PO Franklin Natal Naval Volunteers

PO FRANKLIN NNV DIARY

 

October 11^th 1899

Venerable Archdeacon barker in his sermon gave a seething denunciation of

the Transvaal Injustice and corruption. He said it was founded on the latter’s

ignorance, impurity and inhumanity. Would any other nation have fired on

the white flag as they did at Majuba when corporal Farmer gained the Victoria

Cross. Continuing he said that the enemy we were going to encounter would

give no quarter and we volunteers had been called on to assist in righting the

wrong and we would heroically for the Queen, their country and their God, the

God of battles. The country was proud of the response to the call to arms and

we would justify that pride and be valiant to maintain the glory and greatness

of the Empire to which we belonged. The Anthem was then sung with the

enthusiasm and three cheers were given for the Queen.

 

November 3^rd

….made for Caesars Camp. Got there 8 am assisting the horses on the road.

After dark came further over the hill with our equipment and joined 2 companies

of the Manchesters.

 

November 27^th

We erected a new 12 pounder gun, the pit was built by the Gordon’s but the pit

was not strong enough, therefore the gun has orders not to fire until strengthened.

 

November 28^th

….the next one just passed over our pit and struck the cook house and knocked it

down injuring our Indian cook and Gunner hatch, bursting some large stones some

five or six tons weight and gunner Hatch’s overcoat was blown to pieces.  Whilst

the fire is going on I have been cutting my name in the rock so that it will be seen

in years to come.