{"id":28623,"date":"2021-08-20T14:47:44","date_gmt":"2021-08-20T13:47:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thehighlandersmuseum.com\/?p=28623"},"modified":"2021-09-17T15:30:20","modified_gmt":"2021-09-17T14:30:20","slug":"the-second-boer-war-the-diary-of-a-seaforth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thehighlandersmuseum.com\/?p=28623","title":{"rendered":"The Second Boer War & the Diary of a Seaforth – P1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ next_background_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”4.9.7″ background_color=”#1C3377″ custom_padding=”11px|0px|33px|0px|false|false” bottom_divider_style=”arrow2″ bottom_divider_height=”32px” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.7″ custom_padding=”||9px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.7″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_font=”Barlow Semi Condensed||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”50px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_2_font_size=”27px” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” header_3_font=”||||||||” header_3_text_align=”center” header_3_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_font_size=”27px” header_3_letter_spacing=”2px” header_3_line_height=”1.7em” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]

THE SECOND BOER WAR & THE DIARY OF A SEAFORTH<\/h1>\n

PART 1<\/h3>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”30px||18px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font_size=”27px” header_3_letter_spacing=”2px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” global_colors_info=”{}”]

PRIVATE JOHN WINNING<\/span><\/h3>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The diary of Private John Winning, 2nd Seaforth, is a captivating part of The Highlanders\u2019 Museum collection, which provides a first-hand account of the Second Boer War in South Africa. The journal is a stitched, dark red leather book that has become soft with age; the fragile, faded pages recount Winning’s story, from being called to Fort George on 11th October 1899 until his remarkable return to Great Britain on 14th September 1902, after two years and ten months of service abroad.<\/p>\n

This blog post transcribes parts of Winning\u2019s diary from the 20th of October 1899, including the days leading up to the 10th of December and Black Week<\/a>, which is considered the most disastrous period of the War. This invaluable first-person account of the Second Boer War provides a personal, observant, and often emotional insight into the event in breath-taking detail.<\/p>\n

Born in Hutchesontown, Glasgow on the 8th of June 1874, John Winning enrolled in the Seaforth Highlanders on 21st January 1892, aged 17. The Boer War was declared on 11th October 1899, and the 2nd battalion Seaforth Highlanders were ordered to report to Fort George. We join Winning\u2019s story on 20th October, as the battalion left Glasgow to sail for South Africa.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thehighlandersmuseum.com\/newversion\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/20210820_125539821_iOS-1.jpg” alt=”Private John Winning, 2nd Seaforth” title_text=”Private John Winning, 2nd Seaforth” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#e5e5e5″ custom_padding=”27px|||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thehighlandersmuseum.com\/newversion\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/20210820_125413402_iOS-1.jpg” alt=”Photograph of camps in South Africa from the diary of John Winning” title_text=”Photograph of camps in South Africa from the diary of John Winning” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text quote_border_color=”#b89632″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font_size=”27px” header_3_letter_spacing=”2px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” global_colors_info=”{}”]

20TH OCTOBER<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

A few reserve men only joined this morning. We entrain tonight in three parties for Glasgow… we left Fort George amid cheers from those who were left behind.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

21ST OCTOBER<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

Arrived in Bridge Street Station at 5-30am, the bands of the Glasgow Highlanders and Cameronians meeting us playing us to the boat. It was an impressive sight \u2013 the streets being thronged with relatives to see their beloved ones off to the war… we reached the boat called the S.S Mongolian. The bell rang at 12 noon for all the gangways to be cleared and then there was weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. At 12-15 the tugs towed us out of the harbour leaving many sad hearts behind. The banks of the Clyde were crowded for miles.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

18TH NOVEMBER<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

We landed at Cape Town at 12 noon.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

(Their journey to the northwest of the country took them through Beaufort West to Magersfontein, located in modern-day Kimberly.)<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”30px||18px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text quote_border_color=”#b89632″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font_size=”27px” header_3_letter_spacing=”2px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” global_colors_info=”{}”]

20TH NOVEMBER<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

The whole brigade\u00a0are\u00a0here now, which consists of the Black Watch, A&S [Argyll & Sutherland] Highlanders, HL [Highland Light] Infantry, and Seaforth Highlanders \u2013 we were the first to leave home and the last to arrive here.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

They have started feeding us splendidly giving us sardines and cheese for breakfast \u2013 also allowing us a pint of beer in the evening…<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

23RD NOVEMBER<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

A&S Highlanders left to join Lord Methuen by train.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

24TH NOVEMBER<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

We got orders to make all our brass work as dim as possible and our bayonets are being painted black in colour, also not to wear medal ribbons; the other two highland regiments have khaki aprons to wear \u2026 as tartan makes a fine target. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

26TH NOVEMBER<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

A train came in from up country bringing a lot of our wounded and some Boer prisoners. The fight occurred at a place called Belmont. One of the prisoners is said to be a millionaire…<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thehighlandersmuseum.com\/newversion\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/20210820_125530208_iOS-1.jpg” alt=”Photograph John Winning (?)” title_text=”Photograph John Winning (?)” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#e5e5e5″ custom_padding=”27px|||0px||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thehighlandersmuseum.com\/newversion\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/20210820_125628854_iOS-1.jpg” alt=”Page from the diary of John Winning dates 20th October 1899″ title_text=”Page from the diary of John Winning dates 20th October 1899″ show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text quote_border_color=”#b89632″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font_size=”27px” header_3_letter_spacing=”2px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” global_colors_info=”{}”]

27TH NOVEMBER<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

I hear Lord Methuen has had another big fight with a heavy casualty list.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

28TH NOVEMBER<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

The HL Infantry left yesterday, and we are leaving tomorrow for Orange River. The Gordon Highlanders came in today; the troops are anxious to\u00a0come in contact with\u00a0the enemy.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

29TH NOVEMBER<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

…arriving at Orange River at 5pm. Here a train passed us with more wounded, some of them being A&S Highlanders who said they had a severe fight at Modder River. The regiment is all split up. My company are on Surrender Hill with a battery of garrison artillery. We relieved a company of the Black Watch here who are going to join Lord Methuen. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

30TH NOVEMBER<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

We can see Belmont from here, where Lord Methuen had his first fight. The\u00a0officers\u00a0of the company gave each man a pint of beer…<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

2ND DECEMBER<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

Left on the march to join the division camping at a farm…\u00a0a distance of 8\u00a0miles.\u00a0It was a terrible\u00a0hot day, which with the want of drinking water, caused about half the battalion to fall out. On arriving here, we found that the Black Watch had bathed in the drinking water.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”30px||18px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text quote_border_color=”#b89632″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font_size=”27px” header_3_letter_spacing=”2px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” global_colors_info=”{}”]

10TH DECEMBER<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/blockquote>\n
\n

We entrained at 1-pm last night and arrived at Modder River at 1am this morning. On arrival at camp, we found tents pitched for us, but did not occupy them very long, as we got orders to be ready to march at 2pm. We can see a long range of hills in front of us called Magersfontein which we are told we have to attack. Paraded at 2pm, every man being asked if his water bottle was filled not to drink it, as we would get no more till we got to the other side of the hill, meaning Magersfontein.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Our\u00a0formation on moving off was the Guards Brigade on the right, 9<\/span>th<\/span> Brigade on the left with\u00a0artillery, and the Highland Brigade in the centre with naval\u00a0guns. We had\u00a0hardly left\u00a0camp when it started to rain. About 4-30pm we heard\u00a0firing in front; found it\u00a0was our\u00a0scouts\u00a0Drawing in the enemy.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

All this time the naval guns and artillery started a heavy bombardment on the hill, which lasted till dusk, when we got the order to lie down hill, 12 midnight. We have one blanket between two men, but we have got orders not to take them off… which is no joke lying down, without covering and wet to the skin, and a bitter cold wind blowing, especially in the kilt.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thehighlandersmuseum.com\/newversion\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/20210820_125418296_iOS-2.jpg” alt=”A faded photograph of 2nd Seaforth in South Africa, 1899″ title_text=”A faded photograph of 2nd Seaforth in South Africa, 1899″ show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#e5e5e5″ min_height=”174px” custom_margin=”-10px||40px||false|false” custom_padding=”40px||39px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|auto|7px|auto||” custom_padding=”5px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text quote_border_color=”#b89632″ _builder_version=”4.10.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font_size=”27px” header_3_letter_spacing=”2px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||39px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]

If you’ve enjoyed reading this blog post about Private John Winning’s Boer War story<\/span>, let us know if you’d like to read more! Contact us via Facebook<\/a>, or send an email to scotgrad@thehighlandersmuseum.com<\/a> to request a follow up blog post.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”?p=28697″ button_text=”READ PART 2″ button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.9.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#b89632″ button_border_color=”#b89632″ button_letter_spacing=”2px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.9.7″ background_color=”#1c3377″ custom_margin=”-1px|||||” custom_padding=”20px|0px|31px|0px|false|false” top_divider_style=”arrow2″ top_divider_color=”#FFFFFF” top_divider_height=”32px” bottom_divider_height=”32px” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”50px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.7″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_font=”Barlow Semi Condensed|600|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”55px” header_line_height=”1.3em” header_2_font=”Barlow Semi Condensed||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_2_font_size=”35px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” header_3_font=”||||||||” header_3_text_align=”center” header_3_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_font_size=”27px” header_3_letter_spacing=”2px” header_3_line_height=”1.7em” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]

THANKS FOR READING!<\/h2>\n

<\/h3>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Read the first-hand experiences of Seaforth John Winning in the Second Boer War, 1899 – 1902.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28626,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"2880","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehighlandersmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehighlandersmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehighlandersmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehighlandersmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehighlandersmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28623"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehighlandersmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28623\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehighlandersmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/28626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehighlandersmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehighlandersmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehighlandersmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}