TOPIC:

1899 - Kimberley siege day 63 (50%). Ladysmith siege day 45 (37%). Mafeking siege day 65 (29%). Dingaan's Day. Buller asks for 8,000 irregular mounted infantry.
Lord Mayor's offer to raise corps of City Imperial Volunteers accepted. Offer of second Canadian contingent accepted. Buller orders construction of railway from Modder River to Jacobsdal.
1900 - Kritzinger and Hertzog enter Cape Colony.
1901 - Capture of Kritzinger near Hanover Road.

In Kimberley:

I noticed at 5 am this evening some large white flags apparently in rear of the enemy’s position at Schotz’s neck. There were a good many of the enemy showing on Wimbledon ridge and some carts (6) moving just in rear of it.

Another signal message was received last night saying that certain messages has been received by CSO Caape Town and certain had not, and asking me to repeat the latter if there is anything in them that would be useful to know now.

The enemy’s laager at Taranthal Drant was moved to-day it is not certain in which direction, there appeared to be artillery firing going on at or near Schotz’s Neck between 8 am and 9 am this morning. At about 6.45 pm I saw that what I think must have been one of the relief column shells burst near Schotz’s Neck. There appear to be about the same number of men (200) visible on Wimbledon ridge.

I sent the following search light message this evening:

“Dec 16th 7 pm No 30. Re Rhodes message of yesterday to High Commissioner agree with him coal should be forward to Kimberley as soon as Railway reopened; it is required for pumping water from Source of Town Supply Premier Mine and also for working defence search lights. De Beers stock of coal only sufficient to keep search lights and necessary water supply going for six week from to-day. Rhodes working harmoniously with me again, but as he will not accept confidential information as personal matter I am unable communicate anything affecting military situation to him.

Natives report Laager 500 waggons at Riverton and another laager of very large number of waggons at Olipants Dam appears to indicate that after defeat South of Kimberley Transvaal and Free State Boers will divide former retiring west of Railway on Riverton latter on the roads leading Kimberley to Bloemfontein. Scrap of enemy’s newspaper to hand indicates Free State Boers from Orange river Colesberg Bridge and west of same now moving to western border Free State whether to points North or South Modder River unable to judge.

Native reports all drifts Vaal River Schmidts Drift to Barkly West held by Boers. River now in flood confirms Boers have camp Koppie’s Dam.

Private letter from Barkly West reached Kimberley to-day; writer states Barkly West guarded by three police bridge held by one man.

Landrost installed collecting mining licences and Boer force has been holding Barkely gone to Schotz’s Neck. Stop. Writer still unable to obtain food. Stop. Farmers 81 in all of LIK GALTHON. Dist have joined enemy – extract ends. Kindly inform Bowen Kington Magna Dorset that Capt Bowen Kimberley Light Horse convalescent. Following should be forwarded first opportunity one ton disinfectant powder consigned REUNERT and Co care of Rodwell, Port Elizabeth required by sanitary Dept Kimberley Boro Council. Reference to yours K4 of yesterday message to FOCUS it is sent by bank concerns specie required for payment troops important it should be forwarded.

“From Kekewich; to CSO Cape Town. Dec 16 No 31. Please see mine 184A of Oct 22nd and 201A of November 14 re pay Town Guard. Recommend most strongly all ranks be paid at Colonial rates. Kindly reply by search light.”

“From Kekewich; to CSO. Dec 16th No 32. Kindly inform Standard Bank, Cape Town Branch here requires in connection pay of troops £100,000 Gold, £50,000 notes, £10,000 silver; £50 copper. Silver and notes exhausted not returning. Kindly arrange for forwarding same.”

In Ladysmith:

This is Dingaan's Day, the great national festival of the Boers. It celebrates the terrible battle on the Blood River, sixty-one years ago, when Andreas Pretorius slaughtered the Zulus in revenge for their massacre of the Dutch at Weenen, or Lamentation. In honour of the occasion, the Boers began their battle earlier than usual. Before sunrise "Puffing Billy" of Bulwan exploded five 96lb. shells within fifty yards of my humble cottage, disturbing my morning sleep after a night of fever. I suppose he was aiming at the bakery again, but he killed nobody and only destroyed an outbuilding. Farther down the town unhappily he killed three privates. He also sent another shell into the Town Hall, and blew Captain Valentine's horse's head away, as the poor creature was enjoying his breakfast. After seven o'clock hardly a gun was fired all day. Opinion was divided whether the Boers were keeping holiday for that battle long ago, or were burying their dead after Buller's cannonade of yesterday. But raging fever made me quite indifferent to this and all other interests.

In Mafeking:

We were aroused at 2.39 a.m. by the Boers celebrating their independence. They sent a ninety-four pounder through the corner of Dixon's Hotel, which is our headquarters, consequently all rooms and passages are full of sleepers, the orderlies sleeping in the passages and billiard room. However, fortunately they managed to put their shell through the bar, which is the only empty room in the house, and wrecked a portion of it and the stoep, which by day is full of occupants. A splinter stopped the town clock, hence the accuracy with which we timed our unlooked-for alarum. They have tried to hit headquarters for some weeks, shells pitching all round the hotel and wrecking neighbouring buildings, but heretofore we had escaped. Then, having drawn their bow at a venture by night, they have at last succeeded in hitting it. After having inspected the damage I turned in again. But as our seven-pounder at Cannon Kopje returned the fire, it became universal, and I think the Boers intended to attack. Colonel Baden-Powell having anticipated something of the sort, had had the little gun laid on their big one the night before. As it was impossible to sleep, I went down to Ellis's corner to join in the fun. For nearly three weeks we had let them fire away without taking much notice of them. To-day, however, knowing it was their national festival, we were determined to disturb their amusement. Our old seven-pounders had their advanced trenches well in range,' and three of them, about three-quarters of a mile apart, commenced playing havoc with the said trenches, shells bursting beautifully in and over them. "While Creaky, like a big dog annoj^ed by little ones, snapped hurriedly at each of its puny antagonists in turn. It made better practice than I have yet seen, and burst its huge shells within fifteen and twenty yards of the guns. When the smoke from its muzzle was seen, our gun detachments laid down, but the explosion and smoke of the big shells had not died away before "boom," through the smoke, came the derisive return of its tiny antagonist, showing " a miss to the Boers."

The guns took no notice of Creaky after the first shot, but concentrated their attention on the trenches, leaving her to be soothed by musketry volleys. Our shell fire had a most quieting effect on the occupants of the trenches, and we had to stir them up by sniping their individuals, and then when they woke up a bit the Maxims assisted in calming their unruly spirits again. Altogether a most enjoyable morning. It is so dull being shot at without answering, but when one's own guns keep the game going, it is quite another thing. This lasted till about 6.30. Just to prevent their being too much taken up by any amusements they might have contemplated, to celebrate the day, our guns fired a few rounds again at noon, but the big gun only answered with a few rounds, and after a feeble spatter of musketry we knocked off. On the western front, about dusk, our seven-pounder, under Captain Sandford, knocked out their five-pounder, and they dismantled their fort and withdrew to a more retired position.

We have advanced our seven-pounder to Fort Ayr, and hope to repeat the process.

The first of our shells burst right among them whilst they were outside making coffee.

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

Dingaan’s Day.

Roused at 4 o’clock. Horse exercise, detailed for packhorse carrying ammunition (2000 rounds) for one week. This means an extra horse to feed and look after, serve out ammunition during fighting. Anything but a pleasant job. Took three hours to graze on Caesar’s Camp Hill. Talking to one of the King’s Royal Rifles (1st Battn.) I learnt they left Maritzburg 800 strong and now can only muster 420 (9 Officers killed, 6 at Dundee and 3 at Lombard’s Kop). We had a narrow escape while exercising horses. Meeting the Artillery, who were also exercising, we turned down a cross road when soon after a shell burst amongst the latter cutting one of the men to pieces. On guard 9.50 to 12.40. Beautiful moonlight night. Could read easily so bright was the moon.

1899 - From the diary of Miss Bella Craw in Ladysmith

This morning was one of the worst we have had. Just at daylight the shelling began, ’’Long Tom" from Umbulwana, and a shrapnel going at once. They seemed to be shelling at the Artillery men exercising their horses uo and down the street, for they were falling all round us. One about thirty yards up the street from our front gate, killing one of the men. We were just up when we heard this one. Some of the small splinters fell on our roof. Part of the poor fellow's back was taken away. His horses were not touched but raced back to their lines. Uncle George and Willie went up and saw him, he was not quite dead. The doctor was there and inserted morphia. I saw them carrying him away to hospital in a dhoolie. There is quite an epidemic of enteric fever here, owing to the number of men and horses camped all in such a small space, and then the drought and heat is awful, and the water in the river is quite unfit to drink. It is scarce, what there is of it is thick, muddy and smells. Nurse Yateman heard yesterday from Indombi Hospital that there were 760 patients out there and most of them enteric. Besides, there is a Field Hospital here and a Convalescent Home, so altogether I should think there must be a thousand all told.

The shelling had ceased at about eleven o'clock. Bert and I went for a ride in the afternoon. We were told by Mr. Francis that another man, a soldier, was killed near them with a shell this morning, and yesterday one had his shoulder blade cut in two by a piece of shell and a horse was killed as well. This morning a shell entered Captain Vallentin's stable, taking the head off one of his horses. They say nothing could be found but an ear and a small piece of jawbone.

Another went through the Town Hall, that makes three in that unfortunate building. Wilfrid is still ill, having had two very nasty relapses.

I think that goes quite some way to show what a very hard campaign was being fought in Natal, sadly, Thomas Atkins was often certainly found wanting in a number of areas.

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

Dingaan’s Day.

Roused at 4 o’clock. Horse exercise, detailed for packhorse carrying ammunition (2000 rounds) for one week. This means an extra horse to feed and look after, serve out ammunition during fighting. Anything but a pleasant job. Took three hours to graze on Caesar’s Camp Hill. Talking to one of the King’s Royal Rifles (1st Battn.) I learnt they left Maritzburg 800 strong and now can only muster 420 (9 Officers killed, 6 at Dundee and 3 at Lombard’s Kop). We had a narrow escape while exercising horses. Meeting the Artillery, who were also exercising, we turned down a cross road when soon after a shell burst amongst the latter cutting one of the men to pieces. On guard 9.50 to 12.40. Beautiful moonlight night. Could read easily so bright was the moon.

1899 - From the diary of Major George Tatham, Natal Carbineers

Shelling of enemy rather more rapid than usual, in couples and pairs as it were. Saw a poor artillery man struck by one near Horsley's gate. Poor man only survived till the stretcher was sent for him and succumbed as he was being lifted on to it. Portions of this shell fell on our house and in the garden.

1899 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross

Wednesday, 6 December

3.30 a.m. The enemy must have very good information of our movements in town. It has been the usual custom to place a reserve troop of the P.R. in the Court House for the night and to remove them back to camp before daylight in the morning; the Boers must somehow or other have got hold of this information for this morning, it still being dark, they fired a heavy volley right down the street in front of the Court House, just at the time when the men were supposed to leave. They of course laid low until the enemy stopped firing, and then got safely back. 

Shellfire from enemy commenced soon after daylight. One 94-pounder burst right over the Town Hall considerably damaging the roof, etc., the shrapnel going all round us, and over the walls and roof of the Court House where we were stationed.

The heavy rains yesterday afternoon have caused the river to rise considerably: it is now about ten feet deep and has washed away our two small wooden bridges. This makes it very awkward for the men at Cannon Kopje as it cuts them off from us for supplies, etc. It also cuts off the small forts outside the native village, so it is to be hoped that we shall not have any more rain and that the river will subside, otherwise it will make it very awkward.

A very sad accident happened this afternoon and the blame is upon the man himself. We have oftentimes been warned and told to be very careful of unexploded shells and to some people the warning seems to have had no effect. Mr. Gerrans, our local waggon-builder was unloading an unexploded 94-pounder shell when suddenly the whole thing burst in his hands terribly injuring himself and two of his workmen. One poor man who was walking down the road outside was struck by a piece of shell and killed almost instantly. Gerrans and his men have been carried up to the hospital and they tell us that there is very little hope of their recovery. Poor Gerrans was known to have emptied quite a number of unexploded shells, and he has dozens of times been warned against foolishly tampering with them.

White flags of truce are continually going backwards and forwards re Lady Sarah Wilson. I suppose if it is possible they will get her back into town.

B.P. has been up to some more of his devilment, using the speaking-tubes in the outpost trenches and hoisting red lamps here and there and firing from some of the cossack posts 4 or 5 rockets. All this humbug must have frightened the life out of Mr. Boer as they have been firing volleys for goodness knows how long!

The large shot in Weil’s store did very considerable damage, ruining three or four hundred pounds’ worth of clothing. The total staff of clergymen in the town, three, have come to grief. Weekes, the English church parson, came a cropper off his bicycle and skinned his face and shins, etc; Peart, the Wesleyan parson, likewise off his horse and is laid up considerably shaken; and Father Ogle, the Roman Catholic parson, fell down a hole and twisted his knee very badly and is now in the hospital.

The natives say that last evening a lot of fire-balls were seen in the air; these we think are small fire-balloons and are presumed to be Boer signals.

The scarcity of news here is terribly monotonous now. I hear that our editor Whales has been placed under arrest for saying what he thought to the staff. The least they could do would be to let us know the meaning of all the white flags of truce passing between us and the enemy. There is at least no secret in them to the Boers and it would be only doing a kind act on the part of B.P. to let the men who are fighting for him know at least what is passing between us and the enemy, but perhaps it is that he wants all these little matters kept private for his own little book.

We are all wondering if it is possible for us to be relieved before Christmas, It does indeed seem strange in an empire such as the British is now supposed to be that they can not only not subdue a petty state like the Transvaal, but that their own territory should be invaded and their towns besieged and shelled for a period of two whole months, more especially after the War Office has been getting ready for a very considerable time past, and that we were told only a button had to be pressed and we were ready to fight the world. Two solid months, what a time of anxiety not only to us but to our outside friends it has been, and still no definite news of assistance. Ah! well, down the trenches we go again with just the one idea, "Keep the flag flying.”