In the Ranks of the C.I.V.

rders to march-Sorrows of a spare driver-March to Stellenbosch-F

ent I have had to write in since last Tuesday. I am on pi

ast begun, civilian assistance dispensed with, and the Battery a self-sufficient unit. There was not even a crane to help us, and we spent the day in shoving, levering, and lifting on to trucks and waggons our guns, carriages, limbers, ammunition, and other stores, all packed as they were in huge wooden cases. It was splendid exercise as a change f

way, we had only lost four on the voyage-harnessed up some waggons to carry stores, and were ready. While waiting to start, some charming damsels in white muslin brought us grapes. At

halted at our allotted site, where we formed our lines and picketed our horses heel and head. Then the fun began, as t

e some bully-beef and bread, and then fell asleep anyhow, in a confused heap in ou

Kaffir drivers for our transport waggons. Then came our first parades and drills. Rough we were no doubt at first. The mobilization of a volunteer battery cannot be carried out in an

out new weapons (presented by the City of London), in the shape of four 12?-pounder Vickers-Maxim field guns, taking fixed ammunition, having practically no recoil, and with a much improve

nd N.C.O.'s were from the Regular Horse Artillery, and all ranks were animated by

-day sun, of "fatigues" of all sorts, when we harnessed ourselves in teams to things, or made and un-made mountains of ammunition boxes-a constant round of sultry work, temp

sub-division horses, an incorrigible kicker and outcast, having to be picketed on a peg outside the lines for his misdeeds. Many a kick did I get from him; and yet I always had a certain affection for him in all his troubled, unloved life, till the day when, nine months later, he trotted off to the re-mount depot at Pretoria, to vex some strange driver in a strange battery. My other horse, a dun, was soon taken as a sergeant's mount, and I had to take on an Argentine re-mount, a rough, stupid little

and using more than one plate. Once it was at the invitation of Amery of the Times, in the palatial splendour of the Mount Nelson Hotel, where I felt strangely incongruous in m

buck waggons, tents struck, and at twelve we were ready. Before starting Major McMicking addressed us, and said we were going to a disaffected district, and must be very careful. We took ou

last moment, various officers and N.C.O.'s laying the blame, first on me (of all people), and then on each other, but chiefly on me, because it was safest. Not having yet learnt the unquestioning attitude of a soldier, I felt a

the afternoon, formed our first regular marching camp, on a bit of green sward, which was a delicious contrast after Green Point Sand

nket and waterproof sheet, though it turned very cold about two with a h

Indian drivers in turbans and loose white linen. Half-way we watered our horses and had a fearful jostle with a Yeomanry corps (who were on the march with us

d harness cleaning, in an atmosphe

o days from

o be rebels, and the Yeomanry detachment (who are our escort) sent out patrols, who found nothing. To-day we are still awaiting orders, ready to start in half an hour, but they let us have a fine slack day, and we had a great bathe in the afternoon. Ostriches roam about this camp, eating empty soda-water bottles

and there are sixteen in mine, a frightful squash. Long bareback ride for the whole battery before breakfast; enjoyed it very much. Marching-order parade later. Argentine very troublesome: bites like a mad dog and kicks l

Piquetberg Road. Nobody knew where these places were, but we vaguely gathered that they were somewhere on the line of communications, which, rightly or wrongly, we thought very disappointing. For t

under the Major started about midnight on the

ge, one of a merry party of eight, sitting knee-deep in belts, haversacks, blankets, cloaks, and water-bottles.