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Page 17
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 C�sar'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.
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