Thursday, 1st February.—Time is flying, and we are now well on for four months of siege. From to-day our rations of bread are reduced to half a pound, and with one pound of meat does not go very far with fellows like myself who have large appetites. However, we get on all right, and I would willingly do with less rather than let the women and children suffer. My belt is tightened to the last hole, and still is loose; two weeks ago I had some holes to spare! I only tell you this, however, to show how soon the smaller rations affect one.
Yesterday we had some excitement in the way of an artillery duel. We had three of our pounders and a Nordenfeldt, while the Boers were firing their Big Ben and a 9-lb. high velocity gun. Lowe’s gun, as usual, shot best, and put fourteen out of seventeen shots into the trenches. For our guns they were using shells which were left here. They are 2.5 seven gun shells, 800 of which were discovered just as our supply was running out. These have been made to fit our guns, and answer very well.
Saturday, 3rd February.—Once more during the lull of “Grietze” I will have a little chat. We still go on in the same way. But every day makes our position more serious. Our rations are being gradually cut down, but we will be able to exist for a month or two more.
The natives, however, are beginning to feel the effects, and, it is said, that some have already died of starvation. Next week I expect that the Government will buy up all their stock, and keep them alive on that.
Mr. De Kock was arrested the day before yesterday for going against the Government. He has been rather free with his criticisms of the Imperial Government, and has been telling clients and others that they are not being fairly treated. This, having come to the Colonel’s ears, has led to his arrest, in order, I suppose, to make an example and thereby put a stop to any feeling of discontent. The trial is on to-day.
The bank bomb-proof shelter is now completed, and for the last two days we have been working underground. It is nice and cool, and quite safe, for a shell would have to come through the bank before getting to the shelter. We will be kept busy, for we are now running a Garrison Savings Bank for the Government.
Tuesday, 6th February.—I had intended writing on Sunday, but was very tired. I did midnight guard on Saturday up to half-past four. Then I had to work until lunch time. I came, indeed, after that to my room to rest for a few minutes, after which to write, but at half-past two I went to sleep, and did not wake until half-past six—not a bad little nap, eh!
There is absolutely no change in our position. We are shelled every day, and about once a fortnight we worry the Boers in the trenches with our 7-pounders.
A runner from the north came in yesterday, but up till now we have no news. A Standard and Diggers' News of the 26th ult. was handed by a Boer to one of our officers who was riding round near their lines on Sunday. It stated that Buller had had six days’ fighting in attempting to cross the Tugela, but had to retire. We, however, do not believe it, and every one knows that the Standard and Diggers' News is not reliable.
We work every day now, and I try all I can to forget the war in my work. When one is constantly thinking of our position one’s spirits do get depressed, but I may say that I do not feel so downcast as some. I trust to the All-Powerful to see us safely through, if He should think advisable. He has certainly been very merciful to us hitherto.
Wednesday, 7th February.—A nice cool morning with a sharp breeze blowing, and you can imagine me sitting on our verandah, just a few feet from the entrance to the house dug out. From bullets I am safe, for the house protects me from everything except "Grietze.” I know it must be very trying for you to have me thus shut off from you, but I hope that the telegrams I send off from time to time, whenever an opportunity occurs, will reach you. As a rule now, about once a week a few letters and telegrams come in.
The authorities say that our food will last for seventy-two more days, and we surely may expect some change in our position to take place before then. However, if another month goes by and we seem even then to be no nearer the end, we can easily exist on shorter rations. As a whole, too, the health of the town is good, but naturally the hospital is pretty full; for a good many wounded are still there, and there is some sickness.
I imagine that Amy would like to be helping at some hospital, but I am very glad, for her sake, that she is not here, for from all accounts the nurses are much too flippant, and think more of enjoying themselves than of looking after their patients. They actually had a dance about a week ago, after the “Game Tree” fight, in a room adjoining the ward in which were men groaning in pain!
I have a very good collection of shells that had been fired into the town by the Boers, and am trying to get more, with the view of sending some to the King William’s Town Museum.
Friday, 9th February.—Once again I am safe, and can continue my hastily-written diary. Yesterday “Grietze,” the thunderer, was lazy, and only fired one shot—much to our disgust, eh?—not quite! Both on Wednesday and on yesterday evenings we had a good deal of firing however, occasioned chiefly by our Cape boys advancing their sniping trench to the brickfields, which have been up till now in the possession of the Boers. Two nights ago we blew the one nearest to us up with dynamite, and then, before the Boers could pluck up courage to come back to them, our men rushed in. The brickfields lie between the nearest watch trench and our own on the east. Our snipers are now only about 300 yards from the enemy, so they dare not put out their heads now.
News in yesterday from Bulawayo was very encouraging, but being from private sources, it needs official confirmation. It is to the effect that Buller crossed the Tugela on the 20th ult. with 40,000 men, and was within thirteen miles of Ladysmith. How sick and tired I am getting of the night guard! I like it less when everything is quiet, for then my mind reverts to our position and to the loved ones elsewhere. You are, of course, all in my thoughts daily.
On our beat we have rifle-pits every few yards, and as soon as a flash is seen we give a warning shout, and down we go. We are then perfectly safe from bullets. Nearly every night we see signal lights from the laager in front, but take very little notice of them, except when Big Ben is loading to say good-night. We keep a good look-out for her speech, for it is often after a signal from the laager that she fires.
Saturday, 10th February.— It is just reported that Mr. Dall, one of the prominent men here, has been killed by a shell, though I have heard no particulars yet.
Yesterday news reached us from Kimberley confirming what we had heard a few days ago from Bulawayo, namely that Buller and Warren had crossed the Tugela. We now anxiously await the news of the relief of Ladysmith.
The big gun has been very quiet for the last day or two, and we surmise that their ammunition is running short. However, they seem to have still a good supply in Pretoria, and will likely get some more soon.
As we work all day at present, the days pass very quickly. We will soon be “up to date” with our bank work.
Sunday, 11th February.—To-day we have again been busy, and I feel very tired after being on guard from midnight up to 4.30 A.M.
A notice has been posted to the effect that Lord Roberts had telegraphed to Colonel Baden-Powell asking him to try and make supplies last till May! Our meat provisions will last till that time, but our food-stuff's will be very short—our bread rations are already reduced to 6 oz. It does seem as if it were too long to hope on for, but what we do and suffer now is, as most see, a small sacrifice on behalf of the Mother Country. True, to a certain extent, we hold our lives in our hands, but, after all, our destiny is in the hands of One who should see His way. He will watch over us, and we can but solicit His divine help.
Tuesday, 13th February.—I have just had tea, and will use the few minutes I have before going on guard to write a little.
The Boers have been very active this week, and we have had to be very careful. One of our neighbours, Captain Girdwood, who before the war was Customs' Officer here, and for the last few weeks had an appointment in connection with the Commissariat Department, was shot yesterday not fifty yards from my room. I was sitting on the side verandah, covered from the fire by the house, when I heard a bullet whiz past the front of the house, and heard a thud and a cry, and then saw Captain Girdwood limping into his house. At once I knew he had been hit, and ran over; so did a sergeant of the B.S.A.P. who happened to be near at hand. By the time I arrived Mrs. Girdwood and the sergeant were holding him, so off I set to the hospital for a stretcher. The hospital is only about 300 yards distant, so I was back in a very short time. I found Mr. Girdwood lying under a tree in great pain. Dr. Smyth, who lives almost next door, went and gave him some stimulant, and then saw him laid on the stretcher. We carried him to the hospital. By this time I saw where the wound was; it was right through the stomach, and was thus dangerous.
Mr. Girdwood had been going home on his bicycle to dinner, and had almost reached his house when struck. It was found to be a serious, almost hopeless, case from the first, and he passed away yesterday at mid-day. His death cast a gloom over the whole town. After being appointed to the Commissariat Department, he tackled its duties so that at the time of his sudden death he was getting everything into splendid order. He leaves a sorrowing wife, but no family.
I am very careful now, and always take cover where it is possible.
In connection with the bank I have to go about the town sometimes, but I now go as seldom as possible.
Last night, while I was on guard, the Boers must have fired a case of ammunition over us. I had to stand against a garden wall pillar, which just covered me and no more. Still I was kept in safety, though, it is needless to say, I was not sorry when my time was up.
This week I have had all my cloth clothes out that they might be aired and brushed, and had naphthaline put in my box and chest of drawers. I take quite a pride in my room since you all selected the very nice furniture, &c. I like to be in it as much as possible, for the photographs seem to bring me nearer to loved ones.
I do hope that wretched gun does not find its way into this house. Another small piece went through the roof this morning, but not in my part of the house.
I forgot to mention that whilst carrying poor Girdwood to the Hospital we were fired on by the Boers. It seems to be one of their great delights to fire on the Red Cross or on stretcher-bearers.
In course of the next week or so, the Colonel is going to try and get about 1000 natives out of this. They came from Johannisberg [sic] for protection at the beginning of the war, but we can feed them no longer. He has therefore arranged for food to be laid down for them at Canya, a large native township about fifty miles west; and he has a scheme for rushing them out some night. We have had no news for some time, but hope to hear shortly of the relief of Ladysmith.
Friday, 16th February.—Things are very quiet and getting more and more tiring every day. It does seem as if we were never going to get news of any advantage gained by our forces. The big gun again changed positions yesterday, and instead of being due east, she is now due west. We do not know the object they have in view in making the change.
They fired a few shots yesterday, and it looked as if she was making a dead set on the railway workshops where we are making shells; and, by the by, they have on hand there now, a mortar which is to fire explosive shells. It will be ready in a week or so.
During the past week both the Boers and ourselves have made two new trenches, and one of ours is now only 190 yards from theirs.
The new position of “Grietze” makes one feel more secure in one’s room at this end of the town, for she is now over 9000 yards from here. Still I had to-day to see about making a protection round our office-dug-out, for with the gun placed as it is now, we are unprotected.
Saturday morning.—A little time for a few lines before my guard. Yesterday and to-day have been fairly quiet at this side of the town, and it has been quite a relief to see the big gun right away. I hope she will stay some time where she is, or, which I would prefer, goes off to Pretoria.
I have been pretty hard at work to-day, and find the time pass very nicely. Still this cooped up life, away from one’s loved ones, is very monotonous.
Sunday, 18th February.—Once more, as far as war is concerned, a quiet day; but we have been very busy at the bank all morning. It is just as much as we can do to pay about £500 or £600 to the troops. Where the money is nobody knows. There is about £13,000 in circulation, yet we cannot get £1000 in. Therefore, as we cannot get the gold, the Government will very soon have to issue a note currency which will make more work for us.
We had news in to-day, but nothing cheering. We now, too, look forward to a determined move about the middle of this month, which will have a great effect upon the whole situation.
Our bread is getting almost uneatable. Boer meal is being mixed with meal made from crushed oats which were here as horses’ food. We do not complain, for we must be thankful to get even such food after four months’ siege, but the quantity of husk in the bread is liable to be dangerous should the stomach go out of order.
I have my guard arranged so that I can get to church to-night. I do wish I could go in the morning too, for I know that in all likelihood the loved ones will be worshipping at the same time. I do think of you all as the days go past! It would be a great relief to know even that you were well, and that the anxiety is not telling too much on our darling, good mother. I am anxious, too, about Violet, and wonder how she is keeping.
Wednesday, 21st February.—Nothing at all has happened since I last wrote, and the Boers are very quiet. We try to make ourselves believe that they are disheartened over some bad news from below, but, of course, no one here knows anything as to what has taken place. It is very funny. One day you feel in a hopeful mood and are perfectly certain in your own mind that in another month you will see the end. Then meeting some fellows, the war topic, for a change, crops up, and you tell them how you feel, and so the hopeful spirit soon spreads. Time after time I have felt much easier after a little chat, but the best of it is, you know quite well the man talking so cheerfully knows no more than you do about affairs.
At present our hopes are very high, for we have heard that a grand move was to take place on the 13th, and we are very impatient to hear of some decided victory.
Friday, 23rd February.—I have just consumed a huge breakfast, consisting of a little pop made from some Natal preparation of Kaffir cane. It is really meant for infants. As oatmeal is not to be had in Mafeking I got what I could to supplement my rations and heard about this. It is called “Cornilla Africana." A good many people put by a supply, and it makes a very good substitute for porridge. Now to continue my breakfast. The long list is—2 3/4 os. bread and a cup of black coffee. That is our ration for breakfast— not much! but still, taking everything into consideration, and that we have been besieged nearly 4 1/2 months, we cannot—and I, for one, do not—complain. For dinner we get a fair quantity of fresh meat (they are slaughtering just now so as to save the tinned meats till the cattle are done), and the same quantity of bread and coffee or tea. Once or twice a week we get a little vegetables—marrow or green mealies. Potatoes we have not seen for a month, and I have quite forgotten what they taste like.
I feel for the poor natives very much. Grain having run out, they have started a soup kitchen for the natives. All bones, vegetable leaves, &c., together with a horse killed occasionally, are boiled together, with a sprinkling of mealie meal, and this is served out. It will keep them alive for some time, but some go two or three days without any. This week over fifty have been sent to Canya, and it is hoped to send a big lot there in a night or two.
The big gun evidently felt the loss of the sight of such good-looking fellows on our front, so yesterday morning we awoke to see her smiling at us about 5000 yards off. However, up to now, twenty-four hours afterwards, she has not yet fired a shot, and we do not quite understand things. The Boers are very quiet all round, and have been so for more than a week.
The night before last they fired a good deal on our working parties however, who every night dig trenches nearer to theirs. At the brickfields our Cape boys occupy a position 150 yards from the Boer trench.
On the night I mention a large percentage of the bullets fired on the trenches came over to where I was on sentry, which was only 1800 yards from where they were fired from. I was on the look-out near a large box filled with sand, which we use as a protection, and two bullets struck so near that sand was thrown on to me. For a whole hour I did not move, except to put my head over the top to watch a flash.
Last night my guard was from 10.30 to 12 o’clock. As I went to begin my sentry duties a storm was about to burst, and it was so dark that I could not see my hand held in front of me; but luckily there was a good deal of lightning, and I occasionally got a sight of our front. The rain soon came down, and I got a good soaking.
No news since Sunday, but we expect some every day. Not a single line from home yet, but when you get my last letter and wires, you will most likely be able to send me a letter too.
Sunday, 25th February.—For the first time the enemy is firing on a Sunday, but as it is at the brickfields, the people in town are going about as usual. It appears that our advanced trenches are about 150 yards from the Boers, and our Cape boys, who are stationed there, and the Dutch are always shouting insulting remarks to each other. This morning one of our men shouted in Dutch, “ Where is your pass?" and got a reply by a Mauser bullet which inflicted a wound on his neck. This started them, but just at present they dare not show themselves.
The weather still looks unsettled, and we will likely get more rain.
Rumours from natives who have come over from the Boer lines state that the Swazies and all Transvaal natives have broken out. If this be true, our friends will have their hands full.
Now I must be off to my post and prepare for another week. May God who has been so merciful hitherto still continue to protect me, and keep all my loved ones safe and well.
Tuesday, 27th February.—This is Majuba Day, and so we expected that, if ever the Boers intend to attack us, they would do something to-day. But no; at 5 o’clock they fired a few vigorous volleys from well-protected trenches, and that was as much pluck as they could muster. Really if the Boers in other parts, fight as these fight the war should not be long.
Yesterday runners came in, but brought very little official news, as it appears the line is down between Beira and Salisbury. They brought a number of telegrams, but, much to my disappointment, none for me. By next runner I really should hear something. I stick as much as possible into my work, and try in every way to forget our critical position.
Our rations this week are bully beef and biscuits, but still we do very well on that. Out of three-quarters of a pound of tinned meat each day I save about one quarter with the object of having some on hand. Very often now we see piteous sights of starving natives wandering about, and I may be able to satisfy some poor creature.
Colonel Plumer appears to be doing everything possible for our relief, but it will be a long time before he can effect that. And my own opinion is that our relief will come when the Boers move off; and seeing that Kimberley has been relieved, that cannot be long.
This war will be an eye-opener to the world, showing how united the Grand Old Empire is, and at the same time that the War Office is a disgrace to the whole empire.
One man we have faith in, and that is COLONEL BADEN-POWELL. Everybody has the fullest confidence in him.
To-night is fixed for sending out about 500 natives, and so firing to draw the attention of the Boers away from this move. It may commence at any time, so I will get along to the fort.
Wednesday, 28th February.—At last some official good news is in: Kimberley relieved, Colesberg taken, Tucker marching in Bloemfontein, and General Roberts has advised the Free State to lay down their arms; only Ladysmith, is not yet relieved. I take it that when that town is entered by a relieving force the war will practically be over. We have few particulars yet, but French seems to have done splendid service.
We do trust that now every effort will be made to relieve us also. The natives who were taken out last night have all returned, saying they were afraid, though the Dutch never fired a shot at them. It was for good that they were sent out, for if they remain here they must certainly starve.
Every one is in very good spirits to-day. I have got a night off guard and also permission to sleep in my room as I am a little seedy.
