Alfred Lewis Collett Diary, pages 3 and 4.
3rd January- 6th March 1900 (transcription).

{return to contents page}


breakfast bought to us in the trucks off again to Estcourt where we arrived about noon.

3rd to 9th
Completed our war kits practised a new form of attack and generally shaped up for war.

9th January
Struck camp early and marched off for Frere a very wet and miserable march halted for an hour halfway everyone was wet through to the skin and very cold.

10th to 23rd
Camped at Pretorious Farm Springfield and Spearmans Hill.

24th January
Battle of Spion Kop which I never shall forget while I live a dreadful day was

that fight which a good many poor fellows lost their lives.

25th January
Retired to Aeton Homes and rested for a week Gen. Buller thanked and complimented the troops for the way they carried out the work.

1st to 10th February
Second attempt to relieve Ladysmith which proved unsucessful.

11th to 28th Feb.
Proceeded to Colenso from Chievley in a third attempt to relieve Ladysmith which proved sucessful Ladysmith was relieved on the evening of the 27th of February

6th March
Proceeded by train from Colenso to Maritzburg had our kits and equipment renewed here we were


{{previous transcription page

next transcription page}}

{diary pages}


{{jump to account of Battle of Spion Kop

General Coke's Speech}}

{see photographs of battle}


transcription pages: {1&2} {3&4} {5&6} {7&8} {9&10} {11&12} {13&14}
{15&16} {17&18} {19&20} {21&22} {23&24} {25&26} {27&28} {29}

{contents}