Extracts and Comments
(from Sources as shown) | |
Kaplan1: died of wounds on 11.9.1900.
Murray: severely wounded at Elands R. 6.8.1900 died of wounds at Krugersdorp 11.9.1900.
Wallace2: Eland's R., leg amputated.
B5172: Baroona Hills Rosalie Qld.
URL4: photo #40.
URL5: severely wounded at Krugersdorp near Johannesburg since died.
URL6: ONE OF THE ELANDS RIVER HEROES. MASTERTONS LAST LETTER. A PATHETIC NARRATIVE. Readers, particularly cyclists of Brisbane, all know the story of how "Johnny" MASTERTON went away to South Africa, and fell a victim to wounds received in the service of his Queen, and for the glory of our Empire. It will be interesting to read a few extracts therefore from a letter written by the deceased soldier a few days prior to his death. The note is dated "Krugersdorp, en route to Pretoria, 26.8.1900." It Ís addressed "To all dear ones at home," and a cousin of the deceased in Brisbane received the sad epistle. The writer says - "No doubt before this reaches you the newspapers will have told that I have been laid on my bed by a shell wound received on the 4.8.1900. Also you will have no doubt heard that about 100 or so of us (the Third Queensland Contingent), and about 350 more colonials, and Rhodesians were besieged by some 2500 Boers on the morning of the 4.8.1900, and kept well going with nine large guns to two of ours, one a 72lb. slow-firing gun, and one Maxim, both of which kept getting blocked every few shots. The Boers opened fire at about 7 am and I received about 3/4lb of the very second shell fired. Í was the first one wounded, and was on the point of saddling my horse, thinking we were going out after them, but the shell put all that out of my head, for it knocked me head over heels. The doctor, the hero of the siege - Dr. DUKA, of the 3rd Queensland Contingent - pulled me out from under the frantic kicking horses, and with assistance got me over to the ambulance, and dressed my very severe muscular and flesh wounds, and there was also a splintered bone. I have since seen it, and it certainly is dreadful-looking and very painful. Well, dear ones, the Boers' supply of shell lessened, for in the first three days they dropped some 2500 shells on us. After the first day our men strengthened our stronghold by digging out the earth to a good depth. Imagine the dreadful sight of the men being brought in on stretchers, some thirty-three on the first day, either alive or dead, and me just lying in sight watching the doctor amputate a leg or arm in all coolness. It was not until the second day that we got any protection for the wounded from the shells. The besieged space covered only about three and a-half acres, with the horses, mules, and ambulance right in the centre, so that nearly every shell broke above us or near the side. Had it not been for the doctor's good heart not many of us would have pulled through. As the pom-poms would break at the muzzle he would give the word, so that we could take what shelter we had. The second day's casualties were thirteen, and the third day's six. The fifth day was the most sad, when Lieutenant ANNAT, of the Queenslander, was brought in dead. On the fifth day General CARRINGTON came to our relief, and frightened the Boers away, but about 500 of the wretches hung around well entrenched, and sniped at any one who showed from cover. By Jove they were good shots, their principal work being done at night when the horses, mules, and water carts were taken to water. The moon being up made it better for the Boers, and several casualties happened each night. On the second day I was lying beside Fred. HARTH, a Queenslander, when a shrapnel burst in the ambulance, killing the man beside him. HARTH got six of the balls out of the shell in him, and the cone stuck in the ground just beside me. Another day the base of a pom-pom struck beside my leg, but did no damage. The corporal of the ambulance was in the act of dressing a wound when he was sniped with an express bullet in the shoulder and cheek. It was a glorious day when we heard of the great body of soldiers, and knew it was our relief, some 2000 of Lord Kitchener's men, and not before they were wanted. As soon as the Sirdar arrived at the camp he came at once to the hospital, and made arrangements to have us removed to Pretoria. He is just the way seen in his pictures. The wretched waggons gave us such a shaking up though that the doctors have kept us at Krugersdorp. The hospital is all that can be required, but it will take me a fortnight to get over the shaking of the wagons. Believe, me, dear ones, at present it is im possible for me, to move my left leg and sleep is out of the question, the pain is so dreadful. The wound is so near the knee that the doctor cannot say whether it will affect it afterwards. I have got that way that I do not care how things go so long as I can lose the pain of the wretched leg." Here follows some touching and pathetic references to relatives who are named, and it would be like a sacrilege to tear the words from the privacy for which they were intended. He says further on, "How is Manchoulis looking now? It ought to be at its best with the flowers and the shrubs blooming beautifully. I can imagine that I am looking over the railings now on the beauty all around. These happy scenes go through my mind to-day very vividly. We had a dreadful night last night, it was one of the worst storms I ever experienced, the lightning just breaking over my room. I fortunately had an injection of morphia, which got a little the better of me. I have had to go under chloroform to have my leg dressed, the pain is so dreadful. It is now 5 p.m., and it will be dark at 6, when the doctor will put me to sleep with another injection of morphia." The note, which has evidently been written in instalments, as if between the spasms of pain which racked the gallant chap, closes on the morning of the 30.8.1900, with love to various relatives named, and all "dear ones at Dalby, from your own Jack." Tears come all unbidden as the eye leaves the last line of this pathetic letter, the last we can ever receive from Johnny MASTERTON. May he rest in peace.
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