1900 - Kimberley siege day 96 (77%). Ladysmith siege day 78 (65%). Mafeking siege day 98 (45%). Dundonald in action near Acton Homes. Eighth Division to mobilise at Aldershot.
1901 - De la Rey defeated near Ventersburg.
In Kimberley:
Enemy quiet to-day; only the usual sniping at the cattle guards. The Veldt near the Lazaretto and Otto’s Kopje is I am sorry to say all eaten down, and from to-morrow the cattle will be taken to graze on the ground in front of the resevior. This is within nice range of the enemy’s gun on Wimbledon. I much hope in a week that the Veldt by Hulls farm and Kenilworth will have grown sufficiently so that the few remaining cattle may be moved to it.
The Signallers have had very hard work lately, and I was glad to receive a message yesterday praising their good work. Much credit is due to Lts Woodward and De Putron who have personally superintended every message being sent through.
Their work lately owing to the paucity of officers serving with the half battalion of my Regt has been very heavy.
I noticed a heavy dust last night by Scholtz Nek, apparently caused by the movement of mounted men. I also noticed a large number of either cattle or horses moving from the direction of Scholtz Nek towards Susanna.
At about 7 pm the officer commanding the Reservoir section reported 200 of the enemy moving to the West on Wimbledon.
The following message was received this morning by helio:
“From Gen MD to Kek. 18th Jan G 188. Following received from COS Cape Town begins. Field Marshal wishes you to important that he thinks as present situation may continue for some time should get rid of as many natives as possible to save food. Kekewich to report for Field Marshal’s information what action is taken. Please report daily number of natives you have sent out of Kimberley during previous twenty-four hours also report to-morrow number of natives now in Kimberley.”
I answered by searchlight this evening:
“18th January No 114. Your G 188. Inform Field Marshal enemy for some days past has prevented natives from leaving town, and these natives were informed no more would be allowed to leave. Stop. Owing to closeness of investment fear shall not be able to squeeze many more out. Stop. Every endeavour made to obtain accurate census but find much difficulty connected therewith. Stop. Numbers to-day at Kimberley civil and military calculated to be over forty thousand. Stop. Inhabitants do not take kindly to horse flesh and supply of meat stuffs is my great difficulty.”
A Doctor Van Nie Kirk came in this afternoon under a white flag and brought letters from Generals Cronje and Farriera, asking that 5 women and children might be sent out. He also brought a few letters from parents etc asking as to their children.
I answered at once that I regretted I could not accede to the request that these women should be sent out.
There have been a few cases of suspected scurvy lately in the town Guard. The doctors are trying to make antiscorbutics with prickly pear, Kaffir corn, malt etc. It is a pity there is so little lime juice in the town and the supply of vegetables is so small.
Really the difficulties connected with this defence are great, and everything has to be conducted in the most confidential and secret manner to prevent enemy being informed; his sympathizers in Kimberley, Beaconsfield and Wesselton especially the latter are very numerous, and we have proof that they get our daily paper and that persons often pass from the town to the enemy’s lines and back, but notwithstanding every endeavour it is most difficult to prove this.
It seems almost impossible to arrange for any reconnaissance or demonstration without its being communicated to the enemy beforehand, and signals from the outskirts of the town have been noticed on many occasions, but the evidence has not been sufficient to support a conviction.
As the enemy gets our paper and probably also a copy of garrison orders daily, notices of moves, numbers etc etc cannot be published in orders and this not being done will doubtless lead to much correspondence hereafter.
I have done my best to watch and keep down the expenses connected with the defence, but I fear they will be very large not only as regards pay, of Volunteers, Kimberley Light Horse Town Guard, etc but on account of defense works, shelters, cook houses, filters, equipment, vegetables, etc. What with my very small staff for such a large garrison and the very heavy work connected with defense it has been impossible to look into and work matters as in peace times.
De Beers Company will doubtless have an enormous bill; I am trying to obtain details of it, but their staff and clerks have all been employed in defence works and consequently have not been able to complete the book.
I have fixed the Establishment of the Mounted Troops at 8.30 horses and the RA at 130 horses. These establishments should I think be sufficient to allow for casualties. I am very short if forage, and I am doing my utmost to reduce the number of rations issued daily. De Beers 500 mules are doing well on the Veldt. It will be remembered that some time ago Mr Rhodes authorised me to telegraph saying that he placed these at Her Majesty’s disposal.
In Ladysmith:
In the early morning the welcome sound of Buller's guns was not so frequent as yesterday. But it continued steadily, and between four and five increased to an almost unbroken thunder. From the extremity of Waggon Hill, I watched the great cloud of dust and smoke which rose from the distant plain as each shell burst. The Dutch camps were still in position, and we could only conjecture that the British were trying to clear the river-bank and the hills commanding it, so as to secure the passage of the ford.
While I was there the enemy threw several shrapnel over the Rifle Brigade outpost. Major Brodiewald, Brigade Major to the Natal Volunteers under Colonel Royston, was sitting on the rocks watching Buller's shells like myself. A shrapnel bullet struck him in the mouth and passed out at the back of his neck. He was carried down the hill, his blood dripping upon the stones along the track. In the afternoon one of the bluejackets was also seriously wounded by shrapnel. The bombardment was heavy all day, the Bulwan gun firing right over Convent Hill and plunging shells into the Naval Camp, the Leicesters, and the open ground near Headquarters. It looks as if a spy had told where the General and Staff are to be found.
The market quotations at this evening's auction were fluctuating. Eggs sprang up from a guinea to 30s. a dozen. Jam started at 30s. the 6lb. jar. Maizena was 5s. a pound. On the other hand, tobacco fell. Egyptian cigarettes were only 1s. each, and Navy Cut went for 4s. an ounce. During a siege one realises how much more than bread, meat, and water is required for health. Flour and trek-ox still hold out, and we receive the regulation short rations. Yet there is hardly one of us who is not tortured by some internal complaint, and many die simply for want of common little luxuries. In nearly all cases where I have been able to try the experiment I have cured a man with any little variety I had in store or could procure—rice, chocolate, cake, tinned fruit, or soups. I wonder how the enemy are getting on with the biltong and biscuit.
In Mafeking:
They shell the town as usual. Most unpleasant this end. They knocked off all corners of the square in two days; several casualties.