Lambert

The following is taken from “Golden Penny” by 2443 Pte Frederick Lambert ‘E’ Coy 2nd Battalion Devonshire regiment who were with the relief force. Needless to say the ‘fare’ in Ladysmith was somewhat different.

When Broughton, a colleague was buried, Lambert describes the burial as being “in the usual manner with his clothes on after ‘nicknacks’ and valuables had been extracted also memory tokens too. Our Officer read the service. He was taken on a stretcher to the grave

Daily inspection for feet, emergency rations, to ensure these had not been eaten, and condition of rifle.

Had one blanket and waterproof sheet between two men

Tents were 12 feet diameter and consist of a side wall 2 ft high and 22 pieces of canvas which taper to a point at top of a pole about 10 ft high allowing two for the door and this left one man to each sheet of canvas. The sheets taper from2 ft at the side wall to 2 inches near the pole. There were twenty men in one tent and it often leaked when it rained hard.

Lambert describes two men of ‘F’ company settling their grievances by fighting in the square. There would appear to be a general falling out over such things as one man having more space than another in the crowded tent or of stealing from each other.

Put Dubbin on boots and cleaned rifles. Mail was distributed.

Two pairs of merino drawers per man issued.

On one occasion there was a distribution of gifts from Devonshire. Had a plum pudding between the Section and such things as thread, buttons and needles. My tent drew lots for one handkerchief, one pair of socks, one muslin sheet, laces, writing paper, cigarettes, tape, scripture portions, religious tracts and books

Foster, a friend of Lamberts, had a parcel and he shared the cigarettes etc with the rest of the tent. Jones, shared his Xmas pudding and cake, whilst Mills left his tin of Shag (tobacco) open in the tent.

Food is mentioned in general throughout the diary and comprised the following:

Cheese and bread for break.

Tea at 5 o’clock was bread and jam and greasy hot tea.

Breakfast of bread and cheese. Fresh herrings for tea with bread and tea with no sugar. Bread cheese and water for supper.

Breakfast at 7 o’clock of bread and tinned bacon. Dinner at 12.30 of Beef and spuds.

Tinned bacon for tea, part of breakfast rations then some milk and golden syrup. After tea had a half pint of beer on payment.

Tea at 4.30 with Bully and onions. Made a stew of bully, biscuits, curry, onions and boiled it.

Tea at 6.30 of biscuits, marmalade and tea with condensed milk.

Had kippered herrings for tea and bread, cheese, hot tea and rum for supper.

Bought 6 biscuits st the Thorneycroft MI canteen for two shillings and cocoa for 2 shillings and five pence.

Christmas day 1900: Breakfast of Gunfire coffee, bread and blackcurrant jam. We were issued cigarettes, cigars and a piece of cake about 3 x 2 x 1 inches. We cut cards for the cigarettes and cigars, the highest 7 got cigars, the next highest the cigarettes and the remaining two the cake. Bread, sardines and tea for tea. About 7 we had an issue of a pint of beer. Boxing Day breakfast at 7 with bread, potted ham, chicken and bacon.

1900 had breakfast of bread, bacon dripping jam and potted ham.

Went to SALH canteen and bought milk, treacle, matches and tobacco.

One meal consisted of roast beef in tins (preserved by Cannon & co. of Liverpool) with raw onions and tea with no sugar. On opening the tin the meat was found to be off and it was thrown away and substituted with bully beef.

Describes having a tin of Maconochies Army Rations consisting of Boiled meat, potatoes, onions all cooked together.

Issue of 1 1/2 ounce of tobacco twist.

When Lambert was ill with stomach trouble he was given oil and opium with Quaker Oats but could not eat biscuits.

Lambert quotes what would appear to be their main meal as being 9 ounces biscuits, 8 ounces meat, and occasionally from 1 to 2 ounces onions and potatoes with half a pint of soup and 2 pints of tea and often no sugar; sometimes coffee in lieu of tea.