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Truly sickening, when people think of the casualties incurred during the siege, they always tend to be military/naval rather than civil, this particular entry shows, if it ever actually needed showing, just how appalling a state of warfare can be for all those who are unfortunate enough to be involved.

djb wrote: 1900 - From the diary of Miss Bella Craw in Ladysmith

Another very hot day. A little shelling into the town. We had none very near us though. Another of the Carbutt girls died of enteric fever today, that is two during this Siege, only one of the unmarried ones left. A young Pinkney boy died next door at the Horsley's today of enteric, another is very bad, delirious. This sickness is cruel and no medicines or proper food to give them. Buller has had to retreat again, so when will he be here? Upon this diet I am afraid Mama and Wilfrid will get weaker.

I hear it - rumoured they are going to cut down rations again.

1900 - From the diary of Major George Tatham, Natal Carbineers

Kimberley news confirmed but we were informed that Buller had returned over the Tugela. Rations again reduced by order.

1900 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross

Saturday, 17 February

The enemy are playing about the low-downest game they possibly could. At about 9.15 p.m. last evening they dropped a 94-pounder from Big Ben right into the women’s laager, giving them all a most terrific fright. It is a pity some retribution cannot be forced on them immediately after such acts are perpetrated, to teach and to show them what inhuman lumps of unwashed clay the dastard brutes are.

This morning a coach was seen to arrive at the enemy’s laager, presumably from Pretoria, around which the Boers all crowded. Possibly one of their big bugs arrived.

This has been a very quiet day all round, very few shells knocking about, but plenty of snipers’ bullets. Taking it all round these latter have not done so much damage as might be expected considering the closeness of their trenches, and although the Boer is so slim and wily, and shows himself only when it is impossible to help himself, our snipers have caused far more casualties amongst them than they amongst us.

The horse soup kitchen for the natives is going strong. Today I saw ten horses paraded in front of the butchers previous to going to the shambles; it seems very rough on the horses, but still it cannot be helped. The vet has been round and condemned twenty horses from each troop. It is far better to do this than let them starve to death, which they will do, as animal food is running very scarce, and the authorities do not wish to interfere with the natives’ cattle until absolutely compelled by force of circumstances to do so.