The Battles of Magersfontein and Modder River are two well known engagements that took place during the Anglo-Boer (South African) War. Below are excerpts from an incredibly moving article written by W. Westerman about his experiences ensuring many of the dead received an honourable farewell. The piece appeared in the March 1908 edition of the South African Railway Magazine. Thank you to the Heritage Office at Transnet for giving us access to their archives.
The day after [the Battle of Magersfontein] they commenced to bring in the wounded, the O.C. gave me permission to visit the hospitals, so taking some cigars with me, I went through the tents. All I can say about the sad sights witnessed is, once seen, never forgotten. Next day they buried the dead or as many as possible; the funeral dirge played by the pipers made the ceremony for many of us civilians almost unbearable; the reader must hear it to feel it.
After this we had a little peace, which gave us time to go over the battle fields gathering bodies of any forgotten Boer or Briton and reinterring any not properly buried in the turmoil of war.
[We continued to do] anything we could to assist those suffering from wounds or disease in the Railway Schools, which had been turned into Hospitals and were filled with enteric cases. This fever being so very prevalent amongst the troops, and spreading to the civilians became so alarming that Prof [unclear] was sent out by the Imperial Government to enquire into the matter. Being instructed...
