Rocksley Cottage, Oak Avenue, Cape Town. Has been doing 'semi-plague work'. Examinations of newly arrived troops and ships. A magnificent Australian contingent. Persuading the Orient's firemen to submit to examination. A spell in medical charge of the Castle and main barracks, standing in for a sick MO. Subsequent sanitary inspection work, in Cape Town and its suburbs. 'All my reports are sent in and I am wondering what will come next.'
SS Catalonia off Durban. Here they still are! Things are dull indeed. Measles and mumps on board. A visit to Miss Paterson in Durban. Overnight hospitality from officers aboard a 'beached' steamer.
Catalonia off Durban. Is sorry they were so concerned about him when they knew he was sick. He is fine now. Is also sorry that Aunt Rose is so unwell. The ship is rolling heavily.
No. 2 General Hospital, Pretoria. Is glad she likes the photos. The old garden must look beautiful now. Would that some of its fruit were available in Pretoria.
Pretoria. They arrived in Pretoria on 30 June. A 'rare good time' in Kroonstadt, living off wet and dry rations. Water was scarce, but the railway engines supplied hot water from the boilers. Picnics on the Valoch River: 'we even had a pine apple' (sic). His failure to return the keys of the river boats to the Military District Commissioner - and its consequences, including an interview with the General. A flirty nursing sister. First impressions of Pretoria: 'a curious incongruous mixture of fine houses and buildings and tin shanties'. The Palace of Justice and a girls' school will be their hospitals. Staying at the Grand Hotel, waiting for the hospital equipment to arrive.
No. 2 General Hospital, Pretoria. Thanks for settling a College bill. 'We are now in a great hospital camp a few miles outside Pretoria.' He is fit and well, though too busy to write at length.
No. 2 General Hospital, Pretoria. Events of the past month, during which time they have lived under canvas. Acquisition of utensils from empty houses: 'it is curious how "things" stick to one.' The beauty of the veldt under sunlight. The other hospitals in their complex, with a sketch map. No. 2 General arrangements. The water supply and electric light. A good 'Scotch' Sister. Daily routine. Messing arrangements: friction between RAMC and civilian doctors has now been resolved. The PMO has been 'Stellenbosched' for being disagreeable. A night-time raid on Pretoria to 'commandeer' furniture. A 'quaint old china dog'. His new horse has 'a temper like a woman' - it is now sick with dysentery. Cosmopolitan games of tennis at the Portuguese Embassy. Handsome Sister Kendall has gone to Wynberg - she got into Lady Roberts's bad books by flirting too much. A visit to the Hospital by Lord and Lady Roberts. Cold nights.
No. 2 General Hospital, Pretoria. Has been seedy 'with one of my usual throats'. Treating PoWs released by the Boers. He is in medical charge of their camp. Daily routine there. Several missing letters have turned up.
'No. 2 General Hospital, Pretoria'. The war seems to be drawing to an end. Some troops are homeward bound. The opening of a recreation tent for convalescent patients. A visit by Lord and Lady Roberts to the Welsh Hospital [his undisclosed current location]. Has received a nice letter from Professor [Donald] Macalister.
Rocksley Cottage, Cape Town. Is glad that his application to return to England has been accepted. Cape Town is lovely, but the medical work is routine. His research on 'Veld Sore' can go no further in South Africa. Has made water colours of everything he can. Farewells to Robertson, Chief of the Colonial Bacteriological Laboratory. With a PS 'on board the Avonmail (?) a fine ship'. Hopes to sail this evening.