PRETORIA, Transvaal
October 19th, 1900
Dear Lord Strathcona,
Our march from Hydelburg to Machadodorp and the trip by rail from the latter place were uneventful, with the exception that on our arrival at Machadodorp the Natal Field Force was broken up and General Buller, before leaving for Pretoria, addressed the regiment thanking the Officers and Men for the work they had done. He stated that the happiest years of his life had been spent in Canada and when he found that he was to have a regiment raised there to serve under him, he was more than delighted. "The Regiment", he said "had done good work, and a braver, cooler or more serviceable body of men had never come under his command."
Lord Dundonald informed me at Machadodorp that they would march to Standerton but later I was ordered to proceed by train to Volksrust, and there to be remounted. Accordingly last Thursday, Headquarters of the regiment and "B" Squadron, entrained and arrived here on Saturday night after spending nearly 36 hours in open trucks. The remainder of the regiment did not reach here until yesterday afternoon.
In the meantime, our horses having been handed over at Machadodorp, we have been getting re-mounts and generally fitting out for further service.
The officers of the 6th Dragoon Guards and the Enniskillin (sic) Dragoons, who get our horses, a large number of which were Canadians, stated to Major Jarvis that they were the best re-mounts they had received during the campaign.
The horses we got here are very large but are in good order.
When the regiment was at Greylingstadt a call was made for volunteers to serve in a Provisional Police Force to be formed in the Pretoria and Orange River Colony districts. The matter was placed before the men, but was not received with favour at the time on account of the fact that every one felt in duty bound to serve in the corps until the termination of the war. At Machadodorp another call was made, and as we were led to believe that the corps was about to return to Canada, some thirty, who intended remaining in the country volunteered for service, and left for Pretoria in advance of the regiment. On arriving here the men found the terms of enlistment entirely different from what they understood and only seven accepted. Before leaving the men were paraded before Lord Dundonald, Commanding, 3rd Mtd. Brigade, who spoke to them in most complimentary terms. He said, amongst other things, that Strathcona's Horse had always cheerfully carried out the most important and dangerous duties and that he was very proud of the corps.
On account of having handed over our horses, and a large portion of our saddlery at Machadodorp, the regiment has been very busy in equipping for an early march. Fortunately everything was ready to-day when orders were received from Lord Roberts to march tomorrow.
As soon as I am made aware of the duties before us I will report to you.
Regl. No. 327 Private L. S. Davis, died in hospital here on the 10th. inst. of enteric fever.
Yours respectfully,
(Signed) S. B. STEELE, Lt. Col.
