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Archive of General Sir Archibald Hunter GCB GCVO DSO TD LLD
at the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum, Lancaster.

Hunter in South Africa

Typewritten letter from Evelyn Wood to Major General Sir A Hunter KCB, DSO, Quetta, India, 10 Aug 1899.
Regarding the developments in South Africa with Kruger and the Boers.


“London SW
10th August 1899
My dear Hunter
Many thanks for your letter of the 17th July. I do not know that you have anyone to thank for you selection except Sir Redvers himself, and to work you performed which induced that selection. I should have laughed at the idea of your coming home or making preparations a week ago, but just now the Boers seem to be rather more dogged. I have, however, myself an idea that when the pinch comes, Kruger will back down. Whether I am right or not, lives to be seen. I think I am right. If, on the other hand, the obstinacy of the Boer Government obliges us to send soldiers out, I suppose we shall be obliged to ask for greater concessions than would be accepted at this moment, and there would come the difficulty at once.
It is a great pleasure to me to think that you are happily placed in a command that you like, and where I feel sure that you will give as much satisfaction as you did to Lord Kitchener in Egypt. He sat with me for about three quarters of an hour yesterday, and talks of starting tomorrow evening for Egypt and the Sudan.
Good luck to you,
Yours always sincerely,
Evelyn Wood”
Accession Number: KO2686/021

 

Typewritten letter from Field Marshal Roberts, Headquarters of the Army in South Africa, Johannesburg, 27 Nov 1900 to Lieutenant General Sir Archibald Hunter, Commanding Orange River Colony, Bloemfontein

“Headquarters of the Army in South Africa,
Johannesburg, 27th November 1900.
My dear Hunter,
I am much concerned at not being able to say good bye to you in person. I quite intended to travel to Cape Town via Bloemfontein, but my departure from here has been so long delayed that there is only just time now for me to visit Natal and reach Cape Town via Durban.
I wish much to tell you how greatly I appreciate the excellent work you have done throughout this war. I knew, of course, of the assistance you had given in the early part of the campaign on the Natal side, and when I wanted someone to arrange for the difficult task of relieving Mafeking I decided to bring you with your Division round to this side of South Africa. You carried out that duty in the same admirable manner as you did the difficult operation which resulted in the surrender of General Prinsloo and upwards of four thousand burghers who had been in arms against us.
You have still some hard and responsible work before you, but I would like you to understand that if your health requires change there is really no necessity for you to continue longer in the field. I know from what you have told me, and what I have heard from Lord Kitchener, that you require rest and treatment, and as your services are too valuable to the nation you have my full permission to resign your command and take some months leave in England before you return to your District in India.
With every good wish for your future success,
Believe me,
Yours sincerely,
Roberts, FM

P.S. Please excuse me writing to you by dictation as my horse fell on me some ten days ago, and my right arm is still in a sling.
Accession Number: KO2686/024 & 025

 

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