Details
cover 1879 (26 May) XU5, with contents, to his father, endorsed "By first opportunity from Lt. Craufurd 91st Highdr on active service", bearing Natal 6d. tied by Durban "2" cancellation and Great Britain 1d. plate 201 to pay for redirection from Cramond to Hampshire, backstamped "DURBAN/2/6/1879/NATAL" and various transit and arrival d.s.; letter headed "Fort Crealock". Photo.
Further details
Extract:
Our mess hut is very comfortable, we shall miss it when we start, they say now about three more convoys will complete three months provisions for us and they should be up at Fort Chelmsford in a fortnight's time. We went and returned with a large convoy the day before yesterday to the Inyoni. Being "her Gracious Majesty's" birthday on 24th three cheers were given on the banks of the Inyoni river - we heard the salute being fired at Fort Pearson. The General of that name I fear will not be able to do much more campaigning. He is ill at D'urban but you will hear all the general news before letters reach England. Major Bruce's horse died last night from lung disease after only being 12 hours sick. Horses have a very bad time of it here. I am glad to see they are landing mules, they are much required. The oxen die fast if worked at all hard, and hard work for them means only 10 miles a day or a little less if the road is heavy.
Our mess hut is very comfortable, we shall miss it when we start, they say now about three more convoys will complete three months provisions for us and they should be up at Fort Chelmsford in a fortnight's time. We went and returned with a large convoy the day before yesterday to the Inyoni. Being "her Gracious Majesty's" birthday on 24th three cheers were given on the banks of the Inyoni river - we heard the salute being fired at Fort Pearson. The General of that name I fear will not be able to do much more campaigning. He is ill at D'urban but you will hear all the general news before letters reach England. Major Bruce's horse died last night from lung disease after only being 12 hours sick. Horses have a very bad time of it here. I am glad to see they are landing mules, they are much required. The oxen die fast if worked at all hard, and hard work for them means only 10 miles a day or a little less if the road is heavy.