From the diary of William Watson, Ladysmith, November 1899:
A few cannon shot. Light horse and volunteers, off to the front. A hot cannonade. — Yesterday Macpherson’s cattle were taken by the Boers. Bread 1/- for a very small loaf, and meat 1/6 a pound, when they can be had. Ladysmith isolated. Railway destroyed. Wires cut. General French and Dr Jamison, went to D’Urban by the very last train, to hurry up 4000 troops just landed. When they, or the troops will get here, is very doubtful now. — Yesterday there were three fights, namely at Nelthorpe, at Bester’s Farm and at Fotgieters. Our men killed about 1000 Boers, but our victories are never profited by as they ought to be. As soon as the rebels begin to retire, our men also rest contented, instead of sweeping them back to their ain countrie. — Water works destroyed, reservoir dry. I have the pleasure of carrying water in buckets, from the river which is half a mile distant. It is hard work for an ancient Briton, like me. — Nearly all the kaffir servants have run away. Some of the big stores which employed from 30 to 50 kaffirs, have only one or two left. — Its my belief General White is only playing with the rebels, in order to keep them investing Ladysmith, while Buller advances through Cape Colony, and takes them in the rear. — All day the cannonade has been pretty brisk.
2 pm. Now all is silent. — Rifle and machine guns at work.
3.30 pm. Natal volunteer ambulance just gone toward their camp. I fear we have lost some in this furious rifle fire. Our volunteers are the pride and glory of Natal. They are true Britons, not like Schriener and the very numerous traitors of the Cape Colony.
5 pm. Cannon still hammering away. A shell has just landed in the town. They generally give us a few extra, towards sun set. One has just burst near my place. — The rebels were delightfully cut up today. They are said to have lost 1400 men. I don’t believe this. The numbers of killed and wounded in the reports of any battle, are never reliable. I dare say they lost a good many. At this rate, their army will soon be destroyed piecemeal. They are getting spiteful, and mean to do all the mischief they can. Two more shells just come into the town. It is very unpleasant, for the jagged lumps of iron, fly in all directions, a hundred yards from the place where the shell bursts.
6 pm. I think the fighting is over for today. The horsemen have returned, and there has been no shelling for ten minutes. — Royal hotel gable blown in, or out, also a shell passed through the roof of Forbes’ house, and out at the side, but killed nobody, although there were people in the house. — A great number of people go and squat by the river’s banks during the day, and return to sleep in town, when the bombardment had ceased. A kaffir asked me today, why we did not also clear out. I told him I was old and cared little for the danger.
