he realizes the intense feeling of comradeship that
animates these West-country men. To work with Devonshire men is to
realize in the flesh the intensity of the local county loyalty so
graphically depicted by Charles Kingsley in his _Westward Ho!_ and other
novels.

In conclusion, let me add, a more determined crew I never wish to see,
and a better regiment to back his orders a General can never hope to
have.

[Illustration: [Signature - Walter Kitchener]]

DALHOUSIE, _May_, 1906.

PREFACE

BY THE AUTHOR

The story as told is an everyday account and a record of the work of the
men of the 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment during the South African
War.

It exemplifies the devotion to duty, the stubbornness in adversity, and
the great fighting qualities of the West-country man, which qualities
existed in the time of Drake, and which still exist.

A repeating of their history of the past, a record of the present, and
an example for the generation to come.

CHAPTER I

EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE SIEGE OF LADYSMITH

1899

On returning from the North-West Frontier of India at the close of the
Tirah Expedition, 1897-8, the 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, which
had served with distinction under the command of Colonel J.H. Yule in
the campaign against the Afridi clans, was ordered to proceed from
Peshawar to Jullunder, at which place it was quartered in 1898 and in
the summer months of 1899, during which time certain companies and
detachments were furnished for duty at Dalhousie, Kasauli, and Ghora
Dakka (Murree Hills), and located during the hot weather at these
places.

Towards the latter end of August, 1899, news from South Africa appeared
ominous, and war seemed likely to break out between England and the
Transvaal.

On the 8th September, 1899, confidential instructions were received from
army head-quarters at Simla ordering the Regiment to get ready to move
at short notice to South Africa, and a few days later further orders
were received to entrain on the 16th September for Bombay _en route_ to
the Transvaal, which country the Regiment was destined not to reach for
some months, and then only after severe fighting.

The companies quartered at Dalhousie and Ghora Dakka with difficulty
joined the head-quarters at Jullunder before the 16th, and the following
marches are worthy of record:--

The Dalhousie detachment marched to Pathankote, a distance of 54-1/4
miles, in two days. Major Curr