Today in Kimberley's History
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1 day since lifting the Siege of Kimberley, 1900
Extract from "The Diary of a Doctor's Wife – During the Siege of Kimberley October 1899 to February 1900" by Winifred Heberden.
In the morning Kamfersdam was found to be deserted and the gun had gone. The plate on which it had rested was still in its place, also the elevator and ramrods and swabs. About 200 shells for the big gun were found, and a large quantity of rifle ammunition. Kamfersdam was strongly fortified, and there was also an excellent Redoubt between the road and the Mine, with a very good bombproof shelter. Holes were also tunneled into the debris in the same manner that Mr Rhodes had arranged for cover for the people of Beaconsfield. A quantity of provisions and loot from stores was found. But they had buried most of the coal belonging to the Mine.
Jack, last night, went with a good many of our Mounted men in the direction of Dronfield where they found the enemy in strong position. Early this morning, therefore, General French moved out with a Cavalry Division; one Brigade making a wide turning movement, and the other two Divisions, with our men, practically surrounding the Boers on Kimberley side. Eventually, after heavy shelling of the Ridge, and much Maxim and rifle firing, the enemy was driven from point to point of their position, and finally completely out of it, with evidently heavy losses. We took six prisoners and 78 head of cattle. The New Zealanders and Queensland Mounted Infantry drove off a party of Boers who were firing on General French and Staff, as the former advanced from the West.
At the end of the day our men were quite fagged out and unable to go in pursuit of the big gun. So they remained at Dronfield, holding the position. Our casualties were 27 killed and wounded.
News has come in that a large body of Boers have left Magersfontein, and are endeavouring to return to the Free State.
Extract from "The Diary of a Doctor's Wife – During the Siege of Kimberley October 1899 to February 1900" by Winifred Heberden.
In the morning Kamfersdam was found to be deserted and the gun had gone. The plate on which it had rested was still in its place, also the elevator and ramrods and swabs. About 200 shells for the big gun were found, and a large quantity of rifle ammunition. Kamfersdam was strongly fortified, and there was also an excellent Redoubt between the road and the Mine, with a very good bombproof shelter. Holes were also tunneled into the debris in the same manner that Mr Rhodes had arranged for cover for the people of Beaconsfield. A quantity of provisions and loot from stores was found. But they had buried most of the coal belonging to the Mine.
Jack, last night, went with a good many of our Mounted men in the direction of Dronfield where they found the enemy in strong position. Early this morning, therefore, General French moved out with a Cavalry Division; one Brigade making a wide turning movement, and the other two Divisions, with our men, practically surrounding the Boers on Kimberley side. Eventually, after heavy shelling of the Ridge, and much Maxim and rifle firing, the enemy was driven from point to point of their position, and finally completely out of it, with evidently heavy losses. We took six prisoners and 78 head of cattle. The New Zealanders and Queensland Mounted Infantry drove off a party of Boers who were firing on General French and Staff, as the former advanced from the West.
At the end of the day our men were quite fagged out and unable to go in pursuit of the big gun. So they remained at Dronfield, holding the position. Our casualties were 27 killed and wounded.
News has come in that a large body of Boers have left Magersfontein, and are endeavouring to return to the Free State.