Memories Junius Haslam

On making enquiries with Captain Bob Bonner at the Kings Regiment it would appear that there is no record of a Junius Haslam having ever served with the Manchester Regiment. Bob therefore assumes that this is “probably a soldier by the name of 5012 Johnson 1st Manchester Regiment”. Either way it does make interesting reading.

South Africa Nov. 1st 1899

My Dear Mother,

I am in Maritzburg again worst luck not with a bullet in me, but in Hospital with dysentery but God willing I hope to be able to take up my duties again and proceed up to Ladysmith in a week’s time. I have had no news from you since I left Gibraltar. I hope all are well. I suppose your letters, if you have written them, will come all at once. Everything is in disorder here including the Postal Service. I suppose you received my last letter from this place, when I told you I was in the mounted infantry and that we were going to march to Ladysmith instead of going by rail. We did so and it was on the way that I first felt the dysentery come on me. I suppose it was the wet weather we had on the way up. The first three days were alright we enjoyed riding through the country over the starry veldt and winding round the steep hills and through lovely valleys, pitching our tents early in the afternoon for we……………in short stages attending to our horses until the dinner was ready and then going to sleep under the bright Africa sky to wake up fresh and vigorous in the early dawn, strike tents and after breakfast away again.

This was all right the first three or four days until we got to a place called Mooi River, then it commenced to rain & kept it up. This changed the whole aspect of affairs riding wet through all day in the saddle to pitch tents on ground like a marsh at night. No means of drying our clothes and with one blanket to protect us from the cold.

When we arrived at Ladysmith I was forced to report sick, that was the day before the battle of (He later refers to the Nicholsons Nek disaster so this could well be the battle of Talana), the first one that was fought I mean. I was sent down with the wounded to here, where I hope I shall soon be able to go to my duty again.

 Nov. 2nd/99

You will have seen the sad news in the papers of our losses, our Regiment suffered severely, Perhaps by the time you get this the aspect of affairs will have changed somewhat. At present things look rather dark for us in Natal, it is high time for the Army Corps to arrive, that Corps which no one seems to know anything about except that it is coming.

It is reported that two of our Regiments have surrendered to the enemy, it is heartrending to think of it but when we get the details we will no doubt see that it was inevitable without sacrificing the lives of our men uselessly. God knows we have lost enough already which everyone here thinks could have been avoided. (this obviously refers to the Nicholson’s Nek affair where the Gloucesters and Irish Fusiliers surrendered when the mules stampeded-30th October 1899)

But enough of this, I am??? ??? ??? ??? expect to hear from him yet as communication is suspended between Mafeking and here but you may have a letter from him, write as soon as you can dear Mother, I don’t know exactly where I shall be, but you can address your letter to

No.5012 Pte. I Haslam

Mounted Infantry Coy.

Manchester Regiment

Ladysmith

Natal SA

That address will be sure to find me sometime that is if God in his mercy sees fit to spare me from the Boer bullett.

I feel a great deal better this morning & think a few days will see me all right. I don’t like the idea of being here surrounded by luxuries while my comrades are in the midst of hardship & drought. I sincerely trust that all are well at home. I was going to say that if you do not get this letter don’t be uneasy about me but it sounds rather Irish doesn’t it. Give my best love to all including yourself

From your affectionate son

Junius

PS. The Sisters nursing us here are kind to us, indeed everybody is kind, and people bring us flowers, books and papers of every kind. The Governor of natal was here the other day, he told me he had just had a letter from our Colonel who was feeling fit and well again, he was slightly wounded you know.

Give Milly (the grandmother of Paul Taylor) a kiss for me & tell her to remember in her prayers the poor men who are being wounded in the country, both Briton & Boer.

Yours Junius