Nelson, Anglo-Boer War

Private J. Chippendale, whose photo we reproduce, resides, when at home, with his widowed mother in Water-street, Nelson. Private Chippendale's father was one of the best known men in Nelson, a verifier of no mean talent, who joined the great majority a few months ago, after a short illness, leaving a widow and large family. The young soldier joined the Army about four years ago, and belongs to the West Yorkshire Regiment, which forms part of the small army commanded by General Hildyard, which won the victory at Willow Grange on Sunday. Private Chippendale's regiment is commanded by Colonel Kitchener, and it bore nearly the whole brunt of the engagement, as it suffered 68 out of the 87 casualties reported, but the young Nelsonian seems to have come through the engagement unharmed, and this fact will no doubt be a great consolation to his anxious mother.

(Burnley Express, 2 December 1899)
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THE NELSON FUND.
The Mayor of Nelson's Fund now amounts to £300.

(Burnley Express, 6 December 1899)
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LETTERS FROM A NELSON RECRUITING SERGEANT.
Sergt. J. E. Hitchcock, of the 2nd Coldstreams, who will, since the following letters were written, have taken part in the battles which Lord Methuen's column has fought, was well-known in Nelson. He was recruiting sergeant there. The first letter was written on the "s.s. Gascon," when nearing Cape Town, and the second was evidently pencilled on the way "up country." Mr. J(onsdah?) Turner, of the Mitre Hotel, Burnley, was the recipient of the first missive, and Colour-Sergeant Whittle, of the Burnley Barracks, received the second.
s.s. Gascon, 11/11/99.
"Just a few lines to let you know I am still alive, and getting very near Cape Town. We should have landed to-day, but we have had it very rough the last two days, and so we are a day late. I expect you know more than I about the war, for since we left Teneriffe we have not heard a word. We had some fine games there with the Spaniards who coaled our ship. They came round us in boats and brought all sorts of fruit, cigars, tobacco, etc., which we were forbidden to buy. But needless to say, we bagged some. I got a box of 50 cigars, and good ones, for 2s. 6d. I shall try and bring some back when I come back. We have had a splendid voyage until the last two days, and now it's a (here the writer imitates a wavey motion by a stroke of the pen). The ship is rolling and pitching like a cork.........By Jove, it was flaming hot just around the Equator. I very nearly melted, but it has cooled down since. Old Rothschild has given us of the Guards one pound of tobacco, one pipe, one pouch, which were served out to us the day before yesterday. Very kind of him, was it not? Matches and booze are the scarcest things aboard. Matches are fetching 2d. per small box, and, oh, would I not like one of your bitters! Roll on! I hear we are in for a good march as soon as we land, and off to the front at once. Roll on! I want to start PIG-STICKING!"

Grostfontein, S. Africa, 13/11/99.
"Dear Bob, and old pals, - Just a line to let you know we landed last night at Cape Town, and in less than three hours from entering the harbour we were off by half-battalions in trains for De Aar, where we are nearing now. We have had 22 hours in the train, and we expect to reach De Aar some time to-morrow morning. Our company had a telegram at the above station (where we stopped about ten minutes for water), saying that General Joubert, of the Boers, was killed or severely wounded at Mafeking. Our fellows did yell when he read it to us. I hear here that the Boer's strength has been greatly under-estimated in England. We were the first battalion of Guards to land, and you will see there will be some heavy fighting .... from De Aar to Kimberley. They are pressed now. That is the reason we were packed off so soon. We just drew 100 rounds per man, and entrained with one blanket and one loose coat on our arms, and just the khaki suit we stand in. I have enjoyed my voyage, and the journey up country very much. I never should have thought they could get a railway up these mountains, it's so rocky. We are to stop at Beaufort West and have some tea (viz.: - bully and biscuits). The opinion here is that we shall send up our flag in Pretoria before this year is out. I heard to-day that our people had given up Mafeking, as the Boers were too strong there, but I can't say if it's true. On Wednesday we expect to have a cut at them. We passed about 400 Boers last night being taken back to near Cape Town prisoners, and there are about 200 more on the way down. - Yours faithfully, HITCHCOCK."

(Burnley Express, 9 December 1899)
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WAR CONCERT AT NELSON.
The New Grand Theatre, Nelson, by the kindness of Mr. T. Greenwood Croft, the lessee, was utilised on Sunday afternoon for a concert in aid of the South African war fund. There was a good audience present. A capital programme was gone through by the Reedyford Wesleyan Choir, and the financial result of the entertainment was over £10, which will be handed over to the Mayoral fund.
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THE NELSON FUND.
The fund of the Mayor of Nelson (Coucillor M. Dyson) now amounts to over £366.

(Burnley Express, 13 December 1899)
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A NELSON RESERVIST FOR THE FRONT.
Another Nelson man who has gone to rejoin his regiment at the front this week in the person of Private James Blackburn of the Gordon Highlanders. Blackburn, who resided in Stanley-street, enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders 15 years ago, and since serving his time has been a first-class reservist.

(Burnley Express, 16 December 1899)
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FOR THE FRONT. - On Thursday, Messrs. R. Dyson, A. Bancroft, and A. Howarth, members of the local ambulance corps, left Nelson en route for Aldershot, prior to proceeding to the front.

(Burnley Express, 28 December 1901)