27/11/2025
Walter Sabatini of Chesham and his lengthy memoirs of the Second Boer War, 1899.
I was stationed in Ireland when the Boer War broke out on the
12th October, 1899. My Regiment was then ordered to Aldershot, but we were badly delayed owing to a disease in the Regiment's horses, called pink eye, and we were not allowed to take our horses to England with us. But eventually we crossed over to Aldershot without them. That was a sore point - a Cavalry Regiment without a single horse!! But in a few days, horses began to arrive. Bus horses, cab horses, in fact, any horse, so long as it had a back to ride on. We had brought our saddles with us, so now we had a horse and saddle. The next thing was to knock them all into shape. What a job when you come to think of it, when it takes about nine months to teach a cavalry horse all his drills and paces, and we had only a few weeks to teach them their drills. One good point about them was that they had all been ridden. They were put on parade three times a day, so we gradually got them into shape. ABC Squadrons were the first to leave and they landed at Durban and were in the relief of Ladysmith. D Squadron left a fortnight later, the 15th December 1899.
I can still see the horses going up the ramp into the ship. They all had their blankets on as it was bitterly cold and snowing. In the boat it was much warmer. We left Southhampton in the afternoon. Little did I know that it would be ten years before I would see it again, with a wife and three children. On the boat we slept in hammocks slung across our dining tables. The food was very poor. The first three days we had fresh water to drink, after that it was condensed water. Even the horses did not take to it kindly. There was one fresh water tap in the alleyway for the officers, but a guard was put on it, night and day. But when it was our turn to mount guard over that tap we would wait until the officers were at mess in the evening, and we would just fill up our water bottles with fresh water. The horses had just standing room and could not lay down. They had to stand on their four legs, all the way, although they were well fed. They were given carrots every other day. These were in barrels packed in dry sand.
We called in at Las Palmas for coal, ci******es, ci**rs, bananas and oranges. They were half the price they were in England. Come Christmas day, my Squadron had clubbed together to buy beer, which was in the hold. But the officer in charge of the military would not let us bring it up unless we divided it with the other troops.
So it would have worked out about 1/8th of a pint to each man. We left it there until we arrived in Cape Town. We came into Cape Town Bay on the 9th January, my birthday, and dropped anchor there. We waited until Roberts, the Commander-in-Chief's boat put in. It had
taken his boat 14 days to do the journey, a record not beaten by the Union Castle company for the next 50 years. About two hours after his arrival our boat put into harbour, and we were soon unloading our horses. They were so stiff with swollen legs they could hardly walk, so we put on their saddles and walked them to Maitland camp, next to an old windmill. I believe that today a hospital has been built on the same ground. On arrival at the camping grounds, we soon put down our horse lines which consisted of a built up rope about 4 feet long. It has a loop one end and a wooden button the other end. Each horse carried one on his saddle. Then we took off their saddles, threw sand on their backs to make them lay down and roll, so they just lay there and ate the green grass all round them. That night we lay on our ground sheets - it was a beautiful moonlight night, I could see Table Mountain clear as I lay on my back, and I said to myself, what a difference it was from the cold snow and sleet in England, and I fell in love with the country, there and then.
And what is more, we had that barrel of beer that night, and it was good. After that it was tickey beer, which was not so good, but we had no other choice. The next day the horses were turned out to graze and roll to their hearts content. In a few days we were taking long journeys across the Cape flats, and in no time they were on their feet again. Towards the end of January, we had orders to go to De Aar. On arriving there by train, we pitched camp. We were only there a few days when we were ordered to cross the Orange River at Rama Drift. A pontoon went with us. On arrival at the drift we all gave a hand to get the pontoon to the River and rig up the overhead wire across the river so that the pontoon could cross the river both ways. Each trip two horses were taken across. It took two days to get all the horses across. We then camped at Rama farm. I would
like to point out that when we left De Aar, we left our Bell tents behind and did not see another for the next 18 months. We just lay down and slept in the veldt, rain or fine, until we returned from Barberton to Pretoria.
On the second night after crossing the river, General French's
troops from Colesburg came into our camp and the next morning at daybreak we moved off with them as part of their troops. From now on we belonged to General French's column and we knew what it was to go hungry and thirsty and weary. He would push his troops and horses to a standstill to gain a vantage and yet his men loved him and were proud to belong to his column. The following day we crossed the Beit River. There was very little water in it, the country was dry and dusty, and thirsty.
Several times during the day our field guns would open fire so as
to keep the Boers on the move. At last we arrived at the Modder River where we could give our horses water. But a lot were left behind, unable to keep up the pace. Here we waited for our transport to catch us up. Then on the morning of 15th February 1900, the advance started. The whole column seemed to come to life and moved off at the same time. The mounted troops created such a dust you nearly choked - it just stuck in your throat
and nostrils. Then the Boers opened up with a heavy fire. They were
firing at a long range, and most of the shells were spent and flapping behind the rear guard. That cloud of dust saved our troops. The Regiment of household Cavalry crossed the River in front of us. It consisted of 3 Squadrons, a Squadron of the Life Guards, a Squadron of the Horse Guard Blue, and a Squadron of the Scotch Greys. Their horses were dyed khaki. My Squadron was rear guard. All transport was left behind. It was now one mad rush. The advance troops soon cleared the ridge which the Boers were firing from. Now our troops were through their lines and from now on the fighting went to the right that made the rear guard to take up the left flank. From now on it was push on towards Kimberley. Late in the afternoon a lone rider came out from Kimberley on a white horse. Now the column began to slow down. The men and horses were dead beat, not a drop of water all day for the horses in that heat and dust. As we came through the coloured location, several of our horses dropped dead, exhausted and the coloured people just pulled them off the road and cut them up. That evening we camped at Du Toitspan, weary and tired, but next morning we were saddled up and waiting to move off before daybreak.
Next morning, we went North, alongside of the Railway. Here we pushed the Boers as far back as Macfarlane Station. We could go no farther, our horses were dead-beat, their tongues were hanging out with thirst so we returned to Kimberley. That evening was the first time I ate horse flesh and I did not relish my supper. But there was no rest for us. At about 9 p.m. the order came to saddle up, and in no time we were on the move again, but in another direction, south east. It was a full moon, that brought us back towards the Modder River. All at once the advance scouts started to fire, then we realised that Cronje was trying to break away from the River as our Infantry was closing in on him. From the South we cut him off and drove them back to the River.
We were living on one biscuit a day as we crossed the Modder River at Koedoesrand drift then on to Poplar Grove where the enemy was entrenched. We waited for the Infantry to come up so as to attack them from the front, while the Cavalry did a big sweeping circle.
But the enemy did not wait for the closing net, they had learnt their lesson. They retired that night in the dark. Then we pushed on to Bloemfontein, but at Driefontein we caught up with the enemy again. They were quite a strong force and entrenched, so once again we waited for our Infantry to come up. Then we went for their
right flank, and in no time on to Bloemfontein where we were able to get supplies and fresh horses to come up by rail and road.
From Bloemfontein we moved out towards ThabaNchu. We could see the mountain in the distance, but once again we caught up with the enemy. As we were crossing a small stream they opened up with a belt of Pom Poms. One caught our trumpeter in the chest and killed him. After that my Squadron rushed forward and occupied a rocky ridge, but the enemy were occupying both ends and we were caught between two cross fires, and the bullets were flying fast and singing a song as they struck the rocks. Those were the bullets that caused most of the casualties. I caught one - it cut through the tendons of my left foot. The bullet went through the two feet of the man that was firing alongside of me. He screamed with pain.
All at once our battery opened fire, they were off. Our troops followed them up immediately, but my fighting days were over for a few weeks. Then the ambulance men got busy, also two doctors. The badly wounded men first. When the doctor bound up my foot, he said that I was a lucky man as I would be fighting again in about three weeks. That night we slept alongside of our empty wagons, but next morning at daybreak we were on our way back to Bloemfontein where we were put in the Duke of Portlands Hospital, all under canvas. In no time the doctors and nurses got to work, cleaned the wounds and put on new dressings. The food in hospital was very good and a big change from Bully Beef and biscuits and jam. After three weeks in hospital I was moved to a Convalescent Camp.
As soon as we were dismissed, I took a walk to my Squadron and reported discharged from hospital for duty. A few days after we moved off up the Railway line, we had several little fights until we arrived at Kroonstad. Here we rested for a week, until supplies and the Infantry arrived. Then Lord Roberts took most of the Infantry Regiments up the Railway line, whilst General French's column took the Vrededorp Road. We crossed the Vaal River at Parys, on the 24th May. We were rearguard that day, and we crossed the River by the old drift. There was no wagon bridge that time of the day. It was midnight before we got all our wagons over. We camped that night on the slopes of hills on the other side of the river. Every time I go to Parys, I cannot help but look at those hills and cast my mind back. I can even see the campfires burning, as there were plenty of
thorn bush at that time, whilst we were struggling getting those wagons across that drift.
Next day we were on the move again and three days later we caught up with General Bothas forces, at Doornkop, so we halted and waited for the Infantry and the supplies to come up, but the Infantry went forward whilst we drew rations, fed our horses and ourselves, then the whole column went forward. My Squadron took the extreme left, the Cavalry were covering a big front. All at once the Boers opened fire, but the line went on, and then the Infantry opened fire, and the mounted troops started their pincher move, by bringing up their flanks at a gallop, but it was a long way round to the back of Doornkop and they did not wait for the trap to close from here. I was out with the advance scouts and I passed the Zurr be Kom pumping station. The man on duty gave me a loaf of bread and a nice sausage. What a change from Bully beef and biscuits!!
From here we could see the tall chimney stacks of the gold mines. Wecrossed over the Witwatersrand at Roodepoort. The Boers were now occupying the Florida ridge and they opened fire with their artillery.
One shell fell right in the middle of the Roodepoort Railway crossing. Then our artillery opened up and in no time we occupied the Florida ridge. Then we watered our horses at the Florida lake. The next morning we moved over the Orange grove and camped alongside of a Chinese market garden. I would like to point out that the taking of Johannesburg covered a large front. It extended from Roodepoort station to Elsburg station. As there was fighting at both ends, Lord Roberts came up the Booysens Road. From here we rested a few days and did not go into Johannesburg.
In the advance to Pretoria, here again General French's troops were sent a long way round. We left Orange Grove for Krugersdorp and made for the Magaliesburg Range. The second night out from Krugersdorp, we had orders to march all night but we did not go far as fighting broke out and the whole veldt and bush started to burn, but we did not fall for that trap. Had we crossed that fire belt, we would have been sitting ducks, them in the dark and us in the fire light, so we just did what they did, kept up a fire across the fire belt. In the morning we were on the move again. We hit the Pretoria road about where Pelindaba is today, from here we moved along between two ranges of hills towards Pretoria. As soon as we sighted the Wonderboom Fort, a Hello flashed out, who are you. On being told, the message came back that Lord Robert's troops entered Pretoria yesterday. That night we camped alongside of the Wonderboomtree. From here ilia took the Witbank Road, but at Diamond Hill we met the Boers, holding a strong position and in force. All day the fighting went on. In the afternoon the order came to ring all horses, that means every man in the fighting line. Also a Scout was sent to Pretoria for reinforcements, but he returned at sundown saying he could not get through, so I asked if I could take them at about 8 o'clock. I was given permission to go. At
the same time, firing broke out, heavy on both sides. It was half a moon, so I kept to the high ridges and away from the roads. I never met a person until daybreak, when a halt pulled me up at the bridge where the lions are. On over the small river, I could not give them the counter-sign as ours was different to Pretoria. But the corporal in charge was satisfied with my explanation so he told me the way to Lord Roberts' head- quarters. I delivered the message to the officer on duty and by 9 a.m. Ian Hamilton's forces were moving out of Pretoria.
I had fed my horse with a good feed of grain and watered him, and
I fell in with the troops. On arrival at Diamond Hill, they immediately went into action. On our left flank there the country was more open.
The fighting that day was over a big area and the dead were buried.
wise the Earl of Early was killed that day. He was buried near a farm house, but today, all those that fell in that fight are all interned in a cemetery at the foot of Diamond Hill.
Two days after the fight at Diamond Hill I was sent to General
French's headquarters as an orderly. That made three of us, so we took it in turns to be the Generals orderly for the day. That day you carried a bare lance, no flag on it, that indicated the Generals staff, which was always kept as small as possible. There were never any hangers-on. In the field, you would find General French, Col. Haig, Captain Bingham of the Left Guards, a Lieutenant and one orderly with his bare lance - that indicated the General's staff. The two orderlies would be within call to run messages, we were now on our way to Middelburg. The Boers did not make a stand, just hit and run to let us know they were there. On arrival at Middelburg, General French made it his headquarters For a while he occupied a house next to the Dutch ministers house, a street ran between them. They were both corner houses and the water used to run down the furrows each side of the street, and there was ice on the water first
thing in the morning. Around the Minister's house and his garden was a stone wall, but in that garden were some nice cauliflowers and I am not ashamed to say it, I used to climb over that wall and help myself occasionally.
I once read an account of General French as being a big built man, that is not so, he was a short well made man. General Haig was a much bigger man, whilst Captain Bingham was a six footer.
Our troops were fighting their way to Wonderfontein. It was now mid-winter and the troops were feeling the cold. I did hear that two of them were found dead, frozen to death. Don't forget, they were fighting' in the clothes they left England in. General de Wet captured a train in the Free state with all our new clothes for the winter, and what he could not take with him, he set on fire, so we had none.
The staff now moved up to Wonderfontein, and towards Belfast. One afternoon I was given a message to take to General Buller's forces. I looked at the Officer and asked him if he had not made a mistake. He smiled and said no. He was about ten miles on our right, so away I went at a steady walking pace, but later in the afternoon, I could hear heavy gun fire. I still kept my steady pace. One never knows when you have got to run for it. I caught up with General Buller's forces. Now they were at it hammer and tongs. The guns were flashing in the twilight. I soon found the staff
and handed in the message but they kept me waiting until about 10 o'clock before they gave me my message to return to General French. It was getting day light when I came up with our troops. They were now outside of Belfast Station and were fighting heavily. I handed in my message and I fell back to feed my horse and made a pot of coffee, biscuits and jam. While resting I saw our troops go forward at a gallop then the firing died down. The whole column kept moving until we got into came in with his troops.
Now my Squadron was united to our Regiment. A.B.C. Squadrons were with General Buller at Ladysmith. The few shops that were in Machadadorp were empty. They had been looted by the Boers.
A few days rest and we were off again. We crossed over the hills leaving Waterfall Boven and Waterfall Onder, on our left, until we came opposite to Notdoek Station. Today it is called Early. I have heard people say that the Earl of Early is buried there. That is not so, he is buried at Diamond Hill.
On the other side of the station was a camp with all the British prisoners that had been captured by the Boers. Our 10 lb. field battery opened up a round of fire. I can still hear the echo of those guns. It just rolled and re-rolled round those hills. The shells were fired across the camp and burst on the rise. Then you could see the prisoners waving their helmets and throwing them into the air. They just flocked out of ~at camp onto the Railway line. We then returned to Machadadorp. We got no rum that night. It was given to the released prisoners.
My Regiment, the 14th Hussars, having been re-united with its lost.
Squadron, was taken over to General French's command. General Buller went on to Lydenburg. Another Column went up the Railway line to Nelspruit. French troops moved off to Caroline. There were plenty of hit and run fights until we passed Badplaats, when the Boers opened up with shrapnel and the bullets came screaming out of the sky, but they did not do much damage. A few horses were wounded or killed as we got nearer to the mountains. General French realised he could not take his transport and guns over them so they were sent back to Machadadorp. There were no roads over those hills, just a track. We called it Red Hill. I don't know if that was its right name. It was quite flat on top. There was a track running to a place called the Chute. This was held by the Boers and we had a strong troop watching them. One of our young scouts, a lad between 16 and 17 asked for permission if he could go down into Barberton and see his parents. This was brought to General French's notice and he gave him permission. The young man spoke to me just before he left. He told me he was going to see his Father and Mother. He always rode a Basto Pony. I knew he came from Barberton. He told me one day that his parents kept the old Barberton swimming bath, so his name should be well-known. Next morning he was back in camp and General French spoke to him and he decided that if he could go down and back in one night, he could also take his bridle path, so the boy told the General there must not smoking, and all stirrup irons had to be crossed over the
That night he led the way down. It was a moonlight night. As the troops followed him, single file, I was ordered to recall the troops that were watching the enemy at the Chute. When I got back to the camp it was empty so I had to explain the position to the Officer in charge of the troops which I had recalled, so I went down with him. It was slow going leading the horses down that narrow path. It was daylight when we got to the bottom. Already our troops were lined up on the other side of the Queens River and were moving off towards Barberton. They just walked in without a shot being fired. I did hear that they caught the Pay master with a couple of hundred pounds in a Cape Cart. General French made the Phoenix Hotel his Headquarters, whilst the orderlies took up their quarters in the stables across the road, with the horses. It was very peaceful for a few days, then the Boers started to fire from the hills at our guard on duty at the Bank, just round the corner from the Phoenix Hotel.
Then Col. Haig issued a small proclamation saying if there was any more shooting, he would withdraw his troops and shell the town to the ground. At the same time they rigged up two wagon wheels, put a telephone pole between them and a Railway tarpauline over it and pointed it towards the hills. That was the end of the shooting. There was a printing press in Barberton at that time, in fact I think it was in the next street to the Phoenix Hotel. It was our duty to take messages to the Outpost and Mines in the hills. I remember those hills well. They were full of baboon and snakes. In fact, it was a snake that was my downfall from a cushy job.
One day the staff wore out in the hills. They were all dismounted and holding a conference and I was looking after the horses, and they were all quietly grazing when the General's horse threw up his head and galloped off. He had been frightened by a big snake. Captain Bingham jumped on his horse, went after him and brought the horse back. Of course, I was blamed for it and when we got back to Headquarters I was given a note to return to my Regiment. I handed in the note to our Adjudant and he asked me what the matter was, so I told him the truth. He just said, forget it, join
your troops.
So now I was back in the fighting line once more. The next day we
left Barberton. That night we made camp at Devils Kantoor. The next day we were on the move again and camped that night at Crocodile River station. From there to Machadadorp.Here we found our transport, but no artillery. Then on to Carolina, but our column was getting smaller and smaller. Now it started to rain. I was one of the lucky ones. My cavalry overcoat was still good and kept the rain out, but it rained day after day, no let up. Rum was issued every night whilst it lasted, otherwise it was issued every other day. But when we arrived at Ermelo, it was still raining and the Boers were always worrying our rear guard. So the morning we left Ermelo the wagons were left behind, but we took the mules with us. We did not go far, only over the next rise, then waited to see what would happen. And it did, just what we expected. The Boers made a rush for those wagons, then we were over that rise at a gallop. They spotted the move and were off without firing one shot. Having inspanned the mules we thought we were on our way to Standerton but we changed direction and seemed to go South. Day after day it rained. The rum ration was finished. Some days we only
did a few miles. At last we came to Heidelburg. Here we camped for two days, but we were given a double issue of rum. All the men without horses and boots, were put on the train to Pretoria. The following day we moved off again. That night we camped at Springs, near a coal mine, so we made. a big coal fire to dry our clothes. Next morning we were off again, still raining. That afternoon we camped in what is now the Pretoria Game reserve, not far from where the big dam was made. Next morning at daybreak off again to Pretoria. About 10 a.m. the sun came out and we were in Fountains Valley. The order now was to halt and in no time our blankets and clothes were drying on the thor~ bushes. At about 11 a.m. we saddled up and moved off to Pretoria. It was striking twelve o'clock when we passed through the Square. Then the old Church was still in the centre and Paul Kruger's effigy had a iron rail round it. Opposite was the Post Office, just a tin shack. This was the first time that General French's troops entered in Pretoria. At that time we got the Bloemfontein newspaper called the Friend, and this is what they had to say about General French's troops coming into Pretoria. "Hark, hark, the dogs do bark, the soldiers are coming into town, Some in rags, some in bags, but none in velvet gowns." !!
There was also a photo of the troops showing what a ragged lot they were, they were wearing the clothes they left England in.
On arrival at the camp where the Showgrounds now stand, we soon erected tents. Bread and fresh meat were waiting for us and feed for our horses.
Then we had good news, having been two years in the field. We were going to Newcastle for three months rest. We went by train. On arrival at Newcastle, the Regiment took over the garrison duties and all the outlying pickets. New day I was sent into Town as orderly to General Burn Murdoch, who was in charge of the district. Those three months went too soon. Then the Regiment was ordered to Harrismith in the Free State. We went by train. Our work here was in the big drives across the Free state. In the meantime, the block houses had' been built with barbed wire fences, in between where you halted for the night. Every man, Officers as well, did one hours sentry duty. After doing your one hour, as sentry, you woke up the next man, gave him the watch, until daybreak. Then on again until we drove them up against the block houses. After these long sweeps, we went down and cleared the country, along the Caledon River, from there to Bethlehem. Here we heard rumours of peace. Then we were on our way to Kroonstad with orders not to shoot anymore. At Lindley I was out on horse guard at about 11 a.m. Wewere doing two treks a day, so as to graze our horses, as they had no other food. When we heard three cheers from the camp. I said to myself, Thank God for that!!
On arrival at Kroonstad, we pitched camp and waited for orders. In the meantime, I had decided to remain in this Country. I loved the sun and veldt and could not see my way clear to the snow and sleet in England, so I purchased my discharge. I am not sorry. This country has been good to me. Today I am 94, and I can look back with pleasure.
Yours faithfully,
(Sgd.) Walter Sabatini late 14th HUSSAR
