C.H. Tweddell - Charlies First War: South Africa, 1899-1900

CHARLIES FIRST WAR

Charlie (Reproduced from Quebec Daily Telegraph, South African War Souvenir Number, Frank Carrel, publisher, no date)

Charlies First War

South Africa, 18991900

C. H. TWEDDELL

Edited by Carman Miller

McGill-Queens University Press
Montreal & Kingston London Ithaca

McGill-Queens University Press 2014

ISBN 978-0-7735-4432-1 (cloth)

ISBN 978-0-7735-9659-7 (ePDF)

ISBN 978-0-7735-9660-3 (ePUB)

Legal deposit third quarter 2014

Bibliothque nationale du Qubec

Printed in Canada on acid-free paper that is 100% ancient forest free (100% post-consumer recycled), processed chlorine free

This book has been published with the help of a grant from the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, through the Awards to Scholarly Publications Program, using funds provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

McGill-Queens University Press acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts for our publishing program. We also acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund for our publishing activities.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Tweddell, C. H., 18691921

[Diaries]

Charlies first war : South Africa, 18991900 / C.H. Tweddell; edited by Carman Miller.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Issued in print and electronic formats.

ISBN 978-0-7735-4432-1 (bound). ISBN 978-0-7735-9659-7 (ePDF). ISBN 978-0-7735-9660-3 (ePUB)

1. Tweddell, C. H., 18691921 Diaries. 2. South African War, 18991902 Personal narratives, Canadian. 3. Canada. Canadian Army. Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry. (Special Service) Battalion, 2nd. 4. South African War, 18991902 Regimental histories Canada. 5. Soldiers Canada Diaries. I. Miller, Carman, 1940, editor II. Title. III. Title: First war.

Typeset by Jay Tee Graphics Ltd. in 10.5/13.5 Sabon

Contents

Acknowledgments

Since my introduction and editorial comments draw partly upon previous research on Canada and the South African War, I wish to reiterate my thanks and appreciation for the assistance of various institutions in Canada and the United Kingdom, notably Library and Archives Canada, the Glenbow Museum, the Public Archives of Nova Scotia, the British Columbia Archives, the National Archives of the United Kingdom, the British Library, and the National Library of Scotland. That research was also assisted by grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and McGill University.

This manuscript owes its genesis to the initiative, assistance, and cooperation of the Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantrys Museum in London, Ontario. Captain K.M. Broughton first recognized the value of the diaries and their potential contribution to historical research and understanding. His successor Captain Ross Appleton, regimental adjutant, Royal Canadian Regiment, National Defence, Petawawa, himself an historian of the Boer War, was equally committed to the project. Their extraordinary support and generous assistance, together with that of Dr Giorgiana Stanclu, the current Curator, Royal Canadian Regiment Museum, London, Ontario, and Captain Michael OLeary, former regimental adjutant, have greatly facilitated the transcription and production of these diaries.

McGill-Queens University Presss exemplary support begins with its editor, Philip Cercone, whose lifelong commitment to Canadian research and publication has made a marked contribution to scholarship. His accessibility, counsel, patience, and judgment have been greatly appreciated, and his editorial style has been continued by the managing editor, Ryan Van Huijstee, and editorial assistant Paloma Friedman who provided excellent advice and assistance at every turn. It has been a pleasure to work with the presss copyeditor Carlotta Lemieux, whose meticulous reading, linguistic sensitivity, and editorial suggestions have improved the language and presentation of the text.

Several other persons have generously assisted on various occasions, all on very short notice. Barry Levely drew the map of Charlies sojourn in South Africa. Dr Gordon Goldsborough, web-master for the Manitoba Historical Society, gave me permission to reproduce his excellent photograph of the Fisherton Cemetery. Michael Clare drew my attention to the Quebec Daily Telegraph Souvenir Number of Quebecers Engaged in South Africa and provided a digital copy of its photos of Tweddell, Treggett, and McQueen. And Anne Dondertman, director of the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library and her staff went out of their way to facilitate my short research at their excellent library; their commitment to research was impressive: May their tribe increase! To all I offer my sincere thanks.

Finally, my very special thanks to Pamela, Danielle, Marc, Andrew, Elin, Rolf, Carly, Marius, Lukas, Eva, Thea, and Alexandra.

Map of Charlies war. (Drawn by Barry Levely)

Charlies diary. (Courtesy of the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum at Wolseley Barracks, London, ON)

Colonel William Otter, the RCRs controversial commanding officer. (Reproduced from James Birch Jr, History of the War in South Africa, McDermid and Loggin, London, 1899)

Carvings that Charlie made to his rifle. (Courtesy the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum at Wolseley Barracks, London, ON)

Getting ready to board the Sardinian. (Reproduced from John Clark Ridpath, The Story of South Africa, World Publishing, Guelph, 1899)

Life aboard the cramped Sardinian. (Reproduced from John Clark Ridpath, The Story of South Africa, World Publishing, Guelph, 1899)

The happy warriors as the Sardinian arrives at Cape Town. (Reproduced from The Anglo Boer War 18991900, Cape Town, 1900)

Paardeberg Monument. (Courtesy of Library Archives Canada)