Another writer shows the trying circumstances in which Colonel Plumer's campaign was conducted, circumstances which, when the historian of the future sets to work, cannot be disregarded:-- "On the 31st ult. we got as far as six miles from Mafeking, but had to retire after four hours' heavy fighting, losing 48 killed, wounded, and missing. We have had a very rough time indeed, always fighting against much superior odds armed with splendid artillery, living on short rations, without tents or any other shelter, wet through with the rain, and scorched with the sun, and yet the people at home never give us a thought. We have been so hard up for tobacco that men have been smoking tea leaves. We have not had a thing from home, not even the Queen's chocolate, and yet we have done as much in our small way as the troops down south. Of course, we have had no big battles, as we have not the men or guns, but we have had constant patrols and skirmishes, nearly always losing men killed or wounded, or both. We have also suffered very heavily with fever and dysentery, and all our hospitals are full." These lines in their bald simplicity are quoted because they, like the work they describe, were originated with no view to effect nor applause, and serve exactly to describe the modest deeds of perpetual valour which were perpetrated by our countrymen, and which by force of circumstance were left to waste their smartness "on the desert air." [Illustration: LOBATSI RAILWAY STATION] LIST OF STAFF The following is a list of appointments to the Staff of the Eighth Division, which left England in February:-- EIGHTH DIVISION Lieutenant-General on the Staff--Major-General (temporary Lieutenant-General) Sir H. M. L. Rundle, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., R.A. Aides-de-Camp (2). Assistant Adjutant-General--Colonel G. E. Harley, C.B. Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-Generals--Major A. E. J. Cavendish, _p.s.c._, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; Captain G. I. Walsh, Leicestershire Regt. Assistant Provost-Marshal[11]--Lieut.-Colonel R. H. Morrison. Principal Medical Officer--Lieut.-Colonel W. A. May, Royal Army Medical Corps. Medical Officer--Major J. W. Jerome, Royal Army Medical Corps. Chaplains--Rev. C. F. O'Reilly; Rev. F. J. P. Jellicoe. Divisional Signalling Officer--Captain C. H. Bennett, Worcestershire Regt. 16th BRIGADE Major-General on the Staff--Major-General B. B. D. Campbell, M.V.O. Aide-de-Camp. Brigade-Major--Captain E. F. O. Gascoigne, D.S.O., Grenadier Guards. 17th BRIGADE Major-General on the Staff--Major-General J. E. Boyes. Aide-de-Camp. Brigade-Major--Captain C. B. FitzHenry, 7th Hussars. At the same time a Ninth Division was formed under the command of Lieut.-General Sir Henry Colvile, consisting of the 3rd (Highland Brigade), Colonel (Major-General) H. A. Macdonald, C.B., and 19th Brigade, Colonel (Major-General) H. L. Smith-Dorrien. For particulars, see Vol. V.