TOPIC:

1900 - From the diary of Major George Tatham, Natal Carbineers

No news. All quiet. Miss Carbutt died after dark. About 2 a.m. a great lot of firing on Wagon Hill and Caesar's Camp. Was sleeping at home but being roused by this contest firing decided to go over and warn Commandant Royston, whom I found with the members of his staff, quite on the alert, and all ready for action, men all being warned on my way to the parade ground. The Mauser bullets were falling about at that hour. These must have been spent bullets from Wagon Hill and Caesar's Camp which were being attacked by Boers, the former by the O.F.S. Commando and the latter by Transvaal Boers from Heidleberg.

1899 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross

Friday, 5 January

Enemy again very quiet right up till about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, when they sent three or four big ones into the town, the first of which smashed up the business premises of one of our Indian merchants. Two of the others did not burst, and went away bumping right over the town.

A native runner came in this morning from the south and reports that the road is nearly all clear of the enemy; if this is correct, why can’t we get news in?

The Mafeking Mail yesterday was suppressed by the C.S.O. on account of a small leader on the above matter, namely, news and the want of it.