WITH THE THIRD CONTINGENT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9834, 6 August 1900, Page 7

WITH THE THIRD CONTINGENT.

Why The Men Joined The Police.

No Officers, Horses, Or

Clothes.

Trooper C. Golding, of Taradale, forwards, from Pretoria, a long and interesting account ot the Ihird Contingent's movements from the time of landing in South Africa till they reached their goal — Pretoria. Necessarily the letter covers some ground which has already been gone over by other correspondents, but much of it is fresh "I see by papers received from New Zealand," says Trooper Golding at the offset, "that the troopship Knight Templar got a terrible name from our coutingent, but it was a king's life to what we have had The people of East London treated us well, and we had a concert or dance to attend every night. Nothing would satisfy the people but a special "parade of the New Zealanders, and the reception accorded us reminded me of our departure irom Napier. People crowded the town everywhere and the streets were one mass of bunting. We were ordered to Biera, but the boat we were to travel by caught fire. We then received orders to proceed to Aliwal North." The writer tnen details the operations for the relief of Wepener, and the subsequent functioning of the several New Zealand Contingents.

He refers to several small engagements and proceeds :—" We thought we were getting a lot of fighting but until the 28th May we did not know what fighting was. On that day all went well till about 11 o'clock, when we got a hot reception from the Boers' big guns. The New Zealanders were acting as a guard over the artillery, so wa had to go to the front under hot shell fire to protect them, when they took up their positions we bad to advance under rifle fire from the Boers, who were securely placed under some rocks on the side of. a hill. The trouble was to find the Boers' positions, as there is no smoke from tke powder. They were firing at us from three sides, but our artillery soon found their positions and silenced the guns on the left. The ones in front and on the right could not be shifted until we got a " Pom-pom " on to them, when they retired up the hill. We got a chance, and we gave them a good send-off. We had a good many wounded, but not as many killed as we expected. Corporal Byrne, j of the First Contingent, was killed by a piece of shell, and Private Stubbs, of the second, died from the effects of a rifle bullet. Lieutenant Berry, who was suffering from a cold at the time, was holding his horse away in the rear, when the horse was shot through the neck. We had to hold the firing line all night, and what a night it was ! Nothing to eat, and a heavy frost. During the night our artillery retired and the Boers took up their front positions again. We were the only ones in the front line, and they opened fire ou us, which we returned, but the cover on both sides was too good for much harm to be done. At noon orders came for us to retire, and the big guns covered our retreat. We learnt afterwards that it was not iutended we should fight our way through to Johannesburg, but were only there to keep the Boers engaged, whilst Generals French and Hamilton, on the right and left, entered the town, a move which proved successful. Ido not know what we lost in our engagement, but it must have been heavy, officers who have been right through the saying war the shell fire was the smartest they have seen." Describing the advance on Pretoria Trooper Golding says :—" Our horses were very hard worked, and very few survivftd the march to Pretoria. Of the Hawke's Bay lot only two remained, all the rest dying on the road from starvatiou mostly. The average number dying here is 2000 a montbi It was nothing for our brigade alone to lose from 15 to 20 every day. My horse carried me till the day before we reached Pretoria, when he was looking very bad, so I took him away and shot him. I could not ride him in that state, and I would not leave him to starve. Only a hundred of the men comprising the Third Contingent took part in the entry into Pretoria, the rest being scattered along the route sick, and in the last move only about ten of us could secure mounts. Over a hundred New Zealanclers accepted the offer to join the police, and are cow in barracks. It was against Major Robin's wish, but what could we do ; we had no horses, officers, or clothes. Our Major left us at Kroonstad, and then our caplain was shot. Then came the sad news of Lieutenant's [name omitted—Ed. D.T.] death also the news of another lieutenant being down with fever. Under all the circumstances I don't think we were to blame for joining the police, and we are still serving the Queen. It is only for three months, though we can stop longer if we wish. I don't think there is any likelihood of the New Zealanders going home before that time, so we may all return together. "As for clothes we left Ea«t London jiut as we stood, without even a change. Our kit bags were packed ready to come on, but that was the last we saw of them. We arrived in Pretoria in rags and penniless ; we ha<i no pay day* while marching. . . Up to present (June 26) we have heard of six of our contingent dying of fever whilst one was killed in action, but there are a lot more down with fever. The average number of. deaths from that disease while we were in Bloemfontein was thirty daily. I really clo not know how long this war is goinc to last. You will know more about it than we do, for since we left East London we have heard no word of General Buller. The Boers are now moving to the north, -Jind will make their next stand at Lydenburg. I met Sandy Peddie here. He is in the police with us. He was taken prisoner by the Boers, and after his release went into hospital, but is now quite well again."