TOPIC:

1899 - Kimberley siege day 67 (54%). Ladysmith siege day 49 (41%). Mafeking siege day 69 (31%). Formation of City of London Imperial Volunteers for South Africa announced. Second New Zealand contingent offered.
1900 - Martial law proclaimed in northern Cape Colony.
1901 - Wessels surprises Damant at Tafel Kop.

In Kimberley:

I arranged for a reconnaissance this morning in the direction of Taramthal Drant and Toll Pan of about 250 mounted troops and 2 guns Diamonds Fields Artillery, the whole under the command of Lt Col Peakman. My object was to ascertain strength and position of the enemy and his guns in this direction, and if possible to draw off a portion of his force opposing the advance of the relief column.

The country in this direction was found to be heavily picketted by the enemy, and he opened fire with a 9 pounder at about 8000 yards and made very good practice. Luckily we had no causalties. It was also observed that the enemy still has two guns at the Susanna work.

57 cattle were driven in by a native from Spyfontein.

Several newspapers reached us yesterday including a London one of 17th November! The Cape Town papers give accounts of the engagements at Magerfontein in Stormberg and nr Colenso. Our losses have been very heavy. I think the inhabitants as a rule have received the news well.

Artillery firing by the relief column was heard at about 5 am this morning.

Natives report that during the night 20 waggons passed down the Susanna Ridge in the direction of Jacobsdaal, and a large number accompanied by many mounted men went from Alexandersfontein to South of Spitzkof where there is a large laager. The enemy appear to be making a large number of rifle pits between the brickyards and Alexandersfontein.

I sent the following message by searchlight this evening:

“Dec 20th 7 pm No 35. in reply yours Dec 19th H 103 am sending you 20 natives to-night – they have local knowledge go by separate routes are derelict report all they see to you please employ them on arrival as you think fit. Am sending also to-night 30 more natives to report on enemy’s camps these will probably return to Kimberley in about 2 days where information will be sifted and result sent to you by search light. Enemy appear to be suffering considerable difficulty for water supply. We observe frequent movements of waggons carrying water tanks from known sources supply this neighbourhood. Enemy has abandoned many works occupied during siege of Kimberley. Natives arrived Kimberley this morning report following Boer camps, viz A large one west of Railway about seven miles from Modder River, a small one a mile west railway at Spyfontein station, three small ones on farm Koppie’s Dam, one smallone at homestead HOEFPITS, a very large one halfway between Alexandersfontein and Scotz’s Nek, a very large one in hills S W Alexandersfontein, three small ones near Railway at Wimbledon siding. Natives sent out last night report that at sunset enemy occupy line of rifle pits from Free State Border at Alexandersfontein to Railway near Wimbledon siding, other natives state that hills about Koudoos Dam crowded with Boers and that large numbers of Boers with 2 guns and six waggons arrived in Valley west of Koudoos Dam hills from the North yesterday. Our mounted troops made demonstration this morning towards Koudoos Dam and found ridge west side of valley last mentioned occupied by Boers and were fired on by artillery from that direction for first time since our investment.

Am sending you reconnaissance sketch maps Kimberley to Jacobsdaal Railway far as Spytfontein Shew. 54 Enemy’s cattle driven into Kimberley this morning.”

I received the following message this evening by search light:

“From Metheun. To Kekewich. Dec 20th G 77 referring to my G 40. In present condition of affairs you should arrange your supplies to last till 15th February.”

In Ladysmith:

From dawn till about seven the mutter of distant guns was heard near Colenso. But no news came through, for the sky was clouded nearly all day long. The new 4.7 in. howitzer which the Boers have put up on Surprise Hill opened fire in the morning, and will be as dangerous as its predecessor which we blew up. From every point of the compass it shelled hard nearly all day. I connect this feverish activity with the apparition of a chaise and four seen driving round the Boer outposts, and to-day quite visible on the Bulwan. Four outriders accompany it, and queer little flags are set up where it halts. Can the black-coated old gentleman inside be Oom Paul himself? It is significant that the big gun of Bulwan did some extraordinary shooting during the day. It threw one shell right into the old camp; another sheer over the Irish at Range Post; both were aimed at nothing but simply displayed the gun's full range; another pointed out the position of the Naval battery, and whilst I was at lunch in the town, another whizzed past and carried away one side of the Town Hall turret. I envy the gunner's feelings, though for the moment I thought he had killed my horse at the door. The Town Hall is now really picturesque, just the sort of ruin visitors will expect to see after a bombardment. With a little tittifying it will be worth thousands to the Colonials.

The day was cool and cloudy; fair shelling weather, but bad for heliographs. So my Christmas message is still delayed. A certain lieutenant (whom I know, but may not name) went out under flag of truce with a letter to the Boer General, and was admitted even into Schalk Burger's tent. The Boer gave him some details of Buller's disaster last Friday, and of the loss of the ten guns, which they said came up within heavy rifle fire and were disabled. They especially praised one officer who refused to surrender, fired all his revolver' cartridges, drew his sword, and would have fallen had not the Boers attacked him only with the butt, determined to spare the life of so brave a man. I give the story: its truth will be known by this time.

Sickness continues. There are 900 cases of enteric in Intombi. A sister from the camp came and besought Colonel Stoneman with tears to stop the shameful robbery of the sick which goes on in the camp. The blame, of course, does not lie with him or the authorities here. The supplies are sent out regularly day by day. It is in the careless or corrupt distribution that the sick are robbed and murdered by a mob of cowardly Colonials of the rougher class, who had not enough courage to stay in the town, and now turn their native talent for swindling to the plunder of brave men who are suffering on their behalf.

A deputation of mayor and town councillors waited on Colonel Ward to-day. The petitioners humbly prayed that the bathing parties of soldiers below the town on Sundays might be stopped, because they shocked the feelings of the women. For a mixture of hypocrisy and heartlessness I take that deputation to be unequalled. The soldiers are exposed all the week long, day and night, to sun and cold and dirt, on rocks and hill-tops where it is impossible even to dip their hands in water. On Sunday the Boers seldom fire. The men are marched down in companies under the officers to bathe, and to any decent man or woman the sight of their pleasure is one of the few joys of the campaign. But those who think nothing of charging a soldier 6d. for a penny bottle of soda-water, or 2s. for twopenn'orth of cake, tremble for the feelings of their wives and daughters. Why do the women go to look? as Colonel Ward asked, in his indignant refusal even to listen to the petition. Sunday is the one day when they can stay at home with safety, and leave their husbands to skulk in the river holes if they please.

In Mafeking:

Quiet day.

From the diary of William Watson, Ladysmith, November 1899:

Lots of shell all about. — Heavy artillery fire towards Colenso. Its that precious relief column of course, but it never makes any progress. It has been six weeks in getting from Estcourt to Colenso (18 miles), and now it can get no further. I wonder why the grim Sirdar was not sent as Commander in Chief. He can do his work thoroughly. I think I might begin every day’s programme, with the words ‘lots of shell flying about, and Buller fighting near Colenso’. — Clock tower of Town Hall smashed. Fortunately the clock was removed, some weeks since.

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

Roused 4.30. Stables, breakfast, after which completed trench. Shells less frequent but much too close to be pleasant. Beginning to feel effect of reduced rations. Today we had mealie meal bread and tea for breakfast, meat rice and tea dinner, bread and tea supper. On guard.

1899 - From the diary of Miss Bella Craw in Ladysmith

As usual we were wakened by the old familiar sound again and also distant booming of cannon. We hear no fresh news from Colenso, a rumour that Buller had met with a reverse a day or two ago so would not be here as soon as expected. This dreadful delay! We are beginning to feel it now. I suppose it is because we all feel ill, with this awful weather.

Poor old Bert is very seedy, and fear and dreads another attack of enteric, and no wonder, as the last was so bad. We hear five mules have been killed today.

So the awful siege went on, I do feel sorry for any despondency that may well have effected many people besieged in the town, but, quite frankly, the soldiers were having to endure rather more.
The incessant sniping and shelling continued and you simply did not know for certain if you would manage to survive each hour of duty unscathed.
On the end of that wretched ridge at Caesars Camp, Arthur Curran and his magnificent battalion grimly held on, their picquets, in their hard dug rifle pits, some distance from the relative safety that Manchester Fort afforded.
For one young man, a certain Private John Evans, the day would prove a most memorable one, having seen Privates Dance and Abbott both hit two days earlier, he himself was wounded defending his post on this day, he was so typical of his battalion, just twenty years old, he had joined the Army and been in the Manchester's for two years, at home in Birmingham, his father would receive one of those dreadful letters from the War Office, but, at least his son had survived, Private Evans returned home in July 1900, before another stint in South Africa in 1901, the war took it's toll and he was discharged unfit of further service the following year.

djb wrote: 1899 - From the diary of Miss Bella Craw in Ladysmith

As usual we were wakened by the old familiar sound again and also distant booming of cannon. We hear no fresh news from Colenso, a rumour that Buller had met with a reverse a day or two ago so would not be here as soon as expected. This dreadful delay! We are beginning to feel it now. I suppose it is because we all feel ill, with this awful weather.

Poor old Bert is very seedy, and fear and dreads another attack of enteric, and no wonder, as the last was so bad. We hear five mules have been killed today.

Frank,

These diaries are giving a fascinating insight into life in Ladysmith during the siege. The story of Pte Evans is another reminder of the daily dangers especially to those defending the perimeter.