Source: Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross
Thursday, 16 November
Rained very heavily all last night and under cover of this the enemy attempted to dig a large trench within two hundred yards of our outposts at the brickfields. After the report came in, about twelve of our picked shots went out, and sniping [at] the Boers drove them away.
Court martial held this morning on two railway men who had been drunk and kicking up a row. Verdict: cautioned and seven days confined to barracks.
This afternoon the enemy opened fire with old Creetje, twelve-pounders, quick-firer, seven-pounder, one-pounder, Maxim and volleys of Mauser bullets. They kept this up for about an hour and gave us a very hot time. One Mauser bullet went into a wall nine inches above my head, quite close enough thank you.
Enemy fired two or three volleys at about 10.30 p.m. and the seven pounder at about 2 o’clock on Friday morning.
One large shell this afternoon burst in Bradley’s yard, a good many people were about but providentially none were hit. The marvellous and almost miraculous escapes during the siege are the theme of everyday conversation. It seems really as if the Deity is watching over us.
