TOPIC:

1900 - Mafeking siege day 154 (70%). Clements at Norval's Pont, and Gatacre at Bethulie, cross the Orange River. Pole-Carew with Guards Brigade joins them at Springfontein. Lord Roberts issues proclamation to the Boers.
1901 - Park captures Boer laager at Kruger's Post.
1902 - Bruce Hamilton captures General Cherry Emmett near Vryheid. Steyn and de Wet enter the Transvaal near Commando Drift.

In Mafeking:

Fairly quiet day, pretty heavy shelling.

1900 - From the diary of Miss Bella Craw in Ladysmith

Willie a little better, still feverish. Bert bright. Written his home letters this morning. Mr. Brown came to see him this afternoon and came in again in the evening, also Capt. Long, but they did not stay long. Wilfrid is to have his first increase of diet on Saturday, a beaten up egg.

Bella Craws experiences of the Siege must have been seriously aggravated by all the ill-health in her household.

Brett

In the evening on this day in 1900, at Caesars Camp, Ladysmith, the 1st Manchester's were at long last reinforced with a Volunteer Service Company, it's members drawn from the regiments four Volunteer Battalions, the 1st Battalion, many of it's members came from Wigan, the 2nd Battalion, it's members from the city itself, the 3rd Battalion, it's members from the regiments Depot town of Ashton under Lyne and lastly, the 4th Battalion, the majority of it's members, again, from the city itself.
I dare say Captain Heywood and his men must have been quite a curious sight to both the townsfolk and a most welcome one to the battalion who had held Manchester Fort and Caesars Camp throughout the awful siege, of course, these men also brought with them, much all important news from home and I am very sure this would have been warmly received.

1900 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross

Thursday, 15 March

Big Ben did not commence worrying us until a few minutes past nine this morning and altogether fired fourteen shots during the day. The only big damage done was a 94-pounder into Dr. Smythe’s house (Isaac’s) smashing up one of the bedrooms and generally playing up Old Harry.

About 5 in the afternoon our seven-pounder opened fire on the Boer trenches, from White Stone fort on the east front, firing eight or nine shells and making good practice. She drew the fire of the enemy’s big gun, but after four shots, the Boer gunner not being able to get within three hundred yards right or left of his mark, apparently gave it up in disgust. This one is not a patch on some of the gunners they have had there. Yesterday he had five shots at our Nordenfeldt, every one of which were short, one or two especially only going half-way. He can hit the town, and that’s about all.

At 4.30 6 Dutch ladies paid a visit to the big gun. One bossy-looking chap came with them and, getting up on the gun, sat astride of it like riding a horse. At sundown the big gun was elevated and directed on the town.

The Boers have of late abstained from their usual nightly rifle-firing, but this evening they sent in two or three very heavy volleys, but without doing any damage.

Large pauw flying about on eastern front, could only look at it and wish.