The location of troops within Ladysmith.
Source: Maurice Vol II
Section A, under Colonel W. G. Knox. Boundaries, from the kopjes at the end of the ridge pointing to Gun Hill (now called Helpmakaar Ridge) to Junction Hill, close to the Orange Free State railway junction at the north-east angle of the town, including the kopjes henceforward known as Devon Post, Cemetery Hill, and Tunnel Hill (or Liverpool Castle). This section, the aforementioned eastern arm, was exposed to flanking j artillery fire from Gun Hill and Lombards Kop, to fire partially in reverse from Umbulwana, and to fire at various angles from Pepworth and Long Hills, and even from Surprise Hill. The garrison was primarily (3rd November) as follows :—1st Devon, 1st (King’s) Liverpool, 2 companies 1st Gloucester regiment, 1 half company 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 2 guns No. 10 Mountain battery, 2 Howitzer (6.3-in.) detachments, four other gun detachments.
Section B, under Colonel (local Major-General) F. Howard. Boundaries, from Gordon Hill across the northern salient to the junction of the Klip river with the Flagstone Spruit, including Observation Hill, Cove Redoubt, Leicester Post, King’s Post, Ration Post, and Rifleman’s Post. This section, which formed the northern defences, was in the first instance garrisoned as under:—
Six companies, 1st Leicestershire regiment, 2nd King’s Royal Rifles, 2nd Rifle Brigade, and, until November 9th, the 1st King’s Royal Rifles. Whilst this section lay open to a wide range of frontal fire from Pepworth Hill to Thornhill’s Kopje, Telegraph Ridge enfiladed the left flank, and Rifleman’s Ridge, Middle Hill, and even Umbulwana took the positions in reverse from varying angles.
Section C, under Colonel I. S. M. Hamilton. This formed the western arm. Boundaries, from Flagstone Spruit to Caesar’s Camp, including Range Post, Signpost Ridge, Maiden Castle, Wagon Hill. First garrison: 1st Manchester regiment, 4 companies, 2nd Gordon Highlanders, 2 companies, 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers. This section was much exposed, its southern end especially, being within artillery range from Rifleman's Ridge and Umbulwana on right and left flanks respectively, the latter height also searching it in reverse, as did Pepworth Hill also, at extreme range. Middle and End Hills faced the Caesar’s Camp portion frontally, as previously described.
Section D, under Colonel W. Royston. From Caesar’s Camp, across the valley of the Klip river to where the eastern arm ended at Helpmakaar Ridge, consisting of three miles of flat, here and there grown with thorn scrub, and cut at all angles by dongas. To the Town Guard was allotted a line of observation stretching from Maiden Castle to the foot of Cemetery Hill, whilst the levels in front were piqueted by the mounted troops of the Volunteer brigade, consisting of detachments of the Natal Carbineers, Natal Mounted Rifles, and Border Mounted Rifles.
The troops not assigned as above were at first formed into a general reserve.
Artillery The first dispositions of the artillery were as follows. The Naval artillery under Captain the Hon. H. Lambton, R.N., who exercised an independent command, to the northern defences; one 4.7-in. on Junction Hill, another on Cove Redoubt. These heavy pieces had arrived unmounted, their cradles, carriages, shields, and holding-down appliances being unassembled. Nevertheless, by dint of the exertions of their crews, and infantry and Royal Engineer fatigue parties, they were in position, the Junction Hill gun on November 2nd, that on Cove Redoubt the day after. The four Naval 12-prs. being on field mountings which had been improvised at Simon’s Town by Captain P. Scott, R.N. (Volume I., pp. 117-119), had gone into action at the moment of their arrival, and were now placed on Gordon Hill. The six Field batteries were primarily treated as units of the movable Reserve, and were not assigned frontal positions. Of the remaining artillery in Ladysmith, two 6.3-in. Howitzers were first mounted on the Helpmakaar Ridge, the two remaining guns of No. 10 Mountain battery being placed in rear of the Liverpool regiment on Tunnel Hill. Two 3-pr. Hotchkiss (Natal Naval Volunteers) were stationed at Devon Post, and the two Vickers quick-firing pieces, the trophies of Elandslaagte, in a re-entrant behind the left centre of the Helpmakaar Ridge.
This then was the preliminary arrangement of Sir G. White’s force.
