Ladysmith: The Diary of a SiegeNevinson, Henry Woodd
History
Ladysmith: The Diary of a Siege
Nevinson, Henry Woodd
Ladysmith (South Africa) -- History -- Siege, 1899-1900
To-day "Long Tom's" shells were thrown pretty much at random about the
town. One blew a mule's head off close to the bank, and disembowelled a
second. One went into the "Scotch House" and cleared the shop. A third
pitched close to the Anglican Church, and brought the Archdeacon out of
burrow. But there was no real loss, except that one of the Naval Brigade
got a splinter in the forehead. My little house had another dose of
shrapnel, and on coming in I found a soldier digging up the bits in the
garden; but the Scotch owner drove him away for "interfering with the
mineral rights." At 3.30 the mist fell again, and there was very little
firing after 4. Out on the flat beyond the racecourse our men were
engaged in blowing up and burning some little farms and kraals which
sheltered the Boer scouts. As I look towards the Bulwan I see the yellow
blaze of their fires.
_Sunday, November 12, 1899._
Amid all the estimable qualities of the Boer race there is none more
laudable than their respect for the Sabbath day. It has been a calm and
sunny day. Not a shot was fired--no sniping even. We feel like grouse on
a pious Highland moor when Sunday comes, and even the laird dares not
shoot. The cave dwellers left their holes and flaunted in the light of
day. In the main street I saw a perambulator, stuffed with human young.
Pickets and outposts stretched their limbs in the sun. Soldiers off duty
scraped the clods off their boots and polished up their bayonets.
Officers shaved and gloried over a leisurely breakfast. For myself, I
washed my shirt and hung it on the line of fire to dry.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account