Sergeant HE Facer

EXTRACTS FROM A DIARY BY BAND SERGEANT H E FACER 1^ST DEVONSHIRE’S

 

OCTOBER:

21^ST: BATTLE OF ELANDSLAAGTE-….our casualties were 4 officers killed and 31 wounded; 37 rank & file killed & 175 wounded. Capt.Lafone, Lt. Hayley & Gunning of ours were wounded also 34 others.

24^th: BATTLE OF RIETFONTEIN-….the Gloucesters got into a hot corner and lost their Colonel & 50 men. Our regiment had 1 killed, Pte. Winsor, & 5 wounded.

30^th: BATTLE OF LADYSMITH-About 4am we moved out & marched to Limit Hill, about 2 miles, the Artillery were already in position(6 Batteries).We formed up 5^th Dragoon Guards, Rifle Brigade, Gordons, 1^st KRR’s on the right; Devons in the centre; Manchesters, 2^nd KRR’s, 5^th Lancers and ILH on the left.

 

DECEMBER:

6^TH: Shelling commenced at daybreak & one shell pitched near our regiment & killed 2 ILH & wounded 3 & Turner of ‘E’ Company.

8^th: Shelling all day. On our hill we had 2 killed, Humphries & Pruit.

21^st: A dummy battery was put up last night & it was amusing to see the Boers wasting considerable ammunition trying to put it out of action. Our regiment had 2 killed Brockett & Spiller wounded.

 

DECEMBER:

11^TH: ……Major Mulaney was wounded.

18^th: This evening we changed places with the Liverpools and are now nearer town.