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My great grandfather John Stansfeld was a 2Lt in the Gordon Highlanders and arrived in Natal when he was 19. He was present at Spion Kop and the relief of Ladysmith, and other engagements until 1902. His letters are quite interesting and I am publishing them over the next couple of weeks on SubStack, see https://substack.com/@edwardstansfeld319499.
I discovered this excellent resource when cross-referencing his letters. His first posting was with the Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Hi; those letters are fantastic and thanks for posting.

Having read Rob’s book on the Spioenkop campaign I can relate to the features that he references in his letters from around that time.

Regards,
Shaun

Shaun,
I have a copy of Robert Davidson's book and found it tremendously helpful in giving sense and context to the diaries of January 1900. Though it is so rich in colourful quotes and anecdotes that the index does not really do it justice, at least in paper.
Regards
Edward

Superb letters!
When did he enlist in the NVAC?

Hi Edward,

Once again credit to your great grandfather on his vivid description of the events at the time; you have brought his memory back to life by publishing the letters; so well done for that.

I have binge read them to date and look forward to the next instalment.

Very interesting that he met, and played a game, with Churchill; whom he noted at the time as the “correspondent” from the SALH.

This forum is blessed with talented authors and this helps to enrich all of our understanding.

Keep up the good work.

Regards,
Shaun

Apparently some time in mid December 1899. He had just arrived from UK and was looking to join his regiment, the 2 Gordon Highlanders in Ladysmith. I would guess he hung around the office of Buller''s Adjutant and they gave him jobs to try to get rid of him. Body snatching after Colenso was one of them, and since no-one else wanted to do it... edwardstansfeld319499.substack.com/p/3-d...er-20th-1899-colenso .

Your Spioenkop book is fantastic.Transformative after Pakenham and the turbid Ransford.
Regards
Edward