TOPIC:

1901 - Maritz captures a convoy between Lambert's Bay and Clanwilliam.

Diary of Colonel Kekewich:

About 200 head of cattle and 70 horses were to-day brought in from the direction of the Barkly West halfway house.

The mayor is taking much interest in the refugee relief arrangements. He has asked me to wire as follows for the information of the High Commissioner: “Refugees from all points are being provided for and our fund is quite equal to the present demands.”

1899 - From the diary of Trooper A J Crosby, Natal Carbineers

Saddled up at 4.30 and after standing about for some hour or so, returned to lines. Church Parade in Show Ground. Told off at 1 o’clock to go with B Squadron to bring back the horses who took up a position on Lombard’s Hill.

1899 - From the diary of Miss Bella Craw in Ladysmith

Nothing of importance happened again today. Saw the ascent of the balloon. Uncle George and Aunt Fanny went to Early Service this morning. Not long after they had gone Colonel Royston came and said the General wanted him at once, so I ran up and told him. Shortly afterwards we heard Uncle George had gone up in the balloon to see the position of the Boers, etc. So we looked through the field glasses and recognized him, although he was 800 ft. up. Of course, it was more the Carbineer costume than anything else. He is wanted again to go up tonight. I have come to the conclusion I should never like to go up in one of those airy arrangements, floating about in the air in a basket under a great bladder of lard doesn't look by any means comfortable or pleasant.

9.55: We had a great many visitors this afternoon, amongst others, Mrs. Innes from Sunday's River, and she entertained us by amusing little descriptions of her husband's imprisonment at Elandslaagte Station. Uncle George has just said goodbye again. They expect a very big engagement early in the morning. The Boers mean to shell the town, so we will be wakened by the rattle of the Artillery again, and then the quick march of the Infantry. Shall we ever forget this awful time? No one can imagine who has not experienced it. The noise, rattle and excitement of the troops all moving off to the front. In tomorrow's engagement it will only mean a very short distance. The long Ladysmith strait just looks one moving mass, and then the mule wagons with transport clattering and tearing up makes one wonder there are not more accidents. You can't help wondering how many of them will return.

Now I am off to bed. What will have happened before this time next week?

Source: Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross

Sunday, 29 October 1899

Another day of rest, thank goodness, owing to the arrangement that has been made between our Colonel and the Boer General that no fighting should take place on Sunday. This enables the men to at least get a weekly wash, and set things out for the coming week.

We had the band playing this afternoon and the women and children came out from their safety laager and it seemed like old times again.