Hi, I collect South African music and I might have an answer to your original question from April 2005. You were looking for the roots and lyrics of the song: "Marching to Pretoria" in it original form as sung by British Soldiers in the Boer War.

I have the song on a single sided 78 rpm record:

"MARCHING ON PRETORIA"
(Patriotic Song)
Sung by Mr. Ian Colquhoun
ZON-O-PHONE
International Zonophone Company
X-348
Orchestra Accompaniment, London
Reproduced in Germany

I am guessing that it dates from around 1901-1903.
And it is definitely a British patriotic song in this version.

I came across your thread because I was curious about the difference between "Marching ON" and "Marching TO" Pretoria. As a South African I was aware of the famous "Marching to Pretoria" song. I had always heard the song as "TO" and not "ON". But I was struck by this version which most definitely puts Pretoria on the defensive. I suspect as it was popularised in Afrikaans it would have been more politically correct to shift the emphasis to going to Pretoria rather than attacking it.

In any event the record is in poor condition but I have made a recording of it. One can still make out most of the lyrics. They are different from the Afrikaans version. But I can forward them to you if you like. It will take me a few days to transcribe.

Also a quick note on the Josef Marais version. In the 1940s booklet that accompanies the Decca 78 rpm album set, "Songs from the Veld, Vol.2", he says about his version of "Marching to Pretoria":

"The really well-known Afrikaans verses to this gay marching song are a little crude for recording, and other versions are given."

Interesting! He then sings it in both English and Afrikaans.

Talk Soon!