Many Boers may have been farmers, but they knew the territory, were well trained and were prepared to fight, as Australian Richard Henry Edwards found out.

LETTER DATED DEC 14, 1901

"I saw two Boers getting away with a red hooded buggy with 4 bullocks in it. So I gave chase catching one Boer. I then chased the other Boer who was about 200 yards away, not caring to fetch him down with my rifle. I had got within 100 yards of him when he went over a rise and when I got on top of this rise I seen there was about 30 more Boers and as soon as they seen me they poured in a volley at me but luckily they all missed me although their bullets went very close, cutting up the ground all around me.

"I then sprung off my horse and as I did I saw the chap I was chasing get off his horse and fire at me. The same instant I knew that he had hit me in the thigh and down I went. Just in time, for they sent another volley at me. I then hunted my horse away and rolled up the hill to dodge them, a good plan as they kept on firing at where they thought I was lying.

"I then started on them and after firing at them for a while, wounding 2 of them I was relieved by some of our own men coming up. They caught my horse and I rode back to the ambulance where my wound was dressed and I there found out that we had lost Captain, Lieut Foster, shot through the heart. Lieut. Airey was also wounded in the thigh. So you see B Squadron suffered pretty bad again. We captured 141 Boers, killing 30, 50 wagons and over 4000 head of cattle. I have been promoted to Lance Corporal and I am called Wooly the Warrior."

TROOPER RICHARD HENRY EDWARDS

Almost 1000 Australians died during the Boer War, but the enemy's bullets were not the only danger. Over half of our troops died from disease. Living conditions were poor. When it rained, drains had to be dug with a bayonet around the tents to keep the water out. Rations often consisted of dry, hard, almost indigestible biscuits. Many water supplies had been poisoned by the enemy which meant soldiers were not allowed to drink until the supply been tested by a doctor. If it was unsuitable, the men had to resort to slimy pond water. The putrid water supply led to many men suffering fevers and sometimes death.

While fighting for King and Country was important, recognition of a job well done by their commanding officers meant more to the young soldiers than just words, particularly in Walter Pope's case. He had already fought many battles and was getting tired of it.

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS OF PRIVATE WALTER POPE

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