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I am researching Gerald Ernest Lea, 1st Worcesters who was an Adjutant and served 3 years. I had come across the diary of Private Thomas Beard of the same Regiment so I have been delighted to find the diaries and letters Gerald sent home to England. The diaries are rather list like but act as a good heading for the many letters. 3 men died on the steamship Braemar Castle website- 2 from pneumonia. After that the doctor innoculated everyone and most suffered very strong responses. The men also practiced rifle shooting with expanding bullets by shooting at crates in the sea.
The officer did physical training most mornings at 6.30 before having a salt bath.

I have got a wonderful feeling of excitement opening up letters that haven't been read for very many years. I suppose its what all the research is about.

I agree , reading the diaries and letters of these soldiers is really rather special.

I am just transcribing the diary of Alfred Nay, Middlesex Rgt who served on Spion Kop. While the Boers tried hard to kill them so did the commissariat making them fight and march on one biscuit a day for weeks on end. Tough guys.

Unlike my Officer who in my research today was invited to a Quail hunt followed by a dance!