Majesty the Queen: "I wish you and all my brave soldiers and sailors a
happy Christmas. God protect and bless you all.--V.R.I." In the evening
there was a soldiers' sing-song in the lines, which was finished off by
three most hearty cheers for Her Majesty. Christmas Day completed the
eighth week of the siege.

The losses which the 2nd Battalion sustained at Colenso were
heliographed into Ladysmith. These were 15 N.C.O.'s and 10 men killed,
72 wounded, and 33 taken prisoners. This was in addition to the officers
wounded and taken prisoners already mentioned.

On December 27th, shortly after breakfast, a shell from the big gun from
Bulwana pitched and burst in the officers' mess shelter, where fourteen
officers had taken cover on the whistle being blown. Lieutenant A.F.
Dalzel was killed and the following were wounded:--

Lieutenant P.H. Price-Dent, dangerously in the head.
Lieutenant Caffin, dangerously in arm and shoulder.
Lieutenant Byrne, slightly.
Lieutenant Tringham, slightly.
Lieutenant Kane, slightly.
Lieutenant Scafe, slightly.
Lieutenant Twiss, slightly.
Lieutenant Blunt, slightly.
Captain Lafone, slightly.
Private Laycock, mess waiter, slightly.

The wounded were taken into the Railway Cutting and there cared for.
They were then sent down to hospital in a church in the town. Lieutenant
Dalzel was buried that night in the cemetery after dark during a heavy
thunderstorm and in torrents of rain.

The men had a bad experience on the night of the 29th. The rain flooded
their bivouacs, and the morning found blankets and clothes floating
about in the water in the trenches. Later on, however, the weather
cleared, the sun came out, and everything was soon dried.

[Illustration: After a Wet Night in the Traverses, Ladysmith]

At the latter end of December marksmen were sent out daily to the
hill-tops some 1000 yards in front of the line of forts to act as
countersnipers to the Boers, who continually fired at the grazing
guards. One man was hit twice in one day by a Boer sniper, but only
slightly wounded. It would appear from a letter written by a Boer that
these marksmen made it very uncomfortable for the Boer snipers. In the
letter, which was afterwards published in a Boer newspaper, the
correspondent, writing to a friend in Pretoria, said: "I and my two
comrades went out this morning to fire into the English position. We had
only just got to our hiding-place when one of my comrades was shot dead;
shortly after, my other comrade was badly wounded, and I lay down and
hid the whole day till dark, when I got back to the laager." This would
go to prove that, comparing him with the Boer, the British infantry
soldier is not such a duffer with his weapon as some of those in
authority were in the habit of asserting.

There was a good deal of musketry fire whilst the scouts were out, and
it was supposed that shots were being exchanged with the Boer snipers;
but when the marksmen, who were posted on the hills near the Orange Free
State Junction Station and just above the abandoned piggery, came back
with portions of the carcasses of pigs, it was evident that all the
firing had not been at Transvaal Boers.

Lieutenant Price-Dent died at 6 a.m. on the 31st December in the Intombi
Hospital. It was found that a piece of shell had penetrated his brain
and lodged there. He was buried in the Intombi cemetery.

Up to the end of December things had been going fairly well with the
besieged. The Regiment had had plenty of hard work to keep them fit,
although they had been exposed to the elements and had had to rough it
considerably. But nothing in the way of disease had troubled them. With
the advent of January, however, whether it was from want of exercise or
from the surroundings of their new camp, disease in the form of fever
and dysentery became rife. They had been situated formerly for the most
part on a well-drained kopje, whereas now they were down on the flat,
and in a position that was not altogether healthy. There were no longer
any comforts in the shape of tobacco, etc., and the news given to them
from the outside world in the place of food was of so poor a quality
that the men's minds as well as their bodies were becoming affected.

The Regiment kept heart under the depressing circumstances in a
wonderful manner, and when Sir Redvers Buller kept putting off his
arrival from day to day and week to week, the news that he was coming at
last was generally received with a smile as if it was rather a joke.

The Boers were very busy on New Year's Day, 1900. It was supposed that a
number of excursion trains filled with the youth and beauty of the
Transvaal had arrived, and consequently the young Boer blood was all for
showing off. The big gun on Bulwana threw in the aggregate during the
day 1-1/2 tons of iron into the town, with the result that two men were
killed. There was likewise a good deal of sniping, chiefly at the Indian
"grass cuts."

One shell thrown into Ladysmith on New Year's Day had engraved on it
"Compliments of the season," and contained a bursting charge of
liquorice in the place of melinite, and a paper on which was written:--

"Good morning Mr. Franchise, don't be so
cowardly to stay in holes, ye brave hero.

"Your faithfully,
"SMALL LONG TOM."

Another blind shell picked up was full of sweetmeats.

Messages of good wishes to the garrison were received from Her Majesty,
from Sir Redvers Buller, and from the soldiers, sailors, and civilians
of Hong Kong.

Sir George White came round to see the Regiment in the evening, and
informed the officers that Sir Redvers Buller would make no move for a
fortnight. This was definite news, at any rate.

At dawn on January 3rd most of the naval guns fired off a large amount
of shell, and there was considerable guessing amongst the uninitiated as
to what was or were the targets. Shells fell at the foot of Bulwana,
near the searchlight on the top, and also near the big gun. It was
afterwards learnt that all the shells were meant for one particular spot
on Bulwana, viz. the big gun.

On occasions it was the duty of the Regiment to send one company to
dismount the 4.7 gun known as "Lady Anne" and place it on carts
preparatory to its being shifted elsewhere. This was easily accomplished
at the commencement of the siege in one night by 100 men. At the end of
the siege, however, owing to the weakness of the men, the task was never
completed under two nights, and then by 200 men.

About this time one company of the Regiment was ordered down to the
railway station as a station and bridge guard. This was a three-days'
post, and was much appreciated, as the men, being quite concealed
amongst trees, had more freedom, and the officer in command had a
railway carriage to sleep in.

On January 5th the following moves took place, and as the position of
companies is important, they are given in full.

Three companies proceeded under Major Curry to Observation Hill to
relieve the companies of the 60th Rifles ordered to Caesar's Camp. One
company was ordered to the railway station as bridge guard. A half
company was sent to form the Bell's Spruit picquet, the other half
remaining at the Railway Cutting. In the early hours of January 6th
three fresh companies relieved those on Observation Hill, the latter
returning to the Railway Cutting; the two companies at the railway
bridge and at Bell's Spruit stood fast in their positions of the
previous day.

The Boer attack of January 6th on the positions round Ladysmith
commenced on Wagon Hill at about 2.45 a.m., and the Boers were not
finally repulsed till after dark on the evening of the same day.

As the great attack has been so ably described by various authors, it
will suffice here to give a rough outline of what took place on Caesar's
Camp and Wagon Hill prior to the companies of the Regiment reaching the
latter place.

The Boers attacked Wagon Hill at about 2.45 a.m., and amidst a good deal
of confusion on the top, where 4:7 gun was in the act of being mounted,
gained possession of the front crest. Their attempt to take Wagon Hill
itself failed. Reinforcements consisting of two companies Gordon
Highlanders and three squadrons of I.L.H. were sent to assist the 60th
Rifles, the men of the I.L.H., and the detachment of Sappers already
engaged with the Boers.

[Illustration: The Railway Bridge, with Caesar's Camp in Distance,
Ladysmith]

An hour later the attack on Caesar's Camp developed. The Manchesters were
prepared for them, and one company Gordon Highlanders was sent to
reinforce. The Boers, unable to advance against the front crest of
Caesar's Camp, attempted to turn the flank of the Manchesters along the
northern slopes. This attempt was foiled by the advance of the one
company Gordon Highlanders, assisted by the 53rd Battery which had come
into action on the plain below. The Rifle Brigade reinforced Caesar's
Camp at about 7 a.m., and two more companies of the Gordons were sent
there at about 2 p.m. By 10 a.m. the Boers had been pushed back off
Caesar's Camp, and Wagon Hill was reported nearly clear.

Wagon Hill was further reinforced by the 18th Hussars at 10 a.m.

At 1 p.m. the Boers, who had always hung on to their crest line, again
attempted to rush Wagon Hill point, and though they gained a temporary
advantage failed to establish themselves.

Sir George White ordered that the hill should be cleared of Boers at all
costs before nightfall, and he sent the 5th Lancers and 19th Hussars to
support the troops already at Wagon Hill, and at the same time three
companies of the Devons were ordered to proceed there with all dispatch.

At 10 a.m. the three companies of the Devons, which were in camp,
commanded respectively by Captain W.B. Lafone, Lieutenant Masterson with
Lieutenant Walker, and Lieutenant Field, the whole commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Park, had been ordered to proceed to the camp near
Iron Bridge vacated that morning by the Gordon Highlanders, to be ready
as a reserve if wanted.

At about 3.30 p.m. these three companies received orders to proceed at
once to Wagon Hill to reinforce Colonel Ian Hamilton's command and to
push on, as help was urgently required. The Adjutant, Captain H.S.L.
Ravenshaw, was sent back to camp to order rations and water to be sent
out. Wagon Hill was reached at 4.45 p.m., and it was then ascertained
that the 5th Lancers and 19th Hussars had already been merged into the
firing line, and that a party of forty or fifty Boers were still in
possession of the hill some 100 yards in front of the ridge held by the
Imperial Light Horse, and directly in front of where the three companies
were then halted under cover, that these Boers had been holding on all
day there and inflicting great loss, and that our troops had been unable
to dislodge them. Colonel Park was asked if he could turn them out by
rushing them with the bayonet. He answered, "We will try." After the
three companies had been formed up in column with bayonets fixed and
magazines charged, Colonel Park gave the order to advance at fifty paces
interval in quick time, and when the top of the ridge was reached to
charge the position occupied by the Boers.

The charge took place in a blinding hail-storm, a time well chosen, as
the hail was beating into the faces of the Boers. The men, before
reaching the place where they formed up for the charge, were wet
through, and had put on their warm coats which they had carried strapped
on to their belts.

When the storm was at its height, Colonel Park gave the order to charge.
Lieutenant Field, who commanded the leading company, rushed forward up
the slope, shouting, "Company, double charge!" He was immediately
followed at a distance of about ten yards by Masterson's company, which
was immediately followed by Lafone's. As they got to the top of the
crest they came in view of the sangar of rocks held by the I.L.H. At the
corner of this they had to change direction half right, and the moment
they reached it came under fire from the Boers. There was necessarily
some crowding at this corner, owing to the change of direction, and the
fact that the companies in their eagerness had followed so soon the one
behind the other. There was, however, no halting, no dwelling here. On
they went to reach their goal, 130 yards away, over perfectly flat open
ground, fired into at short range from right, left, and front.
Three-parts of the way across Park directed the rear company more to the
right, the position the Boers occupied being in a semicircle.

[Illustration: Lieut.-Colonel C.W. Park]

The enemy held on, firing most heavily, until the charging lines were
within fifteen yards of them, and then ran down the slope and
disappeared behind a ridge of rocks some forty yards ahead, beyond which
the ground was dead and fell steeply away to the front. Almost before
the men could be secured in the position they had won, bullets began to
come in quickly from the right and left, and the cover of the rocks had
to be sought as several men were hit. A few of the Boers who had been
dislodged also crept back to the low ridge of rocks in front and began
firing, and it was at this time that Captain Lafone and Lieutenant Field
were hit. Lieutenant Walker, Somerset Light Infantry, and about
thirty-five men were hit during the charge. Colonel Park was then the
only officer left, the three companies being commanded by
non-commissioned officers.

Lieutenant Walker was one of the last shot dead in the charge. He was
shot through the head (as were most of the killed) within fifteen yards
of the kopje held by the Boers.

Lieutenant Field rushed forward beyond this kopje and lay down in the
open and commenced firing at the Boers at the crest just in front. He
was very shortly afterwards shot through the head.

Captain Lafone was shot shortly before Lieutenant Field. He was in the
act of firing at the time, taking aim, and was shot by a Boer lying in
the grass some twenty-five yards away on his right rear. Before he was
killed he had suggested to Lieutenant Masterton that some one should go
back to the I.L.H. sangar to ask them to direct their fire on to some
Boers on the left front; these were firing into the dead and wounded who
had been hit during the charge and left out in the open.

Lieutenant Masterton at once volunteered, and started to run back over
the 130 yards. He got most of the way across when he was hit in the legs
by a bullet, but he continued his course, and being struck again fell,
and was dragged behind cover by the I.L.H. He delivered his message.

The position won was held until the Boers retired under cover of
darkness. The men were then placed in defensive positions, and picquets
told off.

The wounded were subsequently cared for, and the dead left where they
had fallen till daylight.

Colonel Park described the fire of the Boers as like the crackle of a
piece of gorse in a blazing fire. Colour-Sergeant Palmer, who so greatly
distinguished himself both during and after the charge, said the air was
hot with bullets. His rifle was shot in two at the lower band as he was
taking aim, splinters grazing his face and hands. Half the survivors had
their clothing shot through, and the majority of the killed were found
to have been hit two or three times.

The strength of the force was 5 officers and 184 non-commissioned
officers and men, of whom 3 officers and 14 men were killed and 1
officer and 34 men were wounded.

Although the loss was great, viz. nearly one-third of the total number,
it is a matter of surprise that more were not hit during the run of 130
yards, exposed as they were for about three minutes to magazine fire at
a point-blank range. It can be accounted for by the fact that the Boers
crouching behind the rocks were rather below than above the level of the
men, and their fire being consequently directed upwards, the bullets
passed high and over the heads of the charging companies. This would
explain why the majority of the killed were shot through the head.
Lieutenant Walker was hit in the chin, the bullet cutting his chin-strap
and passing out at the back and top of his head.

The following morning, as the men were collecting and parading
preparatory to marching back to the railway cutting, Sir George White
rode up and addressed them. Shaking Colonel Park by the hand he said: "I
congratulate and thank you for the splendid work you and your men did
yesterday. It was magnificently done. I am afraid you suffered very
heavily, but you must remember that such work as that cannot be done for
the Empire without loss."

Whilst the three companies were performing such gallant deeds on the
southern defences, the three companies under Major Curry were holding
their own on the north-west defences at Observation Hill.

The Boers attacked this post heavily in the morning, and were supported
by six field-guns, which were supposed to have been the Colenso guns of
General Buller's army, shrapnel being continually burst with excellent
precision over the defences.

[Illustration: Naval Battery Hill, Ladysmith]

[Illustration: Monument Erected to Devons on Wagon Hill, on Spot Where
the Charge Took Place, Ladysmith]

The account of the fighting which took place is told in Major Curry's
own words:--

"The battle of Ladysmith commenced between 2 and 3 a.m. on Caesar's Camp
and soon we were engaged all round. The three companies which had
proceeded to Observation Hill originally had just been relieved by three
fresh companies. At about 4 a.m. Lieutenant Emerson reported to me that
there was a party of Boers to his front, that he had fired on them, and
that they had retired. I thought it was the usual picquet and that they
had gone right back (it was too dark to see much); but such was not the
case, for they had concealed themselves in a fold in the ground about
300 yards to our front. Their strength must have been between seventy
and eighty.

"The enemy brought fire to bear on us from a 40-pounder howitzer, a
field-gun, and a hotchkiss on Surprise Hill, and from one or two
field-guns on the hill to our right over Hyde's Farm. They pounded away
all the morning, and brought a continuous rifle fire on our position as
well. At about 9.30 a.m. I heard a rattle of musketry from our centre
work, and when I went up there I found that the enemy, who had concealed
themselves in the fold in the ground in the early morning, had advanced
right up the hill and had got within a few yards of our sangars before
being seen. We killed nine and wounded twelve. They retired again to
their cover, where they remained for the greater part of the day,
slipping away by ones and twos back to their position. At about 4 p.m. a
tremendous thunder and hail storm came on, which blotted out everything.
The fire, which had ceased as the storm came on, was not renewed. Our
loss was two killed by rifle fire, when the Boers made their attack. Our
sangars were frequently breached by the 40-lb. shell during the day, but
there was no loss from shell fire."

These three companies were relieved by the Leicesters the next evening.

Lieutenant Masterson was rewarded with the Victoria Cross, and the
following is the official account of his gallant deed:--

"During the action at Wagon Hill, on the 6th January, 1900, Lieutenant
Masterson commanded with the greatest gallantry and dash one of the
three companies of his regiment, which charged a ridge held by the
enemy, and captured the position.

"The companies were then exposed to a most heavy and galling fire from
the right and left front. Lieutenant Masterson undertook to give a
message to the Imperial Light Horse, who were holding a ridge some
hundred yards behind, to fire to the left front and endeavour to check
the enemy's fire.

"In taking this message he crossed an open space of a hundred yards,
which was swept by a most heavy cross fire, and although badly wounded
in both thighs managed to crawl in and deliver his message before
falling exhausted into the Imperial Light Horse trench. His unselfish
heroism was undoubtedly the means of saving several lives."

The gallant conduct of Colour-Sergeant Palmer was brought to notice
under the following circumstances: When three companies of the Regiment
were ordered to charge the ridge held by the enemy on Wagon Hill on
January 6th, 1900, Colour-Sergeant Gilbert Palmer was with the leading
company, and he at once dashed out to the front with most conspicuous
bravery, and went straight for the point from which the heaviest fire
was coming. The enemy ran before they were reached, but the three
companies were exposed to a galling fire from the right, left, and
front. Colour-Sergeant Palmer got behind a rock and shot several of the
enemy, at the same time keeping a constant eye upon his own men, telling
them when and where to fire, and when to take cover. When all the
company officers were either killed or wounded, he at once recognized
his position as senior non-commissioned officer, and was invaluable in
getting orders passed to the other companies, and in superintending the
men till dark, when the enemy retired. He then, acting under orders,
personally placed the outpost line, saw to the collection of the dead
and wounded, and, in fact, rendered invaluable assistance in every way.

His dash and pluck during the bayonet charge, his coolness and steady
courage under a heavy cross fire, and the power of command and of quick
and correct judgment displayed by him were most brilliant.
Colour-Sergeant Palmer's name was previously brought to notice for
gallant conduct at the battle of Elandslaagte on October 21st, 1899, so
that this made the second occasion on which he conspicuously
distinguished himself.

The names of the following non-commissioned officers and men were also
brought to notice for gallantry on the occasion:--

Lance-Corporal Gilbert Young.
"      "     Frank John Rowe.
Private Henry Brimmicombe.
"    R.G. Hansford.
"    E. Norman.
"    H. Cox.

The following message from Her Majesty the Queen was received by Sir
George White for promulgation:--

"To Sir George White,

"Ladysmith.

"Warmly congratulate you and all under your command on your brilliant
success. Greatly admire conduct of Devonshire Regiment.

V.R.I."

The following telegram was also received:--

"O/C Devon Regiment,

"Railway Cutting.

"G.O.C. directs me to convey direct to you the following message from
Sir R. Buller:--

"'Congratulate all troops on gallant defence, especially Devon
Regiment.'"

The losses sustained by the garrison of Ladysmith on the 6th January
were:--

Killed.  Wounded.
Officers                     18        25

Men                         150       224

Total killed and wounded, 417.

By the death of Captain Lafone the Regiment lost one of the
kindest-hearted and best officers that ever led a company.

The Boers' losses are estimated at 64 killed and 119 wounded. This
estimate may be considered low, for the _Standard and Diggers' News_,
copies of which were found later on in the war, gave six full-length
columns of killed and wounded amongst the various commandos.

A large donga was utilized by the Boers as a dressing station. The
violent storm on the afternoon of the 6th filled all the dry dongas and
turned them at once into mountain torrents. It is said that all the
wounded Boers in this donga were swept out into the Klip River and
drowned. The dead of the Regiment were buried with those of other
regiments, in a grave under Wagon Hill. Captain Lafone and Lieutenant
Field were buried in the cemetery in Ladysmith.

On the morning of January 8th all the wounded were sent by train to
Intombi Camp, including Lieutenant Masterson, who was doing well.

On January 9th the Regiment was concentrated at the railway cutting, the
company at the railway station having been permanently relieved from the
post by a company of the Liverpool Regiment. The battalion was thus
ready to be moved to any portion of the defences requiring assistance,
in case of attack.

The estimation in which the battalion was held at this time by the
Ladysmith garrison was well borne out by a remark made by Sir George
White. "The Devons," he said, "have never failed me yet. On the 6th they
held one place and took another."

A scare in the evening that the Boers were to attack again in the
morning caused various preparations to be made for their advent. The
garrison stood to arms at 3.15 a.m. awaiting the attack.

It is a curious fact that the Regiment was never ordered to stand to
arms in the morning before three o'clock at any time previous to or
after the 6th January, and the only time the Boers made a night attack
they did so at 2.15 a.m. This was on January 6th, on which day the
Regiment was ordered to stand to arms at 4.15 a.m.

During the night of January 9th-10th the naval guns fired in the
direction of Surprise Hill, and whilst this was proceeding the mountain
battery's two remaining guns also threw some star shell in the same
direction. The Boers were hugely elated at the sight of the star shell.
This was probably the first time they had seen them. They turned their
searchlight on to the stars when they fell on the ground, and cheered
lustily. They evidently considered that it was a performance got up for
their special entertainment by Messrs. Brock and Co., direct from the
Crystal Palace.

The cause of all this shell fire was not known, but it would appear as
if information had been received that the Boers had been collecting at
the back of Surprise Hill the evening before, with a view to a renewed
attack. Nothing, however, in the shape of an attack occurred, and at 3
a.m. firing ceased, and the sun rose in the morning in tranquillity.

On the 11th three messages were received by the garrison congratulating
them on their good work of January 6th: one from the Governor of Natal,
one from Valparaiso, and one from General Buller. The last named stated
in his telegram that he would relieve Ladysmith as soon as possible.

It was stated that Sir George White had heliographed to Sir Redvers
Buller informing him that there were over 2000 sick and wounded in
Intombi Hospital Camp, that he could not hold out for much longer, and
that he must not expect any assistance from him when he made his effort.
Sir Redvers Buller had replied that he was sparing no effort to push
forward, and that he hoped to be ready soon.

The number of patients in the Intombi Hospital Camp had increased by
January 10th to--

Over 400 cases of dysentery;
"   600 cases of enteric fever;
"   200 cases not yet diagnosed, but probably enteric fever;
"   800 cases wounded and various.

The daily rations of the garrison now consisted of 1/2 lb. of tinned
meat and 1 lb. of bread per man.

Had it not been for the Indian Contingent there would have been no flour
at all in Ladysmith. All the flour, all the rum, in fact almost
everything that the garrison lived upon with the exception of meat, was
brought from India with the Indian Contingent, which carried with it six
months' supply of every description.

From January 12th, another duty assigned to the Regiment was the sending
of two companies every morning at two o'clock to the examining guard on
the Newcastle road, which was situated just under the 4.7 naval gun
"Lady Anne." They had orders to stop there till 4.30 a.m. to check any
rush of Boers into Ladysmith down the Newcastle road. Later on, the
ground in front of this post was covered with barbed wire entanglement,
but up to this time there was nothing at this point to prevent the Boers
galloping right into the town.

[Illustration: A Peaceful Sunday]

[Illustration: Klip River and Camp of the Imperial Light Horse,
Ladysmith]

As these two companies went to their places on the 12th, the Boer
searchlight on Bulwana was flashing everywhere, and the mountain guns
throwing star shell. It looked as if both sides expected an attack. The
officer commanding the two companies had orders to operate on the flank
of any attack made on the northern defences.

On the following morning the garrison was told that General Buller was
moving round by Springfield; in the evening it was given out that he was
moving west of Chieveley and Colenso, and was twelve miles from
Ladysmith; and on the 14th the news came in that he was at Potgieter's
Drift, and that General Warren was across the Tugela River; and in
confirmation of this last information heavy gun fire was heard on the
17th in the direction of Potgieters, and the relieving army's balloon
was seen on the following day in the same direction.

As an attack was expected on the night of the 19th on Observation Hill,
three companies of the Regiment under Major Curry proceeded there in the
evening and bivouacked, the remainder of the Regiment being under orders
to hold themselves in readiness to proceed there at a moment's notice.
The night, however, passed quietly, and the companies returned to their
camp before dawn.

On January 20th better news was received from Sir Redvers Buller; his
advance had been very satisfactory. Reports stated that he had reached
Acton Holmes, and that four brigades had crossed the Tugela. His shells
were seen falling thickly on Thabba Nyama mountain.

The tea and sugar rations were, however, cut down to half. The health of
the men began now to generally improve, probably owing to better
drinking water which was obtainable from the condenser, recently
arranged for, at the railway station.

Very heavy gun fire, night and day, was continually heard from the
direction of Spion Kop and Acton Holmes, and on the 23rd a demonstration
was made from Ladysmith, the mounted troops going out under cover of the
fire of all the guns. The Ladysmith guns on all the fronts opened, but
were answered only by the Boer guns on Gun Hill and Bulwana. There was
but little musketry fire from Pepworth direction, and Surprise Hill
seemed deserted.

Still no relief appeared, and the rations were:--

12 oz. of beef,
1 lb. of bread.
Half ration of sugar.
Half ration of tea.

An order published on the 23rd gave hope:--

"Sir George White has received further satisfactory news as to Sir R.
Buller's advance. The relief of Ladysmith may be said to be within
measurable distance."

Very heavy gun fire was heard from 3 a.m. on the 24th till 2 p.m., and
in the evening further encouragement was circulated:--

"Reassuring news has been received from Sir R. Buller."

No news from the relieving army was received on the 25th. Heavy firing
continued, and in the evening the Boers were seen trekking from the
direction of Spion Kop, all the laagers on the rear slopes of the
mountain clearing off and making for Vanreenen's Pass and Newcastle. In
fact, the whole country round Spion Kop seemed about to be hurriedly
abandoned by the Boers. Great excitement prevailed in Ladysmith.

An investigation of the slopes of Spion Kop through the glasses at
daybreak on the following morning proved, however, disappointing, for
the laagers which had cleared off the night before were back again in
their places. Moreover, the Boers round Ladysmith were very truculent on
the morning of the 26th, which necessitated the garrison standing to
arms till 6 a.m.

Prices at the weekly auction had gone up considerably.

Two vegetable marrows were sold for 5s. 6d.

Pumpkins fetched 2s. 6d. each.

A small plate of potatoes reached 11s.

Whilst four sticks (4 oz.) of black tobacco, "Fair-maid" brand, changed
hands at L5 10s.

From now till the end of the siege two companies of the Regiment were
moved to a healthier spot, known as the "Convalescent Camp." It was
situated at the eastern end of Convent Hill. This post was relieved
weekly, and as the men were concealed and in a healthier position the
change was much appreciated.

On the morning of January 27th a native runner brought in news. His
account was:--

"Boers lost heavily from artillery fire on Wednesday, and say that the
British artillery is too much for them. I saw six field cornets dead on
one wagon. Some English were taken prisoners, and they were from the
left flank attack. The English attacked Spion Kop and surrounded the
base of the hill, and the Boers lost heavily from the English shrapnel
fire. When the English got to the top of the hill the Boers ran down the
other side. The Boers are much disheartened by their losses."

Judging from the above, the native must have then run away and not have
waited to see the finish, for in the evening the following news came
in:--

"Buller attacked Spion Kop, seized and occupied it, but was driven off
again the next night. Our loss is estimated at 200 killed and 300
wounded."

With the knowledge that history has given the world about the battle of
Spion Kop, further comment is needless. The news above is given as it
was received by the garrison of Ladysmith, who of course knew nothing
but what was sent in in scraps by Sir Redvers Buller, and what came in
to the Intelligence Department by native runners.

On the 30th the daily ration was further cut down to 1/2 lb. of meat, 2
biscuits, 1/6 oz. of tea, and 1/2 oz. of sugar per man. Horses, except
those belonging to the artillery, went rationless.

On January 31st horse-flesh was issued for the first time as a ration.

One dozen whisky was raffled in the town, and fetched L144--L1 10s. per
wineglass!

The only news received from the outside world on February 2nd was that--

"Sir R. Buller has retired behind the Tugela to rearrange, and Sir John
Lubbock has been made a peer."

The question asked is, Who is Lubbock, and is he connected in any way