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Drill Hall Johannesburg S.A.
14. 12. 20
Dear Col Buchan,
Months ago I should have sent you my thanks for your kindness in sending me a copy of your History of the South Africans in France. Please forgive my neglect, and at the same time, accept my further thanks for allowing our 3rd SAI Regl. Assn
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to use your sketch of Delville in our Xmas card which arrived unfortunately a little late for the English post. Our Ass:n I am glad to say is going strong & has a membership of some 400 here - and we all so much appreciate your splendid scenes of The South African in France without which we should have had but little to show our youngsters and the coming generations
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of South Africans, & the old expression "Lest we Forget" is so often brought to mind.
Will you tell me - if I am in order? if your Mr. Standfast - was Gen:l Ironside - I knew him well out here and he fits the part so well.
Dawsons death has been a great loss to the old Brigades out here though I am glad to say not many others have "gone west" since the war
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Tanner takes Dawsons place in Cape Town as OC Union Troops.
Genl: Lukin is at the Cape also having returned. He had a great reception here on his return.
We have just received our Kings Colour and the Union Govt are giving all the Reg:ts of the Brigade their Reg:l Colours which Prince Arthur is presenting next month - The last parade of the Old Brigade, I expect.
Yours sincerely
E.F. Thackeray
