One Man's Boer War - 1900
The Diary of John Edward Pine-Coffin D.S.O
Written and Edited by Susan Pine-Coffin
This is the diary of John Edward Pine-Coffin from his days in South Africa with the Mounted Infantry.
His diary contains copies of newspaper cuttings of his exploits, and photos of the time covering naval ships, guns, soldiers, and the early casualty wagons drawn by horses.
It makes a wonderful read, taking you instantly back to the hot, baked country which was freezing at night. Short rations for the men and very little food for their horses, you can almost smell the dust.
The book is available directly from Susan Pine-Coffin: £20.00 + postage and any bank charges.
Portrait of John Edward Pine Coffin
(b. 1890s - son of John Richard Pine-Coffin of Portledge, Devon. He died in 1919 after a Campaign in Egypt in which he was badly wounded)
Author's Notes
"I first thought of putting pen to paper when I found an old diary from 1900 in a cupboard. The diary had been written by John Edward Pine-Coffin, my husband, John's, grandfather. It covered his time in the second Boer War when he served with the Mounted Infantry."
Susan realised its value to other members of the Coffin family as well as historians and war devotees. It gives a wonderful insight to events of the time supported by photographs and newspaper cuttings kept by John Edward's mother in a Victorian scrapbook.
In addition to the diary, Susan included the poems of Kipling on the subject of the Boer War.
In order to give the modern reader an insight into the background if this noble soldier, Susan has set out his family history with pictures of his home in North Devon UK where the family has lived since 1087. They were given the property by William I (William the Conqueror). There are pictures of his medals and his notes on the local shooting which he enjoyed while off duty.
"He had written a note or two on how to treat sick horses which includes one old Boer remedy which our local vet had not heard of."
All the information in this book is sourced from old Pine-Coffin family records and the public library for the poems of Rudyard Kipling.
