Anglo Boer War Mobilization

.............December 1899

John was never a man for politics, it was of little concern to the run of the mill solider stationed in Athlone but the men were asking themselves why their officers were absorbed in great conversational debates. A man of simple tastes and the knowledge of how to exist within the demands of military life was to be further tested in October 1899.

The chit chat and gossip mongers were correct in the barracks of Athlone when the 1st Btn received orders for mobilization for overseas service to South Africa. The Connaughts Rangers were going to war.

Mobilisation entailed preparing their kit and battalion equipment for their epic voyage on the S.S Bavarian. 529 men were passed fit for active service while 332 reservists were dispatched from Renmore to the join the Battalion in Athlone. All men medically deemed unfit or underage were left in Athlone. During this excitement the Connaught Rangers had the special honour of being inspected by Lord Roberts. He was given the command in chief of the Army in South Africa in December 1899. On November 10th under the command of Lieut Colonel L G Brooke 850 Other Ranks and 28 Officers embarked the SS Bavarian at Queenstown. One man deserted at Athlone and he was replaced by another man who was under age and was only discovered three days into the voyage.

The Bavarian arrived on December 1st in Durban and within days the infantry men had marched to Chieveley Station. The camp at Chieveley was massive and a much welcome site to the new arrivals. After 18 days on an overcrowded troopship, then being packed into cattle trucks and pitched out in the heat of a African midsummer required great stamina and fitness. Unaccustomed to their new surroundings, dazed by the 102 degree heat, the effects dehydration many of the soldiers were not in fighting condition. Their health was not improved by their daily rations of bread and corn beef.

Morale was high amongst the troops. This was further heightened by the press predicting an easy victory that was relayed to the men from their officers. The British expected their enemy to be an ill prepared bunch of simple farmers. As the Irish joked and laughed about theses men with whom they were to do battle with, the Boers were digging in at Tugela.