Read Ebook: A woman's wanderings and trials during the Anglo-Boer War by De La Rey Jacoba Elizabeth Hotz Lucy Translator

Font size: 10 px 15 px 20 px 25 px 30 px 35 px

Background color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Text color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Apply/Save settings

Ebook has 332 lines and 25562 words, and 7 pages

Translator: Lucy Hotz

Release date: November 22, 2023

Original publication: London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1903

A Woman's Wanderings and Trials during the Anglo-Boer War

TWO GREAT SOUTH AFRICAN BOOKS

THE ANGLO-BOER WAR. Edited by Commandant BRESLER. With Introductory Chapters by Generals De Wet, Kritzinger, Fouch?, Jean Joubert, and the Rev. J. D. Kestell. Demy 8vo, cloth. With 30 Maps. 21s.

LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN

WOMAN'S WANDERINGS AND TRIALS

DURING THE

Anglo-Boer War

MRS DE LA REY

TRANSLATED BY LUCY HOTZ

LONDON

T. FISHER UNWIN

PATERNOSTER SQUARE

PAGE

GENERAL DE LA REY AND HIS STAFF 17

MRS DE LA REY BESIDE HER WAGGON 36

"THE PICTURE OF MY WANDERING LIFE" 63

"OUR PEOPLE" 96

MESDAMES FERREIRA AND BEZUIDENHOUT 134

FOUR OF MRS DE LA REY'S CHILDREN, WITH TWO LITTLE GIRL FRIENDS 137

THREE OF MRS DE LA REY'S CHILDREN 139

A Woman's Wanderings and Trials during the Anglo-Boer War

On the 4th of October 1899 my husband left for the western border. I wondered what would be the outcome for me, and I thought of the many now leaving, some of whom might never come back. After a short time my husband returned and spent one day at home, then he left again on commando.

A few days later I went to pay him a visit. I found that all was going well, and I met many friends, for the laager was a very big one.

I was in good spirits, but the same day came the order to move to Kraaipan with 1200 men. This was not very pleasant news for me.

All was soon ready for the start. It was a lovely evening, the moon shone brightly, and the 1200 horsemen rode out, the cannon clattering as they went.

I had to spend the night in the laager. Next morning I went home to wait there anxiously for what was to happen. That day I heard nothing. Next day there was a report that some prisoners of war had been brought by train to Kraaipan, and no one on our side was hurt in this first fight. A day or two later I returned to the laager, which had been moved some distance farther back.

There I found all of good cheer and courage. The same day an order came to trek for Kimberley, and I went on for two days with the laager, in which were many odd sights. When I had to return I felt it hard that all my people must go so far away. That afternoon it had been warm near the waggon, and my dear son had taken on himself to prepare our dinner. We ate it there all together, and Field-Cornet H. Coetzee, who was with us, said he must learn from my son how to make such good things to eat. My son had done it very well, though it was the first time that he had ever tried to act as cook.

We then took up our journey again. It was curious to me to see so many horsemen. That night I had to return; my husband came a little way with me and the laager trekked on.

I had now to take leave of my two sons, who were going with the laager. My heart was torn, for I did not know if I should see them again.

But time was passing; they had to go on, and I to go back; the waggons must be inspanned and the horses saddled.

Then I said to my two sons, "Adrian and Jacobus, let your ways be in the fear of the Lord. If I do not see you again upon earth, let me find you again in heaven." And my beloved Adrian, when I said these words, looked at me.

We went to spend the night at Mr Du Toit's house, where we had a welcome rest. Next morning my husband went back to the laager and I returned home, where I found all well. We kept hearing always of fighting. The commando trekked to Freiburg, and from there to Kimberley. I had a telegram saying that my husband had gone to the Modder River, and I thought of the dangerous work that he had to do. Then he had to go farther and farther away. News came of the fight at Rooilaagte; it was terrible to hear how many "khakis" had been there and how hard our men had had to fight. There were many from the Lichtenburg district among them, so that everyone was anxious.

Sunday, the 26th of December, was the nineteenth birthday of my son Adrian Johannes. When I went to the village in the morning I met my sisters on their way to church. Then we all began to speak of him and of how he would fare on his birthday; and we all grew heavy-hearted.

On Monday we were without news. On Tuesday evening a telegram came that all was well, which filled me with joy. Yet that night I sat on my bed, and could not sleep for anxiety and sorrow till I had earnestly begged of the Lord to make me fit to bear the burden He should lay upon me, and to let me sleep.

Early next morning I was awake, but the same feeling remained. I got out of bed quickly and then saw it was going to rain. On going out it felt pleasant after the rain. Suddenly someone cried out, "There is Juffrouw Martens." She came from the village, and my first words were, "What am I going to hear?" She came through the house and met me in the backyard with these words, "Nonne, I have sorrowful tidings. Your husband has sent me a telegram for you, and it says, 'This morning our dearly-beloved son Adrian passed away in my arms from a wound received yesterday in a heavy fight, and to-day we shall lay him in the ground at Jacobsdaal.'"

It was heartrending for me, but there is comfort to be found at the feet of Jesus. All Lichtenburg knew him and loved him. I had not only lost my son, but many had lost their friend.

The Sunday after he died, Dominie Du Toit of Lichtenburg chose as his text Revelations xxi., verse 7:--"And I will be his God, and he shall be my son"--and he said that the Lord had more need of him than we.

A fortnight after my son's death I went to join his father and brother. After travelling four days I came near the Vaal River. That morning we heard a terrible roar of cannon; a great fight was taking place at Maggersfontein. I thought then, "Whose turn shall it be to-day to give up his life?" When I came to the laager they had already come out to meet me, but we missed each other. Just then I met my brother, Jan Greef, and as I had heard nothing more about the death of my son I asked him to tell me everything. He told me what a great fight it had been all day, and how my son had been all day in the thick of the fighting and no hurt had come to him. At sunset he was walking with his father; suddenly a bomb burst between them. He asked his father if the bomb had touched him and his father answered "No." He said nothing more, but went on 150 steps farther before he sat down, saying to his father, "The bomb that burst over there struck me." Then they saw that a bullet had entered his right side. They carried him a little way, and placed him in a carriage to bring him to the hospital. At four o'clock in the morning they reached Jacobsdaal; they bore him into the hospital, and the doctor said he would come and take the bullet out after breakfast.

All night he had tasted only a little water; now they brought him some coffee. He told his father that he must help him to take it; his father raised him up in bed and he saw that he was near death. He asked him if he did not want to say anything. His answer was, "Nay, father, only lay me down." With these words he drew his last breath. All was over with our son. This I heard from my brother.

Then my husband returned, and I heard for the first time how he too had been wounded in the arm, and how very ill he also had been before I arrived.

From there we went to Maggersfontein and then to the village of Jacobsdaal. I had so longed to see my son's grave, but when I came there I found only a mound of earth. Yet, knowing that his dust was resting there, it did me good to see it.

Then I went to the hospital. I thought, "If only I could find the clothes which he was wearing the last day!" They brought me to the room where the clothes of the dead were lying. His father found the trousers. We could tell them by the hole that the bullet had made. I saw the nurse who had looked after him; she said how patient and contented he had been.

There were many of our wounded lying there.

I went back to Maggersfontein. A little way from it was an empty house; I went into it as I did not wish to live in the laager. Every morning we could hear the firing at Maggersfontein.

Christmas was drawing near. From all sides people sent us dainties and anything that they thought would give us pleasure. I used often to go to General Cronje's laager.

In the beginning of the new year 1900 General De la Rey had to retire to Colesberg. I went with him to Bloemfontein, and the evening we arrived there he had to go on to Colesberg. I went back home, where I found our children safe and well.

Share on: WhatsApp @Hash Facebook Tweet