Mafeking : $b a diary of the siegeBaillie, Frederick David
History
Mafeking : $b a diary of the siege
Baillie, Frederick David
Mafikeng (South Africa) -- History -- Siege, 1899-1900; South African War, 1899-1902
2nd, Wednesday. This morning firing is going on. I suppose another
attack. I will go out and see. One rather funny incident in connection
with the Boer attack took place yesterday. As a rule they knock off for
breakfast, but yesterday they kept it up till some time past 8 o’clock,
so at 8 o’clock punctually the natives left their trenches with their
tins to draw their porridge, absolutely disregarding the Boer fire which
was renewed at intervals all day. It is perfectly incredible how we
have pushed them back, for within the area where our advanced trenches
now are I recollect seeing a horse-battery of theirs in action during
the first few days of the siege. They take particular care not to play
those games now. I only wish they would. This sort of drivel relieves
one’s feelings, even if one can’t see relief.
3rd, Thursday. Firing yesterday and to-day was not of any value; they
kept it up off and on all day. I sat on the roof with the officers of
the Bechuanaland Rifles, and looked on till we got bored. The operation
of getting on to and off the roof again was far more dangerous than the
ordinary Boer battle. This evening I rode round the guards with Major
Panzera. It would take a more enterprising Boer than we have run up
against to get in. Major Panzera has a theory that he can’t be hit; I
haven’t, however. Both our theories are good enough viewed from the
light of experience.
The Germans participating in the defence of the town are going to be
photographed. I feel sorry for the German Emperor not being here. He
would enjoy this war thoroughly.
I heard from Weston-Jarvis this morning. He wrote a very cheery letter.
At last they appear to be making some effort to relieve us. Why on earth
they didn’t try before, Heaven only knows! It seems a perfectly simple
operation for any man of any ordinary sense, but really it doesn’t much
matter in the long run whether it is a month or two sooner or later. I
also see the "Baron" is coming down to relieve us. I hope he won’t fall
on his head and get stretched out as he usually persists in doing. We
are always meeting each other in some old ship or other, or in some out
of the way continent, but certainly I never expected to be relieved by
the "Baron" in the middle of Africa; however, the more pals that roll up
the better.
4th, Friday. Absolute quiet. My last letters have fallen into the
Dutchmen’s hands. They will be nice light reading for them, as they were
barely complimentary. I do not expect to be popular after this war.
When one is tired and bored out here, it is very refreshing to be able
to abuse all and sundry, and think that one need not settle up for
another two or three months.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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