Paardekraal Monument, Krugersdorp 110 The Officers' Mess 120 Corporal Tierney and Chef Burst 123 Fourth Class on the Z.a.s.m. 125 Fifth Class on the Z.a.s.m. 127 The Vaal River, Lindeque Drift 133 The R.D.F. Bathing in Mooi River, Potchefstroom 136 Father Mathews 142 Funeral of Commandant Theron and a British Soldier, Sept. 6th, 1900 149 Buffelsdoorn Camp, Gatsrand Hills 152 A Group of Boer Prisoners taken at the Surprise of Pochefstroom 153 Colour-Sergeant Cossy issuing Beer 154 'Come to the Cook-house Door, Boys!' 163 Sergeant French and the Officers' Mess, Nachtmaal 170 4.7 crossing a Drift, assisted by the Dublin Fusiliers 172 Boy Fitzpatrick waiting at Lunch 178 'The Latest Shave.' Captain G. S. Higginson (mounted) and Major Bird 181 The Hairdresser's Shop 192 Kilmarnock, Krugersdorp 193 A Blockhouse 196 The 'Blue Caps' relieving the 'Old Toughs' 201 Dthala Camp 210 Dthala Village, From Camp 211 A Frontier Tower--Abdali Country 213 Homeward bound at last, after twenty Years' Foreign Service 219 PART I. FIGHTING. THE 2ND BATTALION ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS CHAPTER I. TALANA. 'The midnight brought the signal sound of strife, The morn the marshalling in arms, the day-- Battle's magnificently stern array.' _Byron._ The 2nd Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers left India for Maritzburg, Natal, in 1897, and therefore, on the outbreak of the war between Great Britain and the South African Republics, had the advantage of possessing some acquaintance with the topography of the colony, and of a two years' training and preparation for the long struggle which was to ensue.