The flow of letters home made the troopers 'unofficial' war reporters. Unrestricted by the censorship that was to limit personal communications in later wars, their letters were often very detailed.

As well as details of the war, letters were also outlets for personal hopes, thoughts and wishes.

Walter Pope wrote many letters to his mother and father, describing the battles in vivid detail. Joseph Ashburner had been ill and was looking forward to eventually going home.

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS OF PRIVATE WALTER POPE

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Joseph Ashburner had been ill and was looking forward to eventually going home.

Heilbron, September 30 1901 - "Well Mother, my time will soon be up now and I tell you I have rather enjoyed it, it is quite a different tale to what you read about and it is a fine healthy life. As I told you Mother that six months of fresh air would do me a world of good and so far as it has done fully what I expected it to do."

Frankfort, October 27 1901 - "I have not had any letter from you lately I suppose owing to us shifting they got mislaid, but I got 2 yesterday from the Smith Brothers (Ernie & Bert). Well by the time you receive this letter, I hope to be down at Cape Town."

Frankfort, November 19 1901 - "I suppose that the Christmas Holidays will be coming on by the time this reaches and that you will all be enjoying yourselves. And now I will have to draw to a close. Remember me to Uncle and Aunty Annie and Laura and Jim also Teddie, Lizzie and Aggie and Mary and family and also to all friends. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I remain, your affectionate Son, Joseph Baines Ashburner"

November 23, 1901

Unfortunately, news from the war was not always good.

CERTIFICATE OF DEATH
TROOPER J B ASHBURNER