The letter was published in a magazine. The following contribution received from Miss Smith, Hambleton House. The letter was written Newton Camp, Kimberley, on 8th March, 1900. Dear Madam, You must please excuse my writing in pencil, as ink and pens are not to be had on South African veldt. I received the parcel safely by the last mail, and I take this the first opportunity of expressing my gratitude for the same. The articles are extremely useful, and the tobacco is quite a luxury. It is a great pleasure to e to gain the respect and goodwill of the Hambleton people – one’s own folks. I look eagerly forward to the time when I shall perhaps be able to come home again; there is no place like home to me, and often in the early morning before an engagement – as at Belmont – or on the march over the burning and waterless veldt, I think of Hambleton – my home - and all dear to me. To write all my experiences in this war would occupy many quires of foolscap, and still there is much that never can be written. The heat is terrible here – 110 degrees. I shall be glad when this war is over, but I think it will last six months yet, but one can never tell, it may be over in a short time if Mr. Kruger gives in. The tide has turned against him in earnest new, though it was favourable to him a short while ago. Things looked back for us poor chaps, with news of reverses all along the line did not make things better; but we “bided our time,” and now have driven them back and invaded their country, also turning the tables in the matter of prisoners. One of the best Generals (Cronje) and his followers have fallen into our hands, and at the time of writing a rumour is current that 8,000 men, under Botha, are cut off and surrounded by Lord Roberts and General French. We leave here to-night for Paardeberg Drift, to join Bobs it is supposed. Wr hardly get to know anything till the last moment. The last engagement we did not know we were going into action until the artillery fired over our heads – such a concentration of artillery fire I never saw before. You would hear of the disaster to the Highland Brigade. I saw 58 men, one General, and one Colonel buried after the battle, - the gruesome side of things. My own chum was killed at Graspan, poor chap, I helped to bury him. But look at the other side of the cloud – what a home coming it will be for thousands, what a sense of satisfaction at duty done, danger and suffering over! So I must conclude, hoping you are in the best of health, as I am at present. I remain, yours faithfully and truly, No. 5141, Pte. W. Dodsworth 2/ K. O. Yorks L. I.