Prominent among the _personnel_ of the Hospital should be placed
"Durban," the Hospital dog. He was a brindled bull terrier of
exceptional physique and intelligence, and the story about him was that
he was a refugee dog who had attached himself to "No. 4" at Durban, and
that for want of a better name he had been called after that pleasant
town.
He had a great love of adventure, and fell into the life of a moving
camp with gusto. His good temper and his placid appreciation of a
practical joke were among his many excellent qualities. When the
orderlies were paraded on the platform of Pietermaritzburg Station,
previous to their being entrained for Frere, "Durban" took his place in
the ranks with no little dignity.
The orderlies were devoted to him and he to them, and I have no doubt
that, pampered and humoured in every canine whim, he is with the
Hospital still.
"Durban" had had a special collar made for him on which was emblazoned
the red cross and the name of his company. Just before starting for
Chieveley his particular master made him a pair of putties, in which his
fore legs were enveloped. He was uncommonly pleased with these
embarrassing articles of clothing, and was never tired of going round
the camp to show them to his many admirers. At Spearman's he was
provided with a travelling kit, consisting of a waterproof cape with two
minute panniers on either side, marked with the red cross, and furnished
with unappreciated surgical dressings. This exquisite outfit was with
difficulty secured in position, and in the early stages of a march was
sure to be found dangling beneath "Durban's" ample chest.
His passion for bathing was only equalled by his passion for catching
flies, and when we reached the Lesser Tugela he would join party after
party on their way to the river, and would bathe as long and as often as
he found anyone to bathe with.
He was useful, too, as a watch-dog, and performed no mean services in
connection with the commissariat department. Some sheep were given to
the Hospital, and for a day or two it was a problem as to how advantage
could be taken of this important supply of food. The sheep, when wanted
for the kitchen, could not be caught, and could not be shot, and so
"Durban" was appealed to in the difficulty. Accompanied by the cook, on
certain mornings "Durban" made his way to the little flock out on the
veldt, and never failed to pull down a sheep. He followed the cook and
the sheep back to the camp with the air of one who deserved well of his
country.