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Page 21
The names of the following non-commissioned officers and men were also
brought to notice for gallantry on the occasion:--
Lance-Corporal Gilbert Young.
" " Frank John Rowe.
Private Henry Brimmicombe.
" R.G. Hansford.
" E. Norman.
" H. Cox.
The following message from Her Majesty the Queen was received by Sir
George White for promulgation:--
"To Sir George White,
"Ladysmith.
"Warmly congratulate you and all under your command on your brilliant
success. Greatly admire conduct of Devonshire Regiment.
V.R.I."
The following telegram was also received:--
"O/C Devon Regiment,
"Railway Cutting.
"G.O.C. directs me to convey direct to you the following message from
Sir R. Buller:--
"'Congratulate all troops on gallant defence, especially Devon
Regiment.'"
The losses sustained by the garrison of Ladysmith on the 6th January
were:--
Killed. Wounded.
Officers 18 25
Men 150 224
Total killed and wounded, 417.
By the death of Captain Lafone the Regiment lost one of the
kindest-hearted and best officers that ever led a company.
The Boers' losses are estimated at 64 killed and 119 wounded. This
estimate may be considered low, for the _Standard and Diggers' News_,
copies of which were found later on in the war, gave six full-length
columns of killed and wounded amongst the various commandos.
A large donga was utilized by the Boers as a dressing station. The
violent storm on the afternoon of the 6th filled all the dry dongas and
turned them at once into mountain torrents. It is said that all the
wounded Boers in this donga were swept out into the Klip River and
drowned. The dead of the Regiment were buried with those of other
regiments, in a grave under Wagon Hill. Captain Lafone and Lieutenant
Field were buried in the cemetery in Ladysmith.
On the morning of January 8th all the wounded were sent by train to
Intombi Camp, including Lieutenant Masterson, who was doing well.
On January 9th the Regiment was concentrated at the railway cutting, the
company at the railway station having been permanently relieved from the
post by a company of the Liverpool Regiment. The battalion was thus
ready to be moved to any portion of the defences requiring assistance,
in case of attack.
The estimation in which the battalion was held at this time by the
Ladysmith garrison was well borne out by a remark made by Sir George
White. "The Devons," he said, "have never failed me yet. On the 6th they
held one place and took another."
A scare in the evening that the Boers were to attack again in the
morning caused various preparations to be made for their advent. The
garrison stood to arms at 3.15 a.m. awaiting the attack.
It is a curious fact that the Regiment was never ordered to stand to
arms in the morning before three o'clock at any time previous to or
after the 6th January, and the only time the Boers made a night attack
they did so at 2.15 a.m. This was on January 6th, on which day the
Regiment was ordered to stand to arms at 4.15 a.m.
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