Natal 1899 "Veld Dienst" Letter P K Newcastle

NATAL: 1899 Cover to Heidelberg endorsed "Veld Dienst" showing in violet the P, K, NewCastle./*ZA.R*/9 Dec 1899. handstamp similar to Hart type M.M.1.8. but with several differences. Roughly opened at top with part backflap missing, the reverse shows part arrival mark 9 DEC. This letter was written the day before the Battle of Stormberg, the first British defeat of what came to be known as Black Week. In this battle, the Boers lost 8 men and the British 26 killed, 68 wounded & 696 captured.