Relief march Lt.Grant

Lieutenant Grant 2nd Devonshire regiment recalls the official march through town.

“On the 3rd March 1900 the relieving army marched through the pale, exhausted ranks of the relieved. The bronzed sweating thousands passed through the army of shrunken ghosts in all but absolute silence more elegant than volleys of hurrahs. There was a subdued shout as the Devonshires and rifle Brigade swept through their brother ranks at four miles an hour glancing from side to side with a rough hail here and there as old pals caught each others eyes, but mostly to silence. Buller’s men were hurried through the town, tired, unfed, straining with the exertion with of an over-swift march, with little breath left for cheering and little time to see anything to cheer at. The infamous stage management of the thing rather aided than detracted from its unspeakable dramatatism.“