On Commando | Page 4

plans, but are always twenty-four hours late.' That can
be explained in this way. We were accustomed to fighting against
Kaffirs, who hid in woods and mountains, and against whom we had to
advance with the utmost precaution, so as to lose as few lives as
possible. So we were too cautious in the beginning of the war. We
would not make a great sacrifice to win a battle.
On October 30 we were present, under Lucas Meyer, at the battle near
Ladysmith, but we did not come into action, as we belonged to a part of
the commando that had to hold a position to prevent attack in the rear.
The enemy did not attack our position at all, except with a few bombs,
because they suffered a great defeat near Modderspruit, and had to
retreat hurriedly. From our positions we could see how every time the
bombs burst among them the fleeing troops seemed to get 'mazed' for a
moment, and then went forward again.
At that time we were often in want of food. One must have suffered
hunger to know what it means. In a few linen bags I had some biscuits
that had first been reduced to crumbs through the riding, and then to a
kind of pap by the rain and perspiration of the horse. Often when I felt
the pangs of famine I added some sugar to this mess and ate it with
relish.
Some days later we left Lucas Meyer and returned to our commando,
which had meanwhile gone to the north of Ladysmith. During our
absence Zeederberg had taken the place of Melt Marais as Veld-Cornet.

II
SIEGE OF LADYSMITH--BATTLE OF THE
ROOIRANDJES--BLOWING UP OF THE CANNON
When we surrounded the town and the siege began, all talk of the
bananas that we were to eat in the south of Natal came to an end.
Ladysmith ought never to have been besieged. On October 30 we
should have made use of our advantage. If we had at once followed the
enemy when they fled in disorder, we should in all probability easily
have taken those positions that would have involved the immediate
surrender of Ladysmith. Many lives would have been sacrificed, but
not so many as were sacrificed during the whole siege. And we might
have used those men who were necessary to maintain the siege
elsewhere as an attacking force. Instead of following up our advantage,
we deliberately prepared for a siege. The enemy meanwhile made use
of the opportunity to entrench themselves well. Most of our burghers
were against our attempting to take the town by assault when once it
was thoroughly entrenched.
The Pretoria town commando and that from Krokodil River in the
Pretoria district occupied the position nearest to Ladysmith. This was a
hill to the north of the town, flat at the top, and surrounded by a stone
wall. In all probability the enclosed depression of about 500 paces in
circuit had been used as a cattle-kraal. Against that kopje (hill) we
gradually put up our tents. From our camp we looked on to a large flat
mountain that we called Little Amajuba, because on October 30 the
first large capture of prisoners had been made there. In front of our
kopje, near the foot, ran a donga, and at a distance of about 1,000 paces,
parallel to us, lay another oblong kopje occupied by the enemy. This
kopje we called Rooirandjes.
On November 8 we received the order from our General to attack the
Rooirandjes the following day. We were about 250 strong, and very
willing, as that position had not yet been entrenched. On a mountain to
our right a cannon had been placed that was to begin firing on the
enemy's position towards dawn. Distinct orders were given that our
Veld-Cornet was to be at the foot of Rooirandjes with his men before
daybreak. But something went wrong again, and it was already quite
light when we reached the donga. We found ourselves at a distance of
about 700 paces from the Rooirandjes, and we had to cross an open

space if we still wished to storm the position. The enemy's watch
already began shooting at us.
The corporals let their men advance in groups of four from the donga to
the kopje, using the ant-hills as cover when they lay down. Our turn
came last, but meanwhile the enemy had received reinforcements, and
the nearest ant-hills were nearly all occupied, so that only three men
could go at a time. Such a shower of bullets fell that it was a miracle
that we came out of it alive. Fortunately I found a free ant-hill. My
brother had to share one with a comrade.
At last the cannon from the mountain fired a few shots,