9 7 ▁other ▁ranks , ▁ 1 2 5 ▁horses , ▁one ▁spring ▁cart , ▁and ▁one ▁w agon ) ▁left ▁Australia ▁on ▁the ▁SS ▁Sur rey ▁on ▁ 3 ▁February ▁ 1 9 0 0 . ▁Im medi ately ▁the ▁West ▁Australian ▁cont ing ent ▁arrived ▁in ▁South ▁Africa ▁it ▁was ▁attached ▁to ▁the ▁ 1 1 th ▁Division ▁of ▁the ▁South ▁Africa ▁Field ▁Force , ▁commanded ▁by ▁Lieutenant - General ▁Regin ald ▁P ole - C are w . ▁On ▁ 2 5 ▁July ▁ 1 9 0 0 , ▁as ▁the ▁division ▁began ▁its ▁advance ▁to ▁Kom at ipo ort ▁on ▁the ▁Kom ati ▁River , ▁at ▁the ▁front ier ▁between ▁Moz amb ique ▁and ▁South ▁Africa , ▁Re id ▁became ▁separated ▁from ▁his ▁Division , ▁and ▁was ▁listed ▁as ▁" missing " ▁for ▁twelve ▁days . ▁He ▁rejo ined ▁his ▁Division ▁at ▁M idd el burg . ▁The ▁Division ▁eventually ▁reached ▁Kom at ipo ort ▁on ▁ 2 4 ▁September . ▁ ▁During ▁this ▁first ▁tour ▁of ▁duty , ▁Re id ▁had ▁seen ▁action ▁in ▁Johannes burg , ▁Diam ond ▁Hill , ▁B elf ast , ▁Cape ▁Col ony , ▁and ▁Orange ▁Free ▁State . ▁▁ ▁Ar rest ▁and ▁rep atri ation ▁to ▁Australia ▁ ▁During ▁this ▁time ▁Re id ▁had ▁written ▁a ▁letter ▁from ▁M idd el burg , ▁dated ▁ 2 2 ▁August ▁ 1 9 0 0 , ▁to ▁his ▁mother ▁in ▁Per th . ▁ ▁In ▁his ▁letter ▁he ▁was ▁highly ▁critical ▁of ▁a ▁senior