TOPIC:

1900 - Mafeking siege day 193 (88%). Wepener siege day 15 (88%). 10th Division arrives at Kimberley from Natal. Ian Hamilton recaptures the Waterworks at Sannah's Post.

1900 - Mafeking - A diary of the siege by Major F D Baillie

To-day they shelled the town, doing no damage. They employed a new sort of nine-pounder shell, which will make a nice lamp stand. Two deaths from fever last night, and I fear there will be another death to-day. These late rains have brought out a sort of typhoid malaria.

A most interesting account, from a private soldier's point of view, has been contributed by Private G. Hyslop, Bechuanaland Rifles, to The Glasgow Weekly Herald, and though his sources of accurate information are naturally somewhat limited, it is a most fair and intelligent account of the siege.

1900 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross

22, 23 and 24 April

Same old thing, bullets rattling through galvanized iron roofs, splinters of shells flying about. Horsemeat sausage for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Two casualties, Richards and Schreiner both dead. Lieutenant Murchison, the man who shot the war correspondent, has been sentenced to be shot, but the general officer commanding has commuted this to penal servitude for life.

1900 - Wepener

From the diary of 2nd Lieutenant Nigel K Charteris, Royal Scots, at Wepener

23rd April

Brisk rifle fire.

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

Apr 23rd

Still in the trenches and the Boers are giving us a lively time with their artillery and our guns have not the ammunition to reply. The few rounds we have are being saved for the last moment so as to give them a warm reception. We have heard nothing of our relief today and are wondering if they have been driven back. Our company got some flour last night and we have been trying to cook it this morning, but it is going to be a failure, though we are glad to eat anything. This weather makes cooking difficult and the enemy fire at you from all sides. While some are cooking, others are keeping a look-out though at the risk of stopping a bullet. But if we don't do something we will starve. Today makes a fortnight that we have been lying in the trenches day and night, with shot and shell flying around us all the time. Some men's nerves are properly shattered with the anxiety and strain and the lack of sleep combined with hunger and exposure. Some men are smoking coffee grounds and tea leaves as there is no tobacco.