The fonds consists of typed transcriptions of letters written by Ritchie to his mother while serving in the South Africa (Boer) War. The letters are dated 17 January 1900, 22 February 1900, and 28 February 1900 written from Belmont and Paardeberg Drift, South Africa. Letters describe William Ritchie's experience fighting the Boers in graphic detail and give information about the everyday life of a soldier in the Boer War. The letter dated 22 February vividly describes a charge on the Boers during which he received a superficial wound from shrapnel while under fire from 5 different points. Included in the letters are a few references to letters received from family members in Canada, receiving copies of Saint John newspapers and his comments about city councillors.

Typewritten transcripts of letters (3) W.J. Ritchie to mother re service in South African (Boer) War, Jan-Feb 1900