From Aldershot to Pretoria A Story of Christian Work among Our Troops in South Africa   By: William Edward Sellers (1859-)

FROM ALDERSHOT TO PRETORIA

A Story of Christian Work among our Troops in South Africa

BY W.E. SELLERS

WITH AN INTRODUCTION

BY R.W. ALLEN

WITH FIFTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS

Second Impression

LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 56 PATERNOSTER ROW AND 65 ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD

Contents

PAGE CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION: THE EMPIRE AND ITS DEFENDERS 7

CHAPTER II ALDERSHOT 19

CHAPTER III OLD ENGLAND ON THE SEA 37

CHAPTER IV TO THE FRONT 53

CHAPTER V WITH LORD METHUEN 61

CHAPTER VI MAGERSFONTEIN 77

CHAPTER VII THOMAS ATKINS ON THE VELDT 96

CHAPTER VIII WITH LORD ROBERTS 105

CHAPTER IX KIMBERLEY 132

CHAPTER X WITH GATACRE'S COLUMN 129

CHAPTER XI BLOEMFONTEIN 145

CHAPTER XII ON TO PRETORIA 161

CHAPTER XIII HERE AND THERE IN CAPE COLONY 170

CHAPTER XIV WITH SIR REDVERS BULLER 177

CHAPTER XV LADYSMITH 193

CHAPTER XVI 'IN JESU'S KEEPING' 222

List of Illustrations

HIS LAST LETTER Frontispiece

SOLDIERS' HOMES AT ALDERSHOT to face p. 17

OFF TO SOUTH AFRICA to face p. 34

PARADE SERVICE ON THE TUGELA to face p. 53

REV. E.P. LOWRY to face p. 84

REV. JAMES ROBERTSON to face p. 90

BRINGING BACK THE WOUNDED to face p. 118

MORNING SERVICE ON THE VELDT to face p. 133

SOLDIERS' HOME ON THE FIELD to face p. 138

ARUNDEL to face p. 173

AMBULANCE WORK ON THE FIELD to face p. 193

REV. A.V.C. HORDERN to face p. 195

ONE OF THE LADYSMITH HOSPITALS to face p. 199

REV. THOMAS MURRAY to face p. 203

AMBULANCE WAGGONS ON THEIR WAY TO THE FIELD to face p. 210

Preface

It would have been a grave omission had no attempt been made at the earliest possible time to place on record some account of the Christian steadfastness and heroism of the many godly men belonging to every arm of the service engaged in the war in South Africa, and of the strenuous work which they did for their comrades, resulting in many being won for God, comforted when stricken on the battle field or in hospital, and even in death enabled to find the life that is eternal.

It would have been equally an omission had not some account been given of the heroic devotion of the chaplains and the lay agents who have accompanied the troops in the campaign, sharing their hardships and ministering to them under all the trying conditions of their service.