This is Jockel Podcast number 232 with Echo Charles and me, Jockel Willink.

Good evening, echo.

Good evening.

From Colonel Grozby, commanding Fifth Manchester Regiment, Dear Madam,

your letter of the 20th of August reached me safely.

Your poor son died a heroic soldier's death, and all belonging to the Fifth Manchester Regiment,

for myself downwards, are proud of having been comrades of so brave and honorable, a lad.

I am glad to be able to inform you he did not suffer any great pain.

He died saying he hoped if he ever got over his wounds, he would soon be able to return to his duty.

I am informed by those who were present with him in the blockhouse at the time that he passed away happily,

and willing to meet his God.

You have every reason to be proud of his memory, and may God help and comfort you in your great sorrow.

I will inquire if he has left any keepsake that could be either sent to or kept for you.

I have asked my wife to call and see you the next time she is in Manchester.

Believe me yours faithfully, H. Grozby, Colonel.

That right there is a letter of condolence written back to a grieving mother in England during the Second Boomer War in Africa.

South Africa.

Of course the letter is painted the picture of a, well let's just say a kind of perfect heroic death,

which I guess is what any mother would want to hear, but make no mistake about any war, including the Boomer War in South Africa.

This scene was awful.

So the Boomer War in South Africa, you know, it's a war that people consider to be one of the first modern wars.

And there's a bunch of wars you could throw in there that are also called that.

...