NAM.1988-03-14-1

The Whitle Letters 1847-1849. Compiled by Gordon Everson, 1987. Associated with Capt Robert Whitle and Capt Richard Manners, 59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot and Ens Robert Whitle, 91st Regiment of Foot, Battle of Boomplaats, Boomplaats Campaign (1848) and 7th Cape Frontier War (1846-1847). An edition of the letters of Ens Whitle written to his family while sailing to South Africa and during the 2nd Kaffir War (!846-1848). He sailed on the Asiatic and on reaching his destination found it a disagreeable place full of bugs and fleas and with everything very expensive. His pay of 5/6 a day was inadequate to live on. From the Cape he proceeded on the Phoenix to Algoa Bay and then marched the 90 miles to Grahamstown. He was engaged in the campaign against the Kaffirs, being stationed at Fort Beaufort, and first saw real action at Boomplaats where his horse was shot from under him although he escaped unharmed. In addition to these letters is a copy of one to his father from a fellow officer in the 59th Regiment of Foot, and copies of the correspondence relating to the application of a commission without purchase for his son, 1845-1847. He retired from the army in October 1852, with the rank of Lieutenant.

7th Cape Frontier War (1846-1847)

Boomplaats, Battle of, 1848 (Boomplaats Campaign 1848)