| Description | These papers cover the time Smith spent in South Africa, as part of the Army Veterinary Department serving in the Second Anglo-Boer War from 1899-1902, and with one item from Smith's time as Principal Veterinary Officer of South Africa from 1903-1904. There are letters written from Smith to his wife, which cover his arrival in South Africa and his movements around the various fields of battle until June 1900, when Smith started an official war diary and was stationed at Pretoria and then Kroonstad, managing Field Veterinary Hospitals. The notebook, letters and diary record a great deal of detail about Smith's day to day experiences. The letters provide more information about the battles, conditions, scenery, and humorous anecdotes, whereas the diary records Smith's professional activities and responsibilities and reports on facts and figures of the hospitals. |