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A book published in 1900 and containing 18 humorous sketches.

My grateful thanks to Rob D for his help adding this to the site.

'A collection of spirited and humorous coloured sketches relating to the siege of Ladysmith. The drawings were executed between November 2, 1899, and February 28, 1900, and form an interesting "souvenir of a somewhat trying four months spent together in a beleaguered town, borne cheerfully by soldiers and civilians alike for the sake of the Empire." An amusing letterpress accompanies the sketches.' - Mendelssohn Vol. I, page 474.

The first shell



The shells from Long Tom that fell in Ladysmith during the first week or so of the siege were treated with considerable respect by all ranks.

The last shell



Towards the close if the siege 100 lb shells were treated with the contempt bred from familiarity by all the garrison and civilians - men and women

Mr Bester's poultry



The farm of Mr bester, who professes strong pro-Boer sympathies to put it mildly, ______ valley between our defences on Caesar's Camp and the Boer lines of investment. As it _____ a pity that the Boers should fatten on the poultry and live stock, a party of Major Allison's Guides raided the farm early one morning, and made a clean sweep of everything.

Boer picnic on Middle Hill disturbed by our howitzer



All movements of the enemy were watched with great interest through telescopes from our defences. Ladies were frequently seen to visit the various gun emplacements . Saturday afternoon was a favourite time , as firing was generally slack on these days. Their visits generally resulted in a shell or two being fired into the town, presumably 'just to show them how it worked'. On one occasion a picnic was observed in full swing behind the Boer 6-inch gun on Middle Hill. The howitzers, who were lying in wait on the reverse slope of Waggon Hill, wishing to show how our guns worked opened fire and the party broke up somewhat suddenly.

Seeing our men washing infuriated the Boers



Rightly or wrongly, the Boers have always been credited with a strong antipathy to soap and water. When it became evident that they intended to refrain from shelling on Sundays, bathing parades in the Klip River were organised for our me. This, however, was trying the Boer Sabbath-keeping resolves too high, and they opened fire. No harm was done, but our men were compelled to restrict themselves to sheltered reaches of the river.

The 6.3 inch howitzers



With the Naval guns that arrived so opportunely on October 30th, 1899, were two 6.3-inch howitzers of somewhat antique pattern. These, however, proved themselves invaluable and were much sought after by the Officers commanding the three sections into which our defences were divided.

Troglodytic conchologists



Question: What is a troglodytic conchologist?

Answer: One who lives in a cave and sallies forth at intervals to collect shells.

From the Ladysmith Lyre.

The Town Guard



With apologies to a body of loyal men who were ready to take their share in the defence of the town.

Ponies



The Volunteers' ponies used to be turned out to graze on the flats east of the town and afforded an excellent mark to the gunner of the Boers' Long Tom on Bulwana mountain when they were rounded up and driven in in the evening.

A choice of evils



On one occasion when our howitzers were in action against the Boer 6-inch gun on Telegraph Ridge, which had got our range and was making things rather warm, Captain Christie, RA, who commanded the Howitzer Battery, thought it time to get to his observation post, where he had a certain amount of cover. He found it already occupied by a puff adder.

Flag of truce after Surprise Hill



The day after Colonel Metcalf, with four companies of the Rifle Brigade, surprised and blew up a Boer gun on Surprise Hill. A report was brought in that the enemy refused to let our doctors and ambulance, who had gone to attend the wounded, return to Ladysmith. Colonel Duff, Assistant Military Secretary to Sir George White, was sent our with a flag of truce to make enquiries. We were met by General Schalk Burger and Commandant Erasmus at the foot of Surprise Hill. The report turned out to be without foundation, our doctors only being detained till the Boers had decided which of our wounded were too badly hurt to be detained as prisoners. General Schalk Burger is the smaller of the two Boers, with the goat beard, and Commandant Erasmus is the big bearded man in dark blue. The Boer in uniform acted as interpreter. Schalk Burger was commanding the Boers round Ladysmith at the time vice-General Joubert was sick.

Flooded out



Bomb-proof shelters excavated in the river banks, though secure from shell fire, were at the mercy of the Klip River when it came down in flood. A certain veteran War Artist was evicted from his commodious dwelling by one exceptionally high flood.

The cattle guard



Our slaughter cattle and trek oxen (before they were eaten) were sent out to graze just outside our defences, under small escorts, whose duty was to prevent the Boers rounding them up and driving them off. These escorts were usually found by the Natal Volunteers or Imperial Light Horse.

The ADC and the goats



The Headquarters Mess kept two milch goats. One of the ADC's endeavoured to keep the garden as well. The sketch shows what happened.

The ADC depicted denies absolutely that there is any truth whatever in this incident.

Ablutions



This sketch touches again on the hydrophobian tendencies of the Boers referred to in the fifth sketch.