Francis John Angus Skeet was born at Windhill House, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, on 10 March 1869, the eldest of six children of solicitor Robert Skeet and his wife Alison Jane (nee Wilby). On 19 October 1889, at the age of 20, he was commissioned into the Royal Dublin Fusiliers as a 2nd Lieutenant and was later promoted to Lieutenant on 27 June 1891. He reached the rank of Captain a year before the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War and served with distinction during that war spending periods as a special services officer graded as staff captain undertaking intelligence duties, and commandant of the Hanover district in Cape Colony. He was wounded at the Battle of Aliwal North in March 1900 and again in February 1902, but managed to survive the war and was invalided home in February 1902. As a result of his service he was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal (clasps Orange Free State and Cape Colony) and the King’s South Africa Medal (clasps South Africa 1901 and 1902). Skeet was promoted as a Major in June 1902 with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, a rank he held until his retirement in November 1913.

The following transcribed letters are a small number of those that Skeet sent home to his fiancée, Beatrice Murray, during the Boer War. The remaining letters together with a complete biography will be published in a forthcoming book. The complete correspondence from Skeet shows him to be scathing of many of his fellow officers describing them as amateurs and a blot on the campaign. Notwithstanding that, he was a great admirer of Kitchener who “always keeps us cheerful” and consoles himself by writing to Beatrice that “one knows one is doing the work of the Empire fighting for England”. However, he was also scathing of the Boers themselves whom he considered “an obstinate, unprofessional, lazy, treacherous race”

 

Naauwpoort Junction
Cape Colony

29.6.1900

My bravest,

The first chance of sending you a line. We are here with the 9th Kings Royal Rifles, Carabineers and a few others but nearly all have gone on to the Grainer River where it is expected a big battle will take place the Boers are about 40 miles north more or less hemmed in by French at Colesberg. We shall probably be here some time. They thought we should be attacked yesterday afternoon. I was away all night about 6 miles off, guarding a bridge which the disloyal Dutch are trying to blow up. Where we are now was held by the Boers last November. We have thought it a good deal as we could only bring about 35 thro’ from Cape Town. I sleep on the ground in a Jaegar blanket but its very dry and a lovely climate though very hot. You wake up in the mornings with a throat like a lime kiln. Things are very dear, whiskey 7/- a bottle but plenty of supplies at present. We have not got a mess but live like the men. I am very keen and very happy. One will enjoy home comforts when we return. The population is principally English and white poor and Kaffirs and we passed through de Aar on Saturday. We have a few scares at times. Have already earned at least one medal. Give my best love to all. I passed the main body of the Warwick at de Aar. Bennet has gone on with the mounted Company to Grange town. I enquired of one of the men.

Much love from Your

Francis

No ladies here.

NaauwPoort Junction
Cape Colony

10th Feb 1900

Dearest,

If you could see me on the position in which I am writing you would be much amused. I am on detachment at a little station Carolus Port with 1 Sergeant and 26 men guarding a railway bridge and cutting about 6 miles from Ct-pt. The Boers have several times tried to blow it up. I have 7 men on sentry at night and 4 in the day. The Sergeant and myself only get a little nap at night as it is very important to keep the line to De Aar intact. I had been on one night before but now I am to be here for a week. I have just had breakfast some porridge without milk and a cup of tea, a little bread and potted ham, made from a tabloid. I sent two men in on a trolley for the rations who I expect out soon. I shall get a pound of meat and of bread. I have some potted things here, whiskey and lime juice, the former for nights and the latter for day. Its very hot in the day but cool at night. We have three tents. Thousands of troops have been passing the last week from Colesberg to Granga River. It is supposed to make an inroad to Bloemfontein. We are the only regiment left at N with A.S. Corps Engineers etc. There were a lot here. I have met the Carabineers and S. Wales Lancers both of which have done so well. The 10th Hussars have a bad name out here. The country is one mass of rocky hills. All the way from here to Cape town. I am a enjoying myself immensely but most of the officers in the Kings Own would like to get home. We have to rough it a good deal and its very hard works. We long to hear of the reliefs of Kimberly and Ladysmith. You hear far more in England than we do. The nearer the front the less news. Buller it is said is now well on W. Ladysmith. I hope before you get this there will be good news. I am so sleepy am going to have a nap and will commence again. The rations have arrived, the men are now busy eating fruit and coffee and any little thing they have bought., theyare shared out with very good grapes. I brought a pair of bracelets from the Kaffir who worked on the trolley which I will give you some day. I got your letter yesterday before starting. Which I was very glad to have and for all the sweet things you say in it. Young Watson is all right but is rather slow. He is in camp at CT (Cape Town) I am going to have a walk around directly to reconnoitre the country. Wecan’t send cables so you will forgive my not having wired you.

My best remembrances to Mr Grimshaw and your mother.

Your loving,

Francis.

Colesburg

22 IX 1900

My dear Beatrice,

You seem to be turning into quite a horse woman with the small pony and cart. Yes! It would be nice to have a drive down the green lanes of England again. I think the war proper now, is practically ended. I suppose they will disband the Colonial Volunteers and send home the Guards first of all. The former are so expensive. Then there will be I suppose an army of about 40 or 50,000 out here, and a mounted military policy of about 10 or 15,000. I might be ordered to remain with this force on account of the work I have been doing. This would mean an active and very interesting life with about £500 a year. If I do not get seconded for this I imagine the only thing that will keep me will be the trials of the Rebels as I am a necessary witness in some of the cases – it ought to all be over by the end of November but still its all uncertain at present and not much use guessing. This is a lovely climate and there is much to be done for it. I shall have more admiration for the Britisher who saw the show through to a finish than those who hurry back to the suits of civilisation and shall I say softness and luxury when the Empire needs them. I am afraid it would be hard for you to come out here – first the parting from your mother and only? The want of servants and changes of life. The English girl even when used to doing a good lot at home does not take easily to this country. But still we should be pretty well off with my pay and we would get the best Kaffirs or poor white possible. But I am dreaming. We must not count the chickens yet for they are at present only eggs. I am very happy and jolly but a bit sick of Colesberg now that I am nearly always in the office. I have spent the week regrouping? Badly burned British Officers and men. I can’t get an answer from E. London and must write again.

Love to all and much to you

Francis

Colesberg

Oct 6 1990

My dear Beatrice,

We have had another scare about DeWet during this past week. He is supposed to be somewhere on the other side of the river ready to swoop down on the bridges at Hurvals Point or Bathubic. It will be curious if after all he was captured somewhere this way. Today, there has been a horrible sand storm blowing, the sand gets into your eyes and clothes, and smothers everything. We hope it will end in rain which is so badly needed just at present. I went for rather a jolly ride with Marden yesterday to Knilforetein which belongs to the Pleuman family staunch loyal Britishers, the father lives in town. My little mare simply flies along. On Thursday there is a big ball at NaauwPoort. Marden and I am going. I am afraid it will be rather short of ladies. I want to persuade some people here to public a diary that was kept during the Boer occupation. It will be most interesting, the husband was one of the 13 prisoners who were kept as hostages – I have been writing to my mother to send me out some under clothing. I am getting very short. I wonder when we shall get our trouseaux and where the honeymoon will be spent. Its been a very long engagement after all. I suppose you have lost all interest in the war now, and turn your eyes China wards. Give my love to your mother. I have written to Mr Grimshaw by this mail.

Yours very affectionate

Francis

Phoenix Hotel

Colesberg

Oct 16 1901

My dear Beatrice,

It is good of you to continue to write so punctually. Every week now you are in the midst of all this trouble. Mr Grimshaw has written me such a kind and sympathetic letter. I wish I could be with you and comfort you, but it seems I can’t get away at present. I shall see the General himself on Friday when I pass through N. Poort on my way to Hanover and see what I can do with him. It will be two years early in January since I left England. We had a sad loss at Hunorse Road a short time ago when Gordon Rehow of the Grenadier Gos was killed. He was such a brave fine officer and caught in ambush by Malaw – Last Wednesday I had to promulgate the sentences on 3 rebels. 1 W.P.S. for life, the other two who surrendered for 12 months each.

With much love,

Your affectionately

Francis.

NaauwPoort

2 VI 1901

My dear Beatrice,

I am sending you a few photographs which I think may interest you. I have had Waltins brother here for two days with me the one who was with me at Mauresce he comes down from Rhodesia to hear the last of poor Louis. I am rather in a state of chaos at present the A.I.G. has been done away with. Col. Morris has gone to command the Eastern District. General Imgo Jones has taken over the Midland. I am acting as his S.O. under, his C.S.O. Major Granville Smith Grenadiers and another is coming but I hope James will be well enough to come back to work in a week or two. I might go on to join Col. Morris or I may remain here as Intelligence Officer to the funeral. I am going to have another try to get into the 1st Dublins. The general is going to help me. It is awfully cold here at present. One day I hope to get home. When will it be? Are you getting fed up with the war?

With much love,

Yours

Francis