TOPIC:

1900 - Mafeking siege day 180 (82%). Wepener siege day 2 (12%).  Determined attack on Wepener position repulsed. Boers shell Elandslaagte camp.
1901 - Elliot commences the first drive in the northern Free State. Monro captures 80 Boers near Dewetsdorp.
 
In Mafeking:
 
A fairly quiet day. The high velocity guns shelled our outlying posts on the western border, with occasional shots at the camp, while the big gun and the smaller ones shelled the town. Natives from the south report that the country is at present unsafe for despatch riders as, though there is no commando, there are a considerable number of Boers roaming about the country between here and Vryburg seeking whom and what they may devour and under no immediate control. [Later they themselves were devoured.]

From the diary of 2nd Lt Charteris, Royal Scots at Wepener:

Heavy rifle and shell fire all day. We dug tranches all last night and are fairly comfortable today. The Boers shelled our horses today. Four horses killed and twenty wounded. Remainder of horses taken to farm in centre of position. Private Lawlor wounded.

1900 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross

Tuesday, 10 April

Same as yesterday only no Big Ben firing.

From the diary of Lance Corporal Luke Gormley, 1st Royal Scots, at Wepener

Apr 10th, 1900

The enemy started shelling our positions at daybreak and also kept up a heavy rifle fire. But they did not do as much damage as yesterday because of the protection afforded by our trenches. But our horses have suffered. Some thirty have been killed or wounded. Our artillery have put two of the Boer guns out of action. The Boers tried to rush our positions on all fronts during the night but were repulsed with heavy losses. The Cape Mounted Rifles had to charge them with the bayonet as the enemy were almost in their trenches and managed to drive them back. The Boers kept up a heavy rifle fire during the night, I suppose to harass us as they could not see to do much damage. We do not get any food until darkness sets in as the rifle and shell fire are too heavy during the day. Even at night one runs the risk of being shot and we can only manage to get one meal in every twenty four hours and that consists of half a pound of flour cooked into a soft dough. This with half a pound of meat from trek oxen and tea or coffee. So. we are only getting enough to keep life in us, though we are all trying to keep our spirits up.