Held by family. Addressed to T.H.Barker Newsham Park, Liverpool
Ladysmith Natal 28th Mar/00
My dear Uncle Tom Hilda wrote and told me that you were writing frequently and anxiously enquiring after me. I would have written you only I have such little spare time for such when campaigning and I thought that if I wrote Hilda, she would distribute the news. No doubt you must have been surprised when you heard that I was up at the front, but as I have had the misfortune to inherit some of the family nomadic spirit I think you will sympathise with me a little. From B.Columbia to Africa is going at a gallop yet the War fever claimed its victims so I had to go. In one light I do think that I was a fool yet in another it ha been a great lesson and experience for me. An experience which I might some day be proud of. It shows that the old warlike spirit of our ancestors hasn't deteriorated in the least. Also shows that the blood of the Strangeways has very strange ways of running its course. I can not write my experiences on paper as time won't permit, but I hope I shall be able to entertain you all to a few yards of storys when I come home which I don't think will be long now. We had some rough times of it before we relieved Ladysmith but thank God our endeavours were crowned with success. We fairly thrashed the Boers out of Colense? and they won't forget either in a hurry. I went over the battlefield the next morning after the ? and from what I could see the fie from our artillery must have been a perfect Hell. Lyaldite, shrapnel, and shrapnel bullets were lying about on the ground as thick as rice after a wedding. We advanced on to Ladysmith but alas the Boers had disappeared like ghosts except that they left tons of flour, thousands upon thousands of ammunition, wagons, rifles, tents, boxes of Cauot? shells and pom-poms and c-c. They had to go in a hurry for we found ever so many wagons had been abandoned through them sticking in the mud. Since then we have done very little, only once being on a fornights patrol around Van Reenens(?) and de Beers Passes. At the latter place we lost 2 men they having walked right into the Boer lines and were shot before they could get out of the road. For my part I would far rather go into a pitched battle than patrol as one never knows when he is going into a trap, so you may be sure it takes us all our time to keep our eyes skinned. Have you heard anything from Mr.Scott yet, he said when he comes ove to England he would call and se you which I hope he will do. When the war is over I am coming home for a short while to recruit up a little and then I shall back to B.C. to settle down I hope, as I think now I have had my fling. Are you keeping in good health. I hope so, how is Aunt Mary and all my noble cousins. I am looking forward to seeing you all once more. Will you kindly remember me to Mr and Miss Tyson trusting they are well. It is stables now so I must close with best love to yourself Aunt Mary and all my cousins. Believe me to be your affect. nephew Charles F.F. Barker
If you write address thus: Trooper C.F. Barker No.1 Troop F. Squadron South African Light Horse Ladysmith Natal South Africa I wish I could get a pull at Kruger's whiskers
