Cumming, Charles Alexander (Lieutenant)

Typed transcript of personal diary and published letters written by Charles Andrew Cummings, who enlisted with First Queensland Contingent as a Private, to serve in Boer War. The diary covers 22 October 1899 to 12 December 1899 -from departure at Mackay to voyage en route South Africa. The letters, printed as a series titled "Letters From The Front", in the Mackay newspaper "Daily Chronicle" cover various aspects of Cummings' service experiences in South Africa, including: military technology, terrain, the Boers, transport, medicine in the field, personal comments on other officers' leadership, famous places and action e.g Eland's River siege in 1900. Brief references are made to Cummings' promotions during service, to Sergeant then to Lieutenant. Additional later letters refer to troops returning to Australia and commemorative services.