An item reported that according to the newspaper Evening Standard six transports with on board about 5,000 soldiers were soon to arrive at Southampton coming from South Africa. The men mostly belonged to volunteers companies.(1) An second item reported that about the dark side of wars. The transport Kildonan Castle with on board 1,700 wounded or sick men arrived at Las Palmas returning from South Africa.(2)
Notes
1. They fought in the Second Boer War (11 October 1899-31 May 1902) between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek/Transvaal (South African Republic) and Oranje Vrijstaat (Orange Free State).
2. Launched 22 August 1799 at the shipyard of Fairfield S.B. and E. Co. at Glasgow with building no.408 on behalf of the Castle Line and completed two months later to be used as (troop) transport no. 44. Originally a passenger ship with accommodation for 565 men. With a gross tonnage of 9,652 tons, a net tonnage of 5,105 tons and dimensions 533‘x 59.2‘. Since 1900 owned by the Union-Castle Mail SS Co. She was finally broken up in Stavanger, Norway. http://www.merchantnavyofficers.com/castle.html and http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=769
