Describes journey on S.S. Asia to Cape and life at Wellington 1868- 1873, how they travelled to Transvaal by oxwagon meeting many adventures. Journey took from 17 January - 9 March 1874. Met Trek Boers and describes their way of life. Tells of hard life and hard work at Boschdal putting farm in order. He was taught at home by father and aunt. Recounts visit toMagatas kraal and discusses native dress and customs: another visit was to Hermansburg Missionary Society annual feast. Condemns impractical idealism of some missionary societies. Describes Paul Kruger's house and says Boer farmers trekked every winter and didn't go in for agriculture because of lack of markets. Some Boers trekked as far as Angola. Visited Pretoria 1877 when there were about 100 houses there and on this occasion he met President Burgers. He describes Pretoria, its churches, houses, open water furrow, no street lighting and says Burgers was too advanced in his views) for the very conservative and unsophisticated Boers of that time. Another time he went to a Salt Pan 20 miles north of Pretoria.
Starts in 1899 when he is with Boer forces besieging Mafeking: tells of his part in the attack by the Rustenburg Commando to aid the Scandinavian attack on Kanon Kopje, which was the only real fighting he saw because he was appointed Assistant Commissariat Officer, Assistant War Commissioner, Postmaster and occasionally Secretary to the Commandant; recounts story of Lady Sarah Wilson demanding to be allowed into Mafeking; during attack on Kanon Kopje, he did not see any firing coming from Red Cross buildings in Mafeking which was alleged by some Boers and which led to hospitals being shelled in retaliation, although he feels Baden Powell took advantage of Red Cross flag to put string of them across Mafeking so that firing on the town was made difficult; native raid from Mafeking failed and all shot to pieces with Maxima, order given that all natives to be fired on if trying to escape from Mafeking; says some of religious Doers not above stealing etoren; Sunday cease-fire was an understood thing; rumoured that Beohuana natives would attack their lager but came to naught; describes end of siege.
including final assault, and relief of 17th Nay by Plumer and Mahon; Boers retreat in a hurry and panic ensure'; he goes to Ottoshoop to commandeer provisions for burghers, then to Malmani River; Gen. Snyman tries to rally burghers to fight to bitter end but instead joins De la Rey's commando to protect Potchefstroom; frequent defections and by the time they reach Frederick's Stadt only 600 out of 3600 Rustenburgers left; he greatly admires De la Rey; commandos disperse to their homes and on June 14 English enter Ruetenburg under Baden Powell and Plumer; he personally got to know Baden Powell, Plumer, Lord. Edward Cecil, Col. Nioolson, Col. C.O. Fiore, etc. all is quiet and there are even public entertainments; July 3 English depart and a Committee of Rust and Order formed to tend wounded, prevent stores being stolen, etc; burghers show anti-English feeling and on July 7 Boers retake town but recaptured by Australians; De Wet's commando escapes being captured because of delay in giving order to advance; describes how Col. Airey was ambushed by Boers; 7th August leaves for Pretoria with English.
troops by donkey wagon, sniped at by Boers; given Thistle House as temporary accommodation; both measles and enteric broke out; tries to find work and does little translation and temporary work with mapping section of Surveyor General's Office; August 30 daughter Eileen born; Boers rise again and capture convoys. 1921 - jumps from 1899 to 1921; in Switzerland on holiday with his family; his son is being educated at Cambridge, his daughter at Bedford College London; travels in Italy, France, England; returns in May to S. Africa and resumes work as Surveyor General in Transvaal. Continues this work in 1922 until told he must retire when he is 60.
Says campaign against Sekukuni 1876 failed lamentably and that the commandos refused to fight on despite Burgers' orders. This, plus look of money, no police force and Zulu threat made position so difficult that Transvaal was annexed by Sir T. Shepstone. Of Boers he says, "Every man was a law unto himself and acted in accordance with his own personal judgment." Describes welcome given to Shepstone at Rustenburg when old ship's gun wont off prematurely, wounding convict gunner, who was thereupon pardoned. Zulu War plus refusal of Boer petition for independence old to Boer riding against English.
Tells how an English fort in Rustenburg under Capt. Auchinleck was besieged by Boers, using home-made cannon. Recounts story of a native being intercepted trying to smuggle letter from town to fort and as he was one of Chief Mokhetle's tribe, Paul Kruger went to arrest chief and could have been killed by native assegais had not Rev. Penzhorn, German missionary, intervened. When peace declared 3 August 1881, fort was evacuated with full honours of war. In November 1878 Schoch loft Transvaal to become learner surveyor with Mr. Schunke, Land Surveyor in Cape.
On his journey at Durban he met eons of missionaries awaiting arrival of brides sent them by mission authorities. At Panmure, suburb of East London, he had to help survey the Swanhead settlement for the government. Then worked in Maclear district of East Griqualand. There he saw bushman paintings in caves, including one of British troops in scarlet jackets shooting at charging buffalo. His work was interrupted by Basuto War. He narrowly escaped being killed by Pondomisi impi armed with supplies given by Britain for their help against Sonatas. Village of Maclear was besieged after Schoch had left. Not until 1881 that situation quiet enough to resume work. Describes 6 months spent entirely on own, with only native servants, making boundaries of farms.
