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1900 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross

Saturday, 3 February

In [the] usual way [the] enemy sent Big Ben in after dark last evening, but they continued at sundry intervals to send us their 5-pounder as well, right up to past nine o’clock. This night shelling seems far worse than the day, and we all have to lay very low. The small bell certainly gives one a few seconds warning which is useful only if one is standing near some dugout and can pop in, otherwise if one is going back or from the fort or crossing the square one has then no earthly chance of getting away, and can only flop down flat, and take your chance.

It turns out that the shells sent in last night by the Boers are quite a new kind, having heavy brass heads and charged with petroleum or some other like substance, and are supposed to be the very latest invention in incendiary shells, but as yet they have caused no fires.

Poor Francis, the man who was so badly injured at Cannon Kopje yesterday, died this morning, the operation being too much for him. How true it is I cannot find out, but it is said the wounded were not brought back from the kopje until 8 o’clock last evening, although the accident happened at 4 o’clock in the afternoon.

At 5 this afternoon our 7-pounders again went out and had a slap at the enemy’s trenches, and in return Big Ben sent about 10 big 94-pound shells about their ears.

Our little cheeky Nordenfeldt nearly got knocked out this afternoon. Big Ben, having got their exact range, sent a shell right into the sandbags in front of the gun, completely smothering for the moment one of the gunners and the gun itself with dust and dirt, but doing no actual damage except the grazing of the gunner’s leg. They are two very plucky fellows and it did not take them very long to get everything in order and going again. We were all quite pleased to hear the pump, pump, of her firing going on again all right, as she was doing good work, having already twice driven the Boer working party out of an advance trench they are endeavouring to make, distance about 2 000 yards from the crow’s nest (the Nordenfeldt emplacement).

I suppose the enemy thought they would frighten us a bit this afternoon, for during the practice of our artillery to the eastward they sent forward a body of men and advanced towards our west front, but when our little naval 7-pounder and Maxim were turned on them, they did not continue their advance, worse luck! By jove, they are a miserable crowd of low-down murderers.

De Kock was today brought before the Court of Summary Jurisdiction and it was found the only charge brought against him was one of having in his legal capacity advised certain Arab merchants in the town re the working of the assessment committee in such a manner as to cause the Imperial authorities, in their opinion, to consider he was not working in the interests of the Imperial government. Verdict was sort of reprimand and released on bail, his own recognizance of £50. I suppose there will be more said about this later on.

8.30 pm. Three large rifle volleys sent all over the town by the bally enemy, also a few x-pound Maxims a little earlier. The enemy have removed this latter nasty piece of ironware together with their 9-pounder Krupp from their old fort up to the race course, thus putting our place nicely in an open line of fire - darn their eyes! I suppose they are going to give it us a bit hot tonight, preparatory to a rest tomorrow, Sunday. God bless their little hearts, what would I not give to see a few of our Royal Artillery repay them back in their own coin, with a well known usurers’ interest added - shent per shent, you know. All right Snyman, "Wacht en bietze,” and "Alleszal rekkommen.” 

Owing to Colonel Vyvyan having too much work to do, his position has now been split up and Major Goold-Adams is appointed Town Commandant, Colonel Vyvyan being head under title of Base Commandant. The latter, on relinquishing his command this evening issued a very nicely worded notice of thanks, etc., to the Town Guard, of whom he says he thinks very highly. The Town Guard do not consider the change to their benefit, the new Town Commandant being considered...

The following is our list of casualties up to January 31st:

Killed: 5 officers and 60 men

Wounded: 8 officers and 123 men

Missing: 34 men

Non-combatants: 12 killed and 23 wounded.