Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"Pretoria, 12th September, 1900.

Dear Sir, — You will have heard before this of the death of your brother, Trooper John Waddell, on 4th August, at Eland's River. Though not a member of my squadron, he became temporarily attached to it, with several others of 'C' Squadron, and was with me at the siege of Eland's River garrison, which, lasted from 4th to 16th August. He was killed close beside me during the morning of the first day, in one of the small forts or schantzes which were built round the camp. The shell and musketry fire was terrible, and killed five and wounded many more that day. He was struck on the upper part of the left arm by a part of a small pom-pom shell, which also pierced his side in the region of the heart. He never spoke, but just gave a murmur or two, and was dead in a few minutes. I do not think he could have felt any pain at all, and there was no ghastly wound. He died a soldier's death, and at his post — an easy death. Poor fellow ! He was a brave man, for only a couple of day before, whilst out on a patrol, the Boers fired on the party and wounded Corporal Buckleton and Trooper Lovatt. Lovatt fell near a farm house, but Buckleton was shot, (right through the chest and lung) as the party was retiring. He would have fallen off his horse had not your brother and Trooper Vansagh between them helped him out of danger supporting him a distance of about three miles at a gallop, and fired on by the Boers for nearly the whole of that distance. I was not with this patrol, but was sent out to bring in the party and the wounded men. It was hard luck to be killed himself so soon afterwards. The N.S.W. Bushmen helped to bury him the same night, along with one of my own men, Trooper James Duff, of Millie Station, another good man. We lay them side by side, with three others, in one grave. We spread a bed of veldt grass beneath them, and a blanket over them. It was a sad duty for us, for we are none of us such hardened soldiers as not to feel keen grief at the loss of such brave comrades. But it is 'the fortune of war,' and it may be better to die thus than to grow old and die of some lingering disease. I cut off a lock of his hair, and have put his small properties together, and will forward them at the earliest moment. They comprise: a writing case (locked, no key) ; a small inscribed liquor flask ; a small bible, &c.

Yours, &c,
J. Fras. Thomas,
Captain 'A' Squadron, 1st Regiment Australian Bushmen.

James Waddell. Esq.,
Burrarong Station, Forbes, N.S.W." - from the Shoalhaven Telegraph, 25 December 1900 (nla.gov.au).