Reynolds, Sydney (Trooper)

Collection relating to the War in South Africa (Boer War) service of 297 Trooper Sydney Reynolds, 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen, 1901-1902.

The collection consists of an original hand written diary, with the first entry dated January 15, reading ‘went into camp, left 9th February’. The Fifth Contingent embarked at Port Adelaide in the transport Ormazan, on 9th February, 1901, called at Albany and Cape Town, and disembarked at Port Elizabeth on 23rd March. They proceeded to the Kroonetadt district, where they joined Colonel De Lisle's Column. Reynold’s diary, a small black pocket book, includes regular entries covering the conditions and routines of De Lisle’s Column. Predominantly, the entries are succinct, however Reynolds’ entry on October 30th 1901, headed ‘Col Benson’s Disaster’, has greater detail. 30 October 1901 is the date of the Battle of Bakenlaagte. The combined casualties of this battle numbered approximately 87 killed with 182 wounded. Colonel Benson died the following morning from the wounds he received. Reynold’s entry reads: ‘Capture of 2 guns, Company Infantry, Boers break up mausers, use our rifles, field scattered with empty cartridges, dead horses, broken rifles and head gear, Boers strip wounded and dead. Benson’s camp fortified. Col shot 4 places …’. The Fifth Contingent returned home on April 27 1902. Reynold’s diary covers the year of his service. His entries also include statistics on those killed, leave permissions, addresses and poetry.