Manuscript Diary: The Boer War 1900-1901 Some of my Experiences in South Africa

"Some of My Experiences in South Africa"

A PDF is available of the whole diary. Please contact me and it can be sent to you.

This account is really good read. It is a unique, detailed and interesting and perhaps Important Boer War Diary by Ernest Charles Cockrill. About 140 sides written in a legible hand throughout.

He was in South Africa from April 1900-June 1901 Numerous interesting observations. Ernest Cockrill served in the 56th (Buckinghamshire) Company, 15th Battalion as a Private. His comprehensive and well-written account is in almost continuous diary form from late April 1900 until June 25th 1901 when he returns to England.

Ernest Cockrill was only about 19 and this perhaps explains his frequent near criminal conduct of thieving and pinching from the Boers.

On page 91, Feb 14th, 1901, somewhere near Potchefstroom, he kills a Boer and steals his possessions of a rifle, 2 buckskins pouches and £2, 7 shillings and 4 pence.

On page 128/9, at the of January, 1901, he witnesses the Boers shooting 28 `kaffir' mule drivers.

About the same time he is also captured, robbed by the Boers and then released by General Smutz(s) who was angry that they had been robbed. (pages 129/130)

The Diary starts with his eventually successful attempts to enlist and in March 1900 he sets off on the SS Hilarius for South Africa. Cockrill arrives at "Table Bay" on April 16th 1900.

He is quite frank about himself thieving from the Boers and the various things he got up to. Despite endless assurances, there were no tents until September 1900 so they slept in the open or in Boer houses.

He mentions many individuals, regiments etc. For example, Strathcona’s Horse, de Wet, Farm burning, lot of use of word `niggers’, Baden-Powell at Rastenburg, a tobacco factory, horse problems, de la Rey, numerous places, lost and retaken such as Potchefstroom, Smith-Dorrien, looting and burning by British troops, escorting trains, some really good accounts of combat action, use of heliographs, Marshall’s Horse, friendly fire, Little Bob, a naval gun, Colt Model machine gun, many interesting statistics, General Edward Hulse with whom he became quite friendly, burials, pinches door from where Jameson was held prisoner, death of a horse, Lord Roberts, etc etc.

He also has copied extracts from two colleagues diaries while in South Africa, one named Brock recounts that on Nov.29 (1900) "A Sergt Major of Kitchener's Horse shot his Officer dead on the Station, he was tried by Court Marshall & sentenced to be shot, he laughed at that, addressed the firing Party., saying that he had been driven to do it by the way he had been treated..."

After his capture at Modderfontein on January 29th, 1901, Brock writes, "After they had settled us they went round & shot all the kaffirs who were with us, 28 in all. The excuse they made was that they were armed which was not true, they were simply mule-men & drivers. They were all killed in cold blood, most of them had a rifle placed on their chest and were shot through the heart."

He provides a detailed account of his movements, with numerous places and individuals mentioned, and which includes scouting, with Methuen's Force (he is in D Troop). An attempt to capture a spy by surrounding a house fails as does the Force's attempt to relieve the town of Lindley, where the garrison is forced to surrender the day before they reach it. He sees considerable action mainly in small fire fights but still with casualties on both sides ie on the 7th June " I found that the fellow next to me had been killed" "Our best scout was killed today, a nice old fellow, quite 60 years old, an American who had been a Scout all his life". He also finds a Hospital train wreck July 26th "five graves near by the party who did it were under De la Rey".

For riding an Officer's horse without permission. he is sentenced by the CO to 21 days walking.

He will "never forget the sight., of all the columns., as they move off.. Our Officer tells us that they number 28,000 in all" (August 12th Welverdeind). On the 4th September after being under the heaviest fire he has "the satisfaction to see two men fall to our fire"

Though on the 13th he recounts how a member of "Roberts Horse shot his pal dead", thinking he was a Boer. He is attached to Sir Edward Hulse, who gives him extra rations and attracts criticism from his Sergeant who calls him a "half pay officer", he even has his photograph taken with "Sir E." who asks him if he wants to stay in the country. On Nov. 18th Sir Edward has a terrible accident "when his horse rolls over him" and Cockrill just manages to jump over both." He was terribly mangled up" and he visits him later that day.

Sir E returns to duty in early January and Cockrill rejoins him travelling to Johannesburg and Pretoria. Following the sad news of the Queen's death guns fire Royal salute 21 rounds.." N..s running all over the place thinking the town is being attacked".

He takes part on the 31st Jan 1901 in a failed attempt to relieve Moddafontein and the Boers send back "several wounded men including Capt. Magniac who was wounded in five places and he says that Lt. Green is killed, he only received his commission last week" Later on the 14th Feb he has a one to one sniping duel "found him dead my bullet had gone in at the chin.. I took his rifle and everything else worth having.."

While galloping, his horse is shot from under him and he is lucky to get away with a damaged hip and shoulder. Due to his injuries he is temporarily transferred to the Provost Police and together with his colleagues have the "first nick" from farms from which Boer families have been forcibly removed! Still much travelling and occasional action against Boers. There is an amusing account of him and a few pals trying to blow open a safe at Rouxville, which almost gets them arrested. Finally on June 3rd he returns to the UK on HMS Hawarden Castle arriving for a "splendid reception" by the Mayor of Buckingham. Numerous notes in pencil believed to be by Cockrill provide added clarification to the account.

Also a head and shoulders photograph is tipped in believed to be of Cockrill in uniform A few minor blemishes else very nice condition bound at some point in blue cloth, gilt. A very readable, informative, illuminating and occasionally brutally frank account.