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The Kadina and Wallaroo Times (SA: 1888 - 1954) Saturday 28 September 1901
The following is a copy of letter received from Corporal F. S. White to his mother under date August, 10:—
Since writing to you from Klerksdorf we have had plenty of work. On the 30th ult., we did a night's march to the Vaal River, where we surprized a party of Boers, and killed two and capturing twenty, also twelve waggons and carts. Next day we crossed the river and are now again in the Orange River Colony. On the 2nd inst., about 150 South Australians surprised Commando Schmidt at Grootvallie Farm, at daybreak, where we got a warm reception, but we are fortunate enough to only have two
wounded. The Boers had eight killed ten wounded and eleven captured. We charged them with fixed bayonets on horseback. Our major afterwards received a complimentary letter from Colonel De Leslie of which the following is a copy:— To Major Shea, Commanding South Australians—Please convey to the gallant regiment under your command my high appreciation of the three successful night enterprises they have lately carried out, and especially of the dashing attack on the Grootvallie Farm this morning; a performance worthy of the best tradition of Australian troops in this war, Signed. A. B. De Leslie." On the 5th inst., we were again successful in capturing 47 more waggons, also recapturing two Kimberly Scouts, who had been held by the Boers. Three days latter, we met the Boers again and secured 54 prisoners and about 50 more carts. To-day we have crossed the Modder River. On the 4th inst., I received a slight promotion having been made a Corporal.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109138025

The Kadina and Wallaroo Times (SA: 1888 - 1954) Wednesday 8 May 1901
LANCE-CORPORAL F. S. WHITE
The following letter, dated from Kroonstad on April 7, was received by Mr R. J. Nobes, from Lance Corporal White, who is serving with the Fifth South Australian Contingent in South Africa :—
Our sea voyage from Port Adelaide to the Cape was very slow. We arrived at Cape Town on the 11th March, but no one was allowed to come on the ship or go off it, owing to the plague being so bad. Major Reade came out to see us, and he said the Second South Australian Contingent were camped at Maitland and were going home shortly. He also told us that Stirl. was wounded in four places, but was recovering. Since we have been at Kroonstad, Captain Watt inquired after him and he found that he was in the Kroonstad Hospital up to about four days before we arrived here; he is now at Bloemfontein convalescent. He is a Sergeant in Kitcheners Body Guard. We had three day and nights traveling by rail to Kroonstad frqn; Port Elizabeth, Where we disembarked. We are to go with Colonel De Leslie's column which is going to be 10,000 strong, and he intends to scour the country thoroughly. We are camped alongside of the Gordon and Welsh Regiments, Kings Dragoon Guards and Prince of Wales Light Horse, so we a large camp. A chap called W. Williams from Wallaroo, who arrived in South Africa about five weeks before us had joined the Prince of Wales Light Horse, but to-day he got his transfer into our troops. Since we have been in this camp we have had several accidents, one proving fatal. On the 29th March, Lance-Corporal Bailey was shot through the ankle, and the same day another Lance-Corporal called Pissey had his collar bone put out and his arm broken by his horse bolting and falling over a fence. But the sad affair was the drowning of Sergeant Jim Hamilton. He was crossing a drift, which was in flood, with his troops when his horse slipped and poor Hamilton was not seen again until he was about 100 yards down the stream and that was only for a second and he has not been seen since. We sold his belongings yesterday, the effects of the sale going home to his mother. April 4th Colonel Methuen took the whole squadron out for a little exercise, and he sent our troops under Lieutenant Miell to take a farm, but we were unable to get there owing to the rivers being in flood. The Boers watched us come to the river and when we were retiring they rushed to the other side of the river and opened fire on us, but luckily there was no damage done. We are going to move out of camp on the 16th April. Our chaps never go out on patrol unless they fetch home a few sheep, goats, or pigs, which goes well after tinned dog.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109137027