DIARY OF PRIVATE W. J. D. MORAN C.I.V.

The diary is handwritten in pencil by Mr Moran describing his account of his journey to the Cape as a member of the C.I.V. from 21 Jan 1900 to 22 May 1900

Unpaginated [ 55 pages ] in a small black leather bound notebook with a reinforced cloth spine, the boards are slightly scuffed, otherwise it is in good condition. Pasted onto the front paste down end paper are the following details:

W.J.D Moran no 346 A Coy.
C.I.V. Enfield Lock England

These are some of his entries:

21 Jan 1900 Voyage from Southampton in the Kinfauns Castle to Cape Town

Friday 15/2/1900 Went up Signal Hill this morning and heard the news that Kimberley had been relieved. You should have heard the cheer that went up.

Friday 23/2/1900 Arrived at orange River Camp after being on the train for 56 hours. Detrained and marched to our camping ground where we have every prospect of staying for a month.

25/2/1900 Furious thunderstorm. Went up inot the hills took up our position was wet through when we got there. This was our first experience of active service as some Boers had been sighted.

4/3/1900 Artillery Mounted Infantry and Dcoy of CIV went out this morning to drive the rebels from a farm.

13/3/1900 Lord Kitchener arrived in Britstown camp at 8:30am this morning with transports and a detachment of the Suffolk Regiment.

27/4/1900 Left Cape Town Harbour on the braemar Castle for England

17/5/1900 Arrived in Plymouth round 3:30pm

He was awarded a medal for his services in the Anglo Boer War:

Moran (346 Pte W. J. D. Moran, C.I.V.) Lot: 485
See : https://www.angloboerwar.com/forum/5-medals-and-awards/27498-medals-to-the-civ?start=30

The City Imperial Volunteers embarked on the Briton, Garth Castle, Ariosto, Gaul, and Kinfauns Castle between 16th and 21st January 1900. On 20th February the bulk of the Infantry Battalion left the Cape for De Aar and Orange River, in which district they took over various posts from the Regulars. On account of the rising in the Britstown district fighting was soon seen, and on 6th March 13 men were wounded, some of these being taken prisoners. On 31st March the battalion left De Aar for Bloemfontein via Naauwpoort. At the latter place they were detrained and stayed some time. Ultimately, about 23rd April, the battalion got to the Free State capital, partly by road, partly by rail, and on the 24th were inspected by Lord Roberts. Within a few days they were put into the 21st Brigade under General Bruce Hamilton (see 1st Sussex), and thus formed a part of Ian Hamilton's army of the right flank, which did no little fighting on the way to Pretoria (see Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry).

For further information see:
https://www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/imperial-units/542-city-imperial-volunteers