrors of war were at once before him. He had no time to think of his +own near escape from death, for there was a dying lad upon his knee. +Another was leaning his head on his shoulder, and his hands were busy +passing water or brandy to the wounded or dying. + +Through such experiences our chaplains go, and go gladly, for Him who is +at once their Saviour and their King. Not much is heard of their work, +not often are they mentioned in despatches; only one of them has ever +received the Victoria Cross, but most of them are heroes, and deserve +well of the country that gave them birth. It is sufficient for them that +they receive the praise of God, and there can be no higher reward for +them than the Master's 'Well done.' + + +=Services in Ladysmith.= + +Parade services in Ladysmith were difficult to hold. They were, however, +held as regularly as possible. The chaplain would mount his horse about +4.45 a.m., and ride off to some distant post. For a quarter of an +hour he would pray with and talk to the men, and then ride to another +service at some further post. And so in the early morning he would +conduct three or four different parades. 'Often,' says Mr. Hordern, +'they used to hold them in the trenches, so as to be out of reach of the +Boer guns. All the men had their rifles, ready to rush to their posts at +a moment's notice. Every Sunday there was a celebration of the Holy +Sacrament in the open air, and I shall never forget the sight--the +officers and men kneeling together, just leaving their rifles as they +came up to communicate, and going back to their posts immediately +afterwards. The Boers pretended never to fight on Sundays, but they +could never trust them. One day they dropped eight shells into one of +his cavalry parade services which was assembling. Although the Boers +pretended to keep Sunday and not fire, yet some Monday mornings a new +gun would open on them that was not in its position on the Saturday. +That was one way of keeping Sunday.[16] + +[Illustration: ONE OF THE LADYSMITH HOSPITALS.] + +The English church was open for worship all through the siege. It was +the only church not used as a hospital; but its windows being small and +its roof low, it would not have made an ideal hospital, and it did +splendid duty as a church. The other churches--the Wesleyan, +Presbyterian, and Dutch Reformed--were gladly surrendered for hospital +purposes, for there was all too little hospital accommodation, and all +too great a need. + +For the most part the chaplains spent their Sunday mornings in visiting +their men, going from regiment to regiment, and speaking a word for +Christ wherever possible. + +As the months passed, and the Boer attentions became more personal and +incessant, the troops at the front had to leave their huts or tents and +sleep in the open, and everywhere tents, if used at night, were folded +up by day, and the troops were left absolutely without cover through the +terrible heat, except such as they could find behind rock, or bush, or +tree. + +[Footnote 16: Burnley _Express_, May 5, 1900.] + + +=Disease in Ladysmith.= + +And then came disease! Ladysmith had been singularly free from enteric +before the war. The scourge of South Africa had passed it by. But it +follows an army like an angel of destruction. For weeks its broad wings +hovered above our troops, and then with fell swoop it descended. + +Intombi Hospital Camp was formed right under the shadow of Mount +Bulwane, and by an arrangement with the Boers one train per day to +Ladysmith and back was allowed to run. It began with 250 patients, and +at one time had as many as 1,900. The formation of the camp meant to +some extent a division of Christian work. Messrs. Macpherson, Thompson, +Owen S. Watkins, Cawood, and Hardy, together with Father Ford, remained +in the town and camp. Messrs. Hordern, Tuckey, Pennington, and Murray, +together with Father O'Donnell, the Roman Catholic chaplain, went to +Intombi. Later on, when the hospital became so crowded that it was +impossible for the enfeebled staff of chaplains to cope with the work, +Mr. Macpherson joined them. + +It is impossible to speak too highly of the heroism of these Intombi +chaplains. At first it is hard for most men to face shot and shell, but +there is always a thrill of excitement with it, and there is a strange +fascination in danger of this kind, which has a weird charm all its own. +But to face death in a great hospital camp such as this! To be all day +and half the night visiting the sick and dying where there are no +comforts, very little food, and the medicine has run short; to see that +hospital steadily grow,--men on the bed-cots, men lying between them; to +watch men struggling in the agonies of the disease, with dying men close +beside them; to have to step over one prostrate figure to get to the +side of some dying man and whisper words of comfort and prayer, while +shrieks of agony come from either side; to feel weary, becoming +gradually weaker through want of food, to know that ere long one's own +turn would come, and the inexorable disease would claim its victim; to +go through the same daily round of loathsome duty, and find in it one's +highest privilege; to endure, to suffer, to dare, to sympathise, to +soothe, to help; evening by evening to listen to the last requests of +dying men, and morning by morning to lay them in their hastily dug +graves--all this requires heroism compared with which the heroism of +battle pales into insignificance. We do not wonder that the Intombi +chaplains were mentioned in despatches, and that the love of the +soldier goes out to these devoted men. + +As Mr. Watkins felt it his duty to remain in Ladysmith Town with his +men, Mr. Murray had charge of the Wesleyans in Intombi, as well as of +the Presbyterians. But, as a matter of fact, in face of such stern +realities as disease and death, all names and sects were forgotten. The +chaplains were all brethren, the men were all human beings for whom +Christ died, and each did his best for all. Open-air parade services +were tried for the convalescents, but it soon became impossible to hold +them. The chaplains went round the marquees and prayed with and talked +to the men. The Church of England chaplains had Holy Communion every +Sunday morning, and for one month, until sickness prevented, there was +daily Communion. + +By-and-by the list of dangerous cases became so large that it was +impossible to go round in one visit. Enfeebled by work and want, the +chaplains struggled from bed to bed, until often they were too weak to +finish their task. Their only relief was to get an occasional run into +Ladysmith, and to that they looked forward as a haven of rest. What +mattered if shells did fly about!--they had an occasional stray bullet +at Intombi too--and shells, much as they were dreaded, were better than +enteric. + +It was during one of these occasional breaks that the four Church of +England chaplains were having lunch at the Ladysmith Hotel, when a shell +burst right in the hotel itself. They were covered with dust, but +that was all. Not so easily, however, did they escape disease. One after +the other at Intombi failed. Mr. Hordern was down with dysentery for +between five and six weeks, Mr. Macpherson eight weeks, Mr. Tuckey had +Natal fever for three weeks, and all of them were left very enfeebled. + +[Illustration: REV. THOMAS MURRAY. + +(By permission of Mr. M. Jacolette, of Dover.)] + + +=Mr. Murray's Description of the Fight with Enteric Fever.= + +Mr. Murray, of the Scotch Free Church, bravely struggled on. At one time +he was left single-handed. The admiration of the other chaplains for +this man was great indeed. He seemed to lead a charmed life, and though +he rapidly aged during the siege, he never gave up. He was overworked +and half-starved, but he always had a cheery word for every one. He +tells the story himself with characteristic modesty in _The Church of +Scotland Home and Foreign Mission Record_. Let us listen to him:-- + + 'Very soon enteric fever and dysentery appeared among the troops, + and the daily morning train from Ladysmith brought ever fresh + batches of patients. The hospital camp grew rapidly. The maximum + number was nearly 1,900, but for many weeks the daily average was + 1,700. Unhappily, of the four Church of England chaplains, two were + at an early stage laid aside by sickness, and for more than _five + weeks_ the whole of the work fell to one Church of England chaplain + and myself. We worked hand in hand. It was not a question of + "religion," but wherever spiritual help was needed, there one of us + was found. Our first work each day was the burial of the dead. + Daily, for three long months, _all of us_ might be seen heading the + dismal procession of six, or ten, or fifteen, and on one occasion + of nineteen dead, whom we were conducting to their last + resting-place. That duty over, the remainder of the day was busily + employed in ministering to the sick and dying in the numerous + hospital marquees. On Sunday we did what we could to hold services + in these marquees, but it was impossible on any one day to overtake + all. There was, however, each Sunday afternoon an open-air service + at which convalescent patients could be present. + + +=Work Among the Refugees.= + + 'Besides the work I have just described, I had another piece of + work unexpectedly cut out for me, which was full of interest and + rich in good fruits. + + 'Close by our hospital camps was a civilian camp, where dwelt in + tents or in rude shanties several hundreds of refugees. There were + well-to-do farmers and their families, driven from their homes in + Upper Natal; railway people, station-masters, guards, clerks, etc.; + miners from Glencoe and Dundee; and not a few people from Ladysmith + itself. The greater number of these were Scotch, and it was natural + that I should take spiritual charge of them, for they were out in + the wilderness, sheep without a shepherd. Every Sunday morning at + ten o'clock, and Sunday evening at seven o'clock, I held an + open-air service for them, the convalescent from the military camps + attending likewise. It was a sight I shall never forget, to see + these homeless ones sitting round me on the veldt, listening to the + preaching of the Gospel, making welcome, as perhaps some of them + had never done before, the precious promises of divine consolation + of which their souls stood so much in need. Many were devout and + earnest Christian men and women, and the weekly fellowship, in song + and supplication, with God and with one another, did much, I do not + doubt, to enable them to endure the tribulations which were their + appointed lot. + + 'So, amid these many labours, the months flee past. You know the + story of the several attempts to relieve us. Away over the hills, + on December 15, we heard the fierce roll of the artillery, and our + hopes beat high. But the ominous silence of the next few days + prepared us for the mournful tidings that that attempt had failed. + Then came January 6, and the determined assault by the Boers on + Ladysmith. It began before dawn close by our camp, and all day long + we watched the struggle, as it swayed this way and that, like the + waves of the sea, till at last British valour gained the day. But + much precious life was lost. + + 'After that, on January 20, the hills once more re-echoed the roar + of distant artillery. This was the attempt at Spion Kop and + Potgieter's Drift. After days of uncertainty, we learned that our + relief was not yet. + + 'At last in the early weeks of February began the final and heroic + effort of General Sir Redvers Buller's forces. Day and night the + firing ceased not, and we rejoiced to mark that it came nearer and + nearer. Suddenly the enemy's forces melted away, all in a night, as + once before, long since, around Samaria. + + 'On Wednesday evening, February 28, we descried a small body of + horsemen coming through a gap in the hills, as it were a little + stream trickling down the mountain side. We looked in amazement. + The British guns were silent. It could be no foe. Suddenly a loud + British cheer burst from the advancing troop, and we knew our + relief was accomplished. It was Lord Dundonald's advanced patrol. + Next day, March 1, General Buller and his staff rode in. + + 'I have only to add that, by the good hand of God upon me, I have + been preserved all through from sickness and disease.' + +Of all things the men dreaded enteric. 'My lad,' said Mr. Hordern to one +of the men who had just come into hospital, 'have you got enteric +fever?' + +'No, sir,' was the reply; 'I am _only_ wounded.' + +They have come back now, hundreds of them, and as we interview them, one +and all declare in their own terse language, 'We would rather have three +or four hits than one enteric.' + + +=Testimonies to the Reality of Christian Work.= + +But all this time Christian work in the town and camp had been going +steadily forward. On Sunday as many services as possible were held, and +night by night Christian soldiers gathered together for prayer. There +was a spirit of inquiry about spiritual things. Death was very near, and +in its immediate presence the men felt the importance of decision for +Christ. Letter after letter tells of conversions at the soldiers' simple +services. + +Staff-Quarter-Master-Sergeant Luchford, for instance, writes a letter +which is a sample of scores of others:--'On Tuesday last I managed to +get the brethren together for a fellowship meeting, and a very blessed +and helpful time we had, as each told out of the fulness of his heart +how great things the Lord had done for his soul. Last Sunday we also got +together for an hour and pleaded with God for an outpouring of His +Spirit upon the congregation assembled for the service. One young fellow +of the R.A. was very deeply impressed, and I trust that the next news I +hear is that he has surrendered to the conquering power of the Holy +Spirit.' + + +=Stirring Events Related by Mr. Watkins.= + +In the camp with his men Mr. Watkins was having stirring times. His was +the excitement and dash, and when there was any fighting, he was sure to +be near. He narrates some strange experiences in the Methodist papers. +We venture to quote one or two paragraphs from the _Methodist Recorder_. + + 'On December 7, there was a brilliant attack by the British on Gun + Hill, where three of the Boer guns were captured. This brilliant + attack was made by Colonial volunteers, led by Sir Archibald + Hunter, and was entirely successful. The next morning there was a + further attempt by the cavalry to cut the telegraph wires and tear + up the railway which brought the Boers' supplies. This, however, + was not so successful. The Boers were ready for our men, and they + suffered severely. Then came the chaplain's opportunity. + + 'Hearing that there were wounded still lying on the field, I + hastened off to see if I could be of any use, and had not gone far + before I met a young medical officer, who had galloped in under a + heavy fire. He told me that out in the open Captain Hardy (Medical + Officer of the 18th Hussars) was lying in a hole with a severely + wounded man, whom he could not get in because the firing was so + hot. So, having with me a Red Cross flag, we turned our horses' + heads and rode out to their assistance. For the first few seconds + the bullets flew fast around us, but as soon as our flag was seen + the firing ceased, we released our friends from their uncomfortable + predicament, and sent back the wounded man in a dhooli. + + 'We were then met by two armed burghers carrying a white flag, who + told us of yet other wounded lying in their lines, and offered to + guide us to them. Under their care we penetrated right behind the + firing line of the enemy, who were holding the ridge now between + us and the town, and firing heavily. Here we found two of our + gallant fellows dead--shot through the head--and several wounded + men, and it was not long before the dhoolis we had brought with us + were full. The burghers had shown every kindness to the wounded; + each man had been provided with food and drink, and nothing could + exceed the courtesy shown towards ourselves by these men, who were + in the very act of firing on our comrades. A queer thing, war! + + 'Having started the dhooli-bearers with their heavy loads on their + way to town, Captain Hardy and myself continued our search along + the ridge for wounded and dead, but were thankful to find there + were no more. Once again we turned our faces to beleaguered + Ladysmith, having collected, in all, two killed and fifteen wounded + men, many of them badly hurt, poor fellows. + + 'The two following days were unusually quiet, and on the Sunday I + was enabled to hold four services, which were very well attended, + and to us all seasons of rich blessing. But on Sunday night the + Rifle Brigade made an attack upon Surprise Hill, capturing a gun + that for weeks past had been worrying us considerably, and blowing + it into fragments in the air. The attack was well planned, and + would have resulted in very small loss to us, only in blowing up + the gun the first fuse used proved defective, and another train had + to be laid, thus causing a delay of over ten valuable minutes. The + result was that the Boers had time to turn out in force from a + neighbouring laager, and were waiting to receive our men as they + came down the hill. Then ensued a scene of indescribable + confusion; in the darkness it was impossible to distinguish friend + from foe, and the shouts of our men were answered in English by the + enemy, thus making the confusion a hundred times worse. One who was + present told me that it was the most terrible experience of his + life. They came down the hill between a lane of blazing rifles, + sometimes the flash not being more than five yards from them. Few + ever expected to get out alive, but the men behaved splendidly, + charging with the bayonet again and again, and when at last the + foot of the hill was reached asking their Colonel (Lieut.-Colonel + Metcalfe) for permission to charge again. + + +=Within the Boer Lines.= + + 'Of course, as soon as it was light the doctors of the Bearer + Company, with dhoolies, were out to seek amongst the rocks for the + wounded and the slain, and it was not long before I was on my way + to join them. But on reaching our outpost on Observation Hill I was + told that the Boers were so infuriated at the loss of another gun + that they had taken the doctors prisoners and were going to send + them to Pretoria. But just at that moment a native came in with a + note from the senior medical officer, asking that surgical + necessaries be sent at once, for many of the wounded were seriously + hurt. After much parley through the telephone with head-quarters, + it was at last decided that the things be sent at once, and if I + were willing that I should be the bearer, for the Boers were + more likely to respect "the cloth" than anything else; also by + previous visits I had become known to many of the burghers. So + forthwith I started upon what many said was my way to Pretoria, and + on reaching the enemy, truth to say, it looked very much like it. + They were furiously angry, and I was made to join the little group + of doctors, bearers and wounded, who, under a strong guard, were + sitting and lying under the shade of a tree. + +[Illustration: AMBULANCE WAGONS ON THEIR WAY TO THE FIELD.] + + 'But before very long we were at liberty again. A flag of truce had + been sent out by General White, expostulating with the Boer + general, and resulted in the general in question--General + Erasmus--galloping up to tell us we were at liberty to continue our + work, only we must be as quick about it as possible. Fifty-one + wounded men we found, three of them officers, and nine killed, of + whom one was an officer. At the foot of the hill that they had won + we buried them, marking the place where they lay with stones heaped + over the grave in the form of a cross. Then we wearily returned to + camp, for by then the day was far spent, and we had had nothing to + eat since dawn. That night I was again called to perform the sad + ceremony of burial. Four men had died of their wounds during the + day, and in darkness it had to be done, for the cemetery is within + reach of the enemy's guns, and we feared to show a light, lest it + should "draw fire." So I recited as much of the Burial Service as I + could remember, and offered an extemporary prayer. It was a strange + experience thus to bury our comrades by stealth; but, alas! during + these latter days it has ceased to seem strange, because of its + frequency.' + + +=Work in Ladysmith Town.= + +Meanwhile in the town, and sometimes with the soldiers in the fight, Mr. +Cawood and Mr. Hardy were rendering splendid service. Mr. Cawood kept in +good health throughout, but when, on the relief of Ladysmith, the +President of the South African Conference (Rev. W. Wynne) visited the +town, he reported that Mr. Cawood looked ten years older. No wonder that +such was the case, for he was in labours more abundant, and nothing was +too mean or trivial for him to perform. Such was also the case with Mr. +Hardy. He did not seem to know fear. Brave when the bullets fell thick, +he was just as brave in the midst of the strain of hospital work. He was +but a visitor in the town, and had no official connection with either +troops or civilian church. But he turned his hand to anything, and when +the hospitals were crowded and workers were few, he actually had himself +appointed a hospital orderly, and performed the meanest and most +loathsome duties of the hospital nurse. He kept in good health to the +last, and then almost every disease seemed to come upon him at once. For +long he lay in the agonies of enteric fever, and almost lost his life. +But he counted that not too great a gift for his Master and his country. +We honour them both--the old veteran and the young missionary. In fact, +where all were brave and devoted, it is invidious to pick out one or +two of these devoted men for special mention. Each in his own special +sphere tried bravely to do his duty. Meanwhile the town was becoming +full of enteric cases, for Intombi camp had no further accommodation, +and only the most serious cases could be sent there. The churches were +then, as already intimated, utilised as hospitals, and it was in them +that the chaplains left in Ladysmith and with the soldiers performed +their ministry of love. Most of these buildings at some time or other +felt the force of the Boer shells, and the native minister's house by +the side of the Wesleyan church was shattered. He, poor fellow, lost +both wife and child during the siege, and himself was laid low by +enteric fever. + + +=Terrible Scenes at Intombi Hospital.= + +But let us return to Intombi. Slowly the average number of cases was +increasing. Daily at 9.30 the mournful procession passed to the +cemetery. That cemetery contained at last about seven hundred bodies. +Every grave was marked and numbered. Mr. Hordern began this work, but +when his health failed, Mr. Murray continued and completed it. So that +there is a strict record left of every one lying there, and any one +wishing to erect a tombstone can do so. Such service as this was +thoughtful indeed, and friends at home will greatly appreciate it. + +For three weeks at Intombi they were on quarter rations. Then, as +Buller's guns were heard in the distance, they were allowed half +rations; but on Ash Wednesday morning, the morning of relief, they were +reduced to quarter rations again. What this meant who can tell? How +could they resist disease? There are horrors over which we throw a veil. +Sufficient that they were necessary horrors--that they could not be +prevented. But only the doctors and the chaplains know what our men +passed through in Intombi camp. But no one complained--that was the +wonder of it. 'Oh! sir, when do you think Buller will get through?' was +the nearest to complaint ever heard. They suffered and they died, but +they murmured not. + + +='The Way He was Absent-minded was that He Forgot Himself!'= + +Listen to what Mr. Hordern has to say about it:-- + + 'Every morning they had the awful procession of dead carried down + to the cemetery, each man sewn up in his own blanket, and + reverently buried, each man having done his duty and laid down his + life for his Queen and country. And the brave old Tommy Atkins was + called "an absent-minded beggar," a fine title itself, though it + referred to him in the wrong way. He was not absent-minded, for he + had a warm corner in his heart for those at home. The way he was + absent-minded, was that _he forgot himself_. I knew one man who had + two or three letters from home, which he carried about in his + pocket, and although he longed to read them again, he dare not do + so because, he said, he should break down if he did. The boys + never forgot their homes. There was one dead soldier, a poor lad of + the Irish Fusiliers, who was shot through the body, and afterwards + in searching his clothes they found a letter ready written and + addressed to his mother. He hadn't a chance of posting it. _He_ was + not an absent-minded beggar. _He_ didn't forget to write to his + mother. When they pulled his letter from his pocket, it was + impossible to post it, as it was covered with his blood. I + re-addressed it and sent it off to the dead soldier's mother.' + +There was another story which showed the forgetfulness of the soldier +for himself. That happened in the relieving column. An officer was badly +wounded. It was dusk, and our troops had to retire down the kopje under +cover, though next day they took it. When they retired that night, the +wounded officer could not be moved, and so four men refused to leave +him. They remained with him all night without food or water, in order to +protect him from the bullets which were flying about--one lying at his +head, one at his feet, and one on either side. Those were absent-minded +beggars--_absent-minded for themselves_! + +Mr. Hordern was talking to a starved wreck of a man one day, and he +asked him what was the first thing he wanted when the relief came +through. He expected to hear him say food of some sort. But no; this +absent-minded beggar said, 'The first thing, sir, medical comforts for +the sick.' He then asked him what was the next thing he should like. He +thought he would say food _this_ time; but no, his reply was, 'The +English mail.' He then asked what would he like after that, and the +soldier replied that he would then have his food.[17] + +Of such stuff were British soldiers made in Ladysmith, and of such stuff +are they, with all their faults, the wide world over! + +[Footnote 17: Burnley _Express_, May 5, 1900.] + + +=Lads, We are Going to be Relieved To-day.'= + +But the time of deliverance was drawing near. Hope deferred had made the +heart sick. Time after time had Buller's guns seemed to be drawing +nearer, and time after time had the sound grown faint in the distance. +They were on quarter rations again, and that meant that Colonel Ward, +careful man as he was, had feared a longer delay. One of the +chaplains--he has told the writer the story himself, but prefers that +his name be not mentioned--was lying on his back in his tent at Intombi, +reading the morning service to those gathered round. He was weak from +disease and starvation, and it was no easy task to stand or walk. As he +read the Psalm for the day (Ash Wednesday, Psalm vi.), it seemed to him +a very message from God. His eye caught the tenth verse, 'All mine +enemies shall be confounded and sore vexed: they shall be turned back, +and put to shame suddenly.' He read it again and again. Surely God was +speaking to him through His Word. 'Turned back,' he said to himself; +'ashamed _suddenly_.' It seemed as though it was a personal +illumination from God. He rose to his feet, and going into the tent +which contained the worst cases, he said, 'Lads, I've come to tell you +we are going to be relieved to-day or if not to-day, at any rate very +soon--_suddenly_. Listen, lads; this is my message from God.' And he +read them the passage. Every face brightened as he read, and his own was +doubtless lit up with a light from another world. + +That night, as he was lying down worn out with fatigue and excitement, +he heard a British cheer, and everybody rushed out to inquire what it +meant. There in the far distance a column of mounted troops, were slowly +marching along. Who were they--British? 'No,' said one of the soldiers; +'they are marching too regularly for that.' 'Boers?' 'No,' said another; +'they are marching too regularly for Boers.' 'Who can they be?' 'I +know,' said a third; they are Colonials.' He was right. 'But wait a +minute,' said another; 'let us see if Caesar's Camp fires upon them.' But +no, Caesar's Camp kept on pounding away at Mount Bulwane as it had done +for months, only with more energy than usual. And then cheer upon cheer +broke from these poor emaciated wrecks in Intombi. Hand clasped hand, +and tears rained down all faces. + +Back into the marquee into which he had been the morning rushed the +chaplain. 'Lads, I told you this morning! "_Suddenly_," lads, +"_suddenly_," they were to be turned back "_suddenly_." It is true; my +message was from God. Buller is here!' And then the dying roused +themselves and lived, and voices were uplifted in loud thanksgiving. + +And so Lord Dundonald's Colonial troops marched into the town, to be +greeted as surely men were never greeted before; to be hailed as +saviours, as life-givers, as heroes. Watch them. They have only +twenty-four hours' rations with them, and they have had a hard, rough +time themselves, but they give it all away. How can they deny anything +to these living skeletons standing around! + +And what did it mean in Ladysmith? It meant this--at Intombi, at any +rate. When Buller's guns sounded nearer, the poor fever-stricken +patients brightened up, and roused themselves with a fresh effort for +life. When the sound of his firing receded into the distance, they just +lay back and died. His entry into Ladysmith was life from the dead. + + +'=It was Time He Came=.' + +It was time that he came. Food was at famine prices. Eggs sold at 48s. +per dozen, and one egg for 5s.; a 1/4-lb. tin of tobacco sold for 65s.; +chicken went for 17s. 6d. each; dripping, 1/4-lb. at 9s. 6d., and so on. +Chevril soup (horseflesh) became the greatest luxury, and was not at all +bad; while trek-oxen steak might be looked at and smelled, but to eat it +was almost impossible. One of the most pathetic, and at the same time +most comical, sights to be witnessed during the siege, was surely that +of one enthusiastic lover of the weed, who, unable to procure any of the +genuine article for himself, followed closely in the wake of an officer +in more fortunate circumstances, in order that at any rate he might get +the smell and have the precious smoke circle round his head. + +It was time, we say, for Buller to come. Relief came not a day too soon. +But a short time longer could the beleaguered men hold out. But he came +at last, and when next day he entered the town, bending low over his +saddle, worn out with his great exertions, the sight that met his gaze +was one never to be forgotten. These men whom he had known in the +greatness of their strength at Aldershot were little more than +skeletons, hardly able to show their appreciation of his splendid +efforts, so weak were they. + +'You should have seen the general _cry_,' said a group of men from +Ladysmith at the Cambridge Hospital the other day. It was their way of +putting the case. The apparently stolid, dogged, undemonstrative +Englishman broke down completely, as he gazed upon the sights around +him. And no wonder! He had come not a moment too soon. But he had come +in time. 'Thank God,' said Sir George White, 'we have kept the flag +flying!' + + +=A Story of Devotion.= + +One story of devotion more, and our tale of Ladysmith is at an end. +There was a certain much-loved chaplain shut up in Ladysmith, who +greatly enjoyed a smoke. In Buller's relief column there were men who +loved him well, and who knew his love for a pipe. When they left +Colenso, eleven of them each carried under his khaki tunic a +quarter-pound tin of tobacco for the chaplain. And then came all the +horrors of that terrible struggle to reach the beleaguered town, +culminating in the awful fight at Pieter's Hill. One after another, +vainly trying to keep their cherished possession, parted with it bit by +bit during those dreadful weeks; but one of them carried it all the +time, and never so much as touched it. When at last he reached +Ladysmith, he had to march right through to encamp several miles beyond +the town. But next day he got a permit and tramped back to Ladysmith, +found out his friend the chaplain, and handed over his treasure to him. +All black and grimy was that sacred tin of tobacco, black with the smoke +of battle, and dented by many a hard fight; but it was there--intact--an +offering of devotion, a holy thing, a pledge of love. That chaplain has +it still; he could not smoke it, it was far too precious for that. It +has become one of his household gods, to be kept for ever as a token of +a soldier's love. + +And now we say good-bye to our gallant Ladysmith garrison. We shall meet +many of them again on other fields. The siege proved that there was not +a man of them without a religious corner somewhere. Hundreds of them +turned to God with full purpose of heart; and to every one of them Old +England owes a debt of gratitude. As we say good-bye, we are reminded of +Tennyson's lines about the soldiers of Lucknow--lines just as true of +the men of Ladysmith as of them:-- + + 'Handful of men as we were, we were English in heart and in limb, + Strong with the strength of the race, to command, to obey, to endure; + Each of us fought as if hope for the garrison hung but on him; + + * * * * * + + And ever upon the topmost roof our banner of England blew.' + + + + +Chapter XVI + +'IN JESU'S KEEPING' + + +At the annual 'Roll Call Meeting,' held in Wesley Hall, Aldershot, in +January, 1900, we took as our 'Motto' for the next twelve months the +words of Bishop Bickersteth's beautiful hymn-- + + 'In Jesu's keeping we are safe, and they.' + +All of us had friends in South Africa. Most of us had relatives there; +and as we bowed in prayer together we thought of the famous prayer of +long ago: 'The Lord watch between me and thee when we are absent one +from another.' + +All the way through we have realized that there was a God of love +watching between us. All the way through we have been quite certain that +'in Jesu's keeping' they were safe. + +Some of them we shall never see again on earth, but they are still 'in +Jesu's keeping.' Some of them are still far away from us fighting for +their country. But they, too, are 'in Jesu's keeping,' and for them we +are not afraid. We said 'Good-bye' many months ago, but it meant 'God be +with you,' and our farewell prayer has been answered. _Here_ or _there_ +we expect to clasp hands with them again. + +And the comfort that has been ours in Old England has been theirs in +South Africa. They, too, have thought of loved ones far away. They, too, +have realized-- + + 'In Jesu's keeping we are safe, and they.' + +'The Soldier's Psalm' has been read and rejoiced in all through South +Africa. + + 'He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide + under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my + refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Thou shall not + be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by + day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the + destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy + side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come + nigh thee.... He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him. I will + be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With + long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation.' + +Chanted in many a service, repeated in the darkness on outpost duty, +remembered even amid the fury of the battle, this Soldiers' Psalm has +been to thousands a source of comfort and strength. + + * * * * * + +With its blessed words ringing in our ears we close this book. The war +is not yet over. Disease has not yet claimed all its victims. The +fateful bullet has not delivered its final message of death. But our +loved ones are 'in Jesu's keeping,' and we are content to leave them +there. With them and with us it may be 'Peace, perfect peace.' + + +Butler & Tanner. The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's From Aldershot to Pretoria, by W. E. 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