Item #99960 The Battle of Hartebeestfontein Poort; The Music of a Shell. Lilly Fontein [sic] 5/2/1901; and A Kahaki [sic] Boy. Three stirring patriotic Boer War poems by 976 Private John Matthew Clark, NSW Imperial Bushmen. John Matthew CLARK.
The Battle of Hartebeestfontein Poort; The Music of a Shell. Lilly Fontein [sic] 5/2/1901; and A Kahaki [sic] Boy. Three stirring patriotic Boer War poems by 976 Private John Matthew Clark, NSW Imperial Bushmen

The Battle of Hartebeestfontein Poort; The Music of a Shell. Lilly Fontein [sic] 5/2/1901; and A Kahaki [sic] Boy. Three stirring patriotic Boer War poems by 976 Private John Matthew Clark, NSW Imperial Bushmen

Foolscap folio, [unpublished], manuscript in ink, respectively [2], [1], and [1+] pages.

Loose leaves torn from a journal; some marks, edge wear and old folds (now starting to split); overall in very good, legible condition.

Incomplete personal reminiscences by John Matthew Clark (foolscap folio, 6 pages of manuscript offered with these poems) indicate he embarked in Sydney for South Africa in April 1900, disembarking at Bera on 17 May. The memoir ('Ridges & Valleys') starts out promisingly: lions v picketed-out horses, a 380-mile trek to Bulawayo, then off to the Elands River under Major-General Carrington. On arrival, 'the enemeny [sic] opened fire about 8 oclock and it was quickly re-[alised?]' - and there the account ends! Although Australian troops were involved at Hartebeestfontein, it is highly unlikely Clark was among them. Two other (sentimental) poems ('Forget Me Not' and 'A Sailor Song') are also present in this lot. John Clark died intestate in 1943; a small quantity of correspondence relating to his estate is included (providing a little biographical information). The material is now housed in a custom-made portfolio.

Item #99960

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