59 Buller–L 15 Dec 1899 6.20 pm (code 0215), WO 32/7887 Cf published version Times etc
60 Buller–Bigge 15 Mar 1900, Big
61 L–Buller 14 Dec 1899, CT no 51
62 Buller’s ev RCSAW III, 174–5. L’s ev RCSAW III, 516 (Q 21259)
63 Buller–L 15 Dec 1899, CT no 54
64 Buller’s ev RCSAW III, 175 and 202–3 esp 15315–8
65 Buller–White 16 Dec 1899 (no 88), SD App I, 490
66 Buller–White 17 Dec 1899 (no 92) ibid
67 Buller–L 1 Nov 1899, CT no 2H ‘I shall be sorry if Kimberley and Ladysmith go.’
68 See next chapter
69 Significantly, there is no reference to this cable in Rawlinson’s diary. The story that White’s staff doubted it was genuine appears to have originated with Hamilton after the siege ended. See garbled version in TH II, 460 and see Buller’s speech (partially misquoted) in II, 461–2
70 Buller–L 17 Dec 1899, SD I, 36–8. Note the footnote in the original MS indicating that ‘the original return showed that over 400 men were missing’. The original is in WO 32/7887
71 The idea that Colenso was a ‘catastrophe’ for Buller’s army was simply the rhetoric of Buller’s enemies. Of course it was catastrophic for certain units.
72 Methuen’s speech to the Highland Brigade in Lan MSS. See also Gardyne III, 431
73 Corpl [Nurse] quoted PPW 297
74 Atkins 180
75 Churchill Ladysmith 366
76 Black and White Budget. Hildyard–brother 24–8 Dec 1899, Hil
77 Buller–wife 18 Dec 1899, Bull (Crediton)
78 L–Buller 18 Dec 1899 (two), CT no 62 and 62a (p. 57). Note no 62a was not printed in the RCSAW III, App J
79 Buller–Bigge 8 Jan 1900, Big
80 Buller–L 20 Dec 1899 SD I, 43 (no. 15). Buller–Bigge 4 Jan 1900 Big: ‘Of course I don’t like Roberts’s appointment, but I don’t complain ...’
81 Buller–R 17 Dec 1899 9.10 am, Bobs R 10/17
CHAPTER 21: BLACK WEEK, SILVER LINING
Head of chapter Sydney Bulletin quoted Black & White Budget 23 Dec 1899
1 Times, Irish Times 16 Dec 1899 etc. Ly (Aileen) Roberts memo Bobs 181
2 Balfour–Ly Elcho 23 Dec 1899 quoting R on 17 Dec 1899 Bal 49835/16–17 (Dugdale Balfour I, 295–300 omits first para)
3 R–L 16 Dec 1899, Bobs 110–11 (NB mis–dated in R’s H & O I, 1)
4 Garvin III, 526–7. D. James Roberts 55–6
5 DNB. Col Repington–Marker 19 Aug 1904, BM 52278. James passim
6 Kipling Definitive Edition of Verse 396
7 I. Hamilton Drums 165
8 D. James passim. Abbott Tommy Cornstalk 193–5. Menpes 69–81
9 DNB
10 R–S Wilkinson quoted Symons 21
11 R–L 1896–9, Bobs 110
12 R–L 8, 11 Dec 1899, Bobs 110
13 Ly (Aileen) Roberts loc cit
14 R–Brackenbury 12 Dec 1899, H & O I, 1
15 L–R 10 Dec 1899, Bobs 181
16 Ly Roberts loc cit. Dugdale Balfour I, 295. L–Balfour 12.30 pm 16 Dec 1899, Bal 49727/97. Newton Lansdowne 165
17 Fitzpatrick Memories .144
18 Balfour–Ly Elcho 23 Dec 1899 loc cit: ‘and on Saturday a still worse telegram ... completed the tale of woe’
19 Esher Journal I, 251. L–Buller 18 Dec 1899, CT no 62. Note also no 62a that was not later published. G. Buckle Queen Victoria’s Letters (3rd series) III, 445
20 L–Balfour 17 Dec 1899 saying K had expressed a wish to come out, Bal 49727/98–9. Newton 165. See also Arthur Kitchener I, 266 (orders ‘not wholly unexpected’). The package had been arranged in advance by Ian Hamilton and Rawlinson. K had also written to the Prime Minister’s daughter-in-law, Ly Cranborne, proposing himself: K–Ly Cranborne 20 Sep 1899, Sal (Hat) ‘If you see the chance I hope you will put in a word as if the Cape war comes off it will be a big thing and they might give me some billet.’
21 See note 3
22 Most, if not all, important papers presented to the Cabinet at this time have been collected up in Cab 37/51/92–105. The Roberts letter is not included, nor can I find a reference to it in the Balfour, Chamberlain, Selborne or Salisbury papers
23 R–Buller 23 Dec 1899, CT no 75. Balfour–Selborne 22 Dec 1899, Bal 49707/52
24 Balfour–Salisbury 19 Dec 1899, Bal 49691/82–4. Newton 165–6. Wolseley Letters 377–8
25 Balfour loc cit. Queen Victoria’s Letters 3rd series III, 346. Longford Victoria RI 695 (paperback edit)
26 Ly Roberts’s memo, Bobs 181. L–Ly Roberts May 1921 ibid. Balfour–Ly Elcho 23 Dec 1899 loc cit. Balfour–Salisbury 18 Dec 1899, Bal 49691/2
27 Times 24 Dec 1899. R–Nora 11 Jan 1900, Bobs (misplaced, it escaped destruction!). James 278 and 326 (quoting R–Nora 26 May 1900)
28 Selborne–Balfour 14 Dec 1899, Bal 49707/49–51
29 See Dugdale I 293, 289–90
30 Salisbury–Curzon, Bal 49732
31 Bertha Synge–M 3 Nov 1899, MP II, 44
32 Ross Yeoman VIII. See also Fitzgibbon Arts 1, Peel Trooper 8008 1, Seely Adventure 53. Fitzpatrick Memories 124–5
33 Garvin III, 522. See also Bertha Synge–M 3 Nov 1899 quoted MP II, 43
34 C’s speech in Dublin on 18 Dec 1899 quoted Garvin III, 526. The Army Corps began to arrive in SA on 8 Nov 1899 and the tide turned a fortnight later
35 See note 32. Balfour–Kinnaird 1 Jan 1900, Bal 49853/9 ‘more disappointment ... than defeat’. Balfour–Ridgeway 6 Mar 1900, Bal 49812/301–2. Balfour wrote off the possible fall of the Ladysmith garrison as ‘a great disaster, but an even greater humiliation’. See also Selborne–M 26 Dec 1899 quoted MP II, 44–5. See also G. Wyndham–mother 16 Dec 1899, Wyndham Life and Letters I, 381
36 OH I, 462–70 casualties for 10 main battles only
37 Ibid
38 Asquith speech 16 Dec reported in Times 18 Dec 1899
39 CB–Birrell 5 Jan 1900 quoted J. Wilson 323. CB 19 Nov 1899 quoted op cit 318
40 CB’s speech at Aberdeen 19 Dec Times 20 Dec 1899. See J. Wilson 313–22
41 Garvin III, 522, 539–40
42 Garvin III, 518–19, 538, 572–4. M–C 27 Dec 1899, MP II, 30–1. M–Selborne 30 Nov 1899, MP II, 37–8
43 Garvin III, 527–36. Barbara Penny Australian Debate on the Boer War (Univ of Melbourne) Historical Studies XIV, 526–45
44 RCSAW II, Q 8033–9
45 RCSAW I, 70; II, Q 8343–60, 8686; III, 199–200, 277; IV, Q 20, 807
46 Annual Register 1899. TH III, 48–61
47 W–wife 21 Dec 1899, Wol 28/83
48 W’s ev RCSAW II, Q 8191–4
49 W–wife 31 Oct 1899 (two letters), Wol 28/70–1. See W letters passim
50 See W’s memo for the Queen RCSAW IV, 283. W’s ev RCSAW II, 382–3 (Q 9080–3)
51 Brackenbury–L 17 Dec 1899, Lan IV
52 Brackenbury’s minute 15 Dec 1899 ptd RCSAW I, 278–80
53 Ibid 279. Brackenbury’s ev RCSAW I, 73–8 esp Q 1599, 1600, 1644
54 Brackenbury op cit Q 1777–9
55 Brackenbury op cit Q 1602. Note MK IV was also defective in heat. See also the Cabinet paper on the subject Cab 37/51/94
56 Brackenbury–Balfour 23 Jan 1900, Bal 49853/13
57 Brackenbury’s ev RCSAW II, 73–8 esp Q 1599, 1616
58 W’s min 14 Dec 1899, WO 32/7887
59 W’s min 13, 14, 15 Dec, WO 32/7887
60 Procs of Army Board 16 Dec 1899, Lan. L’s minute 20 Dec 1899, WO 32/7887
61 Buller–L 16 Dec 1899, CT no 56. See also Buller–L 29 Nov 1899, CT no 33: ‘I shall mount infantry and let them ride in trousers as the Boers do.–
62 G. Wyndham–father 20 Dec 1899, Wyndham Papers I, 382
63 Times [?] Dec 1899. RCSAW I, 70–2. See also Report on Yeomanry Cd 803. Col Lucas ev RCSAW II, 272–6. Col Sir Howard Vincent ev RCSAW II, 230 (Q 5453). Gen. MacKinnon ev RCSAW II, 315–17.
64 Fitzpatrick–Balfour 1 Jan 1900, Bal 49853/10
; 65 W’s minute 28 Dec and L’s reply 30 Dec 1899, WO 32/7866
66 SJ Jan–Feb 1900. TH II
67 Hansard LXXVIII 30 Jan-8 Feb 1900. Cf J. Wilson 325–6. Dugdale I, 307–8.
68 Times. Garvin III, 513–16 quoting Metternich–Bülow 18 Mar 1900.
69 Prince von Bülow Memoirs I (London 1931) 301–3
70 See note 32
71 A. W. Myers Memory’s Parade (London 1932) 26–7
72 Blue Book 158 gives a total of 27 MPs and 36 peers who fought in war. Price calculated that roughly half Yeomanry came from the middle class. Price Imperial War 200, 254–8
CHAPTER 22: CHRISTMAS AT PRETORIA
Head of chapter Lt Kentish–mother 12 Oct, 9 Nov 1899, Kent
1 Botha–State Secretary 15 Dec 1899, Ley 713 (no 54)
2 Fichardt–President 12 Dec 1899, Ley 713 (no 11)
3 Standard & Diggers News 12, 28 Dec 1899. Volksstem 28 Dec 1899
4 Symons quoted Breyt III, 7
5 Volksstem 14 Dec (Pretoria 13th) 1899
6 Ibid 13 Dec (Pretoria 12th) 1899
7 Ibid
8 Breyt I, 233–6, 258–60, II, 170–4, 221–2, 320–2. OH I, 462–70
9 Standard & Diggers News 15, 20 Dec 1899
10 See speech 2 Oct 1899 quoted P. Kruger Memoirs II, 433–5
11 P. Kruger Memoirs II, 347–8
12 Gardiner Harcourt I, 379–81. Annual Register 1881
13 See CB–Bryce 10 Nov 1899, CB 412 11/61. J. Wilson 314–15
14 See Volksstem 1899 passim
15 Hancock, Smuts I, 106, 568
16 Thorold Labouchère 385–414
17 Dr Leyds quoted Echo de Paris re-printed Standard & Diggers News 9 Dec 1899
18 The total of foreign volunteers, mainly Uitlanders already in the Transvaal, came to about 2,000. See Breyt I, 62–8, 73
19 For prospect of foreign intervention see Sal A/121/40–6
20 Breyt II, 359
21 Breyt II, 354
22 Breyt II, 355
23 Breyt II, 355–6
24 Henderson Science of War 371–2
25 Kruger–Botha Ley 713 15, 16 Dec 1899 (nos 9 and 59). Breyt II, 358
26 Botha–Kruger 17 Dec 1899, no 3 Ley 713. Breyt II, 358–9, Kruger–Botha 17 Dec 1899, no 4 Ley 713. Breyt II, 359
27 British regulars (including non-combatants) at Mafeking 20, at Kimberley 600, at Ladysmith 12,250. Figures at beginning of sieges. See SD I, 333, OH II, 45–6, 601
28 In fact the British Cabinet overruled M and Buller who proposed a blockade of Transvaal’s food imports as well as arms imports. See Garvin III, 493–4
29 E. T. Cook Transvaal 274–5. Cd no 623, 624, 625
30 Volksstem 30 Jan 1900. The Friend 18 Dec 1899. Times (weekly edit) 12 Jan 1900 quoting Laffans Agency (Pretoria) 19 Dec 1899
31 According to the British government’s estimates just before the war, these were the totals in the Transvaal: Dutch 108,800, other whites 180,000, natives 754,000. But many of the 180,000 non–Dutch were not British either, and many had now left. SJ 6 Dec 1899. See Marais 1–3
32 Standard & Diggers News 9, 14 Dec 1899
33 SA Chamber of Mines Annual Reports 1897–9 (Johannesberg)
34 Ibid
35 Standard & Diggers News 9 Dec 1899
36 Standard & Diggers News 14 Dec 1899
37 See Selons, the explorer, quoted Standard & Diggers News 9 Dec 1899
38 Fisher Kruger 235
39 Meintjes Kruger 125
40 Standard & Diggers News 25 Dec 1899
41 Standard & Diggers News 14, 25 Dec 1899. Times (weekly edit) 12 Jan 1900 quoting Laffans (Pretoria) 19 Dec 1899
42 Botha–Kruger 2 Jan 1900 quoted Breyt III, 11–12
CHAPTER 23: ‘ARE WE ROTTERS OR HEROES?’
Head of chapter Maj R. Bowen–wife 4 Dec 1899 quoted K. Griffith Thank God We Kept the Flag Flying 147
1 Gunner Netley’s diary 22 Nov-18 Dec 1899, PC. Cf British soldier’s diary described Nevinson 121
2 Netley tapes, PC
3 ‘21,000 mouths’ acc White, SD I, 236. OH II, 538,601 (NB 249 sick and wounded not counted among 21,300 ‘souls’)
4 Capt Steavenson diaries Nov–Dec 1899, Stea. Capt J. Gough diaries Nov–Dec 1899, Gou. Nevinson 176. Stuart/140, 221 Pictures of War
5 Col Rawlinson diary 17 Dec 1899, Rawl 7/1
6 Steavenson diary 15–17 Dec 1899, Stea
7 Ibid 16 Dec
8 Nevinson 176–7. Pearse 130. MacDonald How we Kept the Flag Flying 171. James 139. McHugh Siege of Ladysmith 139–40
9 Ladysmith Lyre
10 Rawlinson diary 16 Dec 1899, Rawl 7/1
11 Ibid 17 Dec 1899
12 Ibid
13 Steavenson diary 17 Dec 1899, Stea
14 Capt J. Gough diary 19 Dec 1899, Gou
15 Surg–Capt Holt diary Nov 1899, Holt 6309/42
16 Rawlinson diary 25 Dec 1899, Rawl 7/1
17 Capt J. Gough diary Jan 1900, Gou
18 Steevens 133
19 Surg–Capt Holt diary 1 Nov 1899, MS cit. Capt J. Gough diary 30 Oct 1899, Gou
20 Steevens 125, 122–4. James 133–5, 144–7. See McHugh 68–73, Pearse 26–8
21 Lt Jelf 3 Nov 1899, Jelf. For war correspondents see Stuart 104
22 James 134
23 Steevens 93, 103–4. James 134–5. McHugh 98–102
24 McHugh 71 and Nevinson 105–6 describing death of Dr Stark
25 Netley diary Nov 1899, PC. Nevinson 156
26 Surg–Capt Holt 12–13 Nov 1899, MS cit. Steavenson diary 19 Nov-25 Dec 1899, Stea. Cf Nevinson 156
27 MacDonald 156. Cf Jeans 230–1
28 Steavenson diary 24 Nov 1899, Stea
29 Lt C. Hickie diary 22, 23 Dec 1899, Hick. Cf OH I, 553 giving 9 dead
30 Maj Donegan 30 Nov 1899, PC
31 Rawlinson diary 1–3 Dec 1899, Rawl 7/1. Lt C. Hickie diary 3 Dec 1899, Hick
32 Col Coxhead PRAI XXVII 437 foll. Rawlinson–K & R Rawl 6/. Capt Lambton’s ev RCSAW III, Q 19102–12
33 Coxhead loc cit
34 Rawlinson–K & R Rawl 6/157–8. Capt Lambton’s ev RCSAW III, Q 19112–27 quoting others
35 Rawlinson–K & R 25 Nov 1899, Rawl 6/92. Steavenson diary 20 Nov 1899, Stea. Cf Stuart 233, Nevinson 105–6
36 Capt J. Gough diary 30 Nov 1899, Gou
37 Ladysmith Bombshell
38 Text of Willis letter kindly supplied by Mr Christopher, of Ladysmith. See also MacDonald 161
39 Hutchinson Frank Rhodes 133–5. Colvin Jameson II, 191–2. Pearse 42–3. Stuart 221, 290. Rawlinson diary loc cit. Sampson & Hamilton Anti–Commando 122–3
40 Rawlinson–K & R 19 Dec 1899, Rawl 6/121
41 Ibid
42 Capt J. Gough diary Nov 1899, Gou
43 Rawlinson–R 19 Dec, 13 Nov 1899, Rawl 6/121, 39
44 Rawlinson–R 19 Dec 1899, Rawl 6/121
45 See note 30
46 Rawlinson–R 25 Nov 1899, Rawl 6/89–90
47 Ibid. See also Gen Hunter’s ev RCSAW III, Q 14583
48 Ibid Q 14540. Col W. G. Knox diary of siege Nov 1900 Bobs Misc Box
49 Col W. G. Knox diary 6 Jan 1900, Bobs Misc Box. Rawlinson–R 10 Mar 1900, Rawl 6/. Capt J. Gough diary 7 Jan 1900. Cf OH II, 534–6, 555–7
50 See note 1
51 Hutchinson Frank Rhodes 137. Rawlinson–R 8 Dec 1899 Rawl 6/106–8
52 Rawlinson diary 6–7 Dec 1899, Rawl 7/1
53 Ibid
54 Ibid. Stuart 142–51 (hon member of ILH). Nevinson 143–50 (based on Maj Henderson’s account etc). OH II, 546–7. Rawlinson–R 11 Dec 1899 loc cit. Breyt II, 437–43. MacDonald 118–19. Pearse 103–17. McHugh 109–27. TH III, 167–9
55 Rawlinson loc cit. Casualties as given in OH II, 548
56 Rawlinson–R loc cit. OH II, 548–9. Nevinson 158–64. McHugh 128–38. MacDonald 130–6
57 Capt J. Gough diary 7 Dec 1899, Gou
58 Rawlinson–R 11 Dec 1899, Rawl 6/
59 Rawlinson diary 15 Dec 1899, Rawl 7/1
60 Steavenson 17 Dec 1899, Stea. James 140–1
61 Lt ‘Dodo’ Jelf–parents 4 Dec 1899, Jelf. For other versions see Lt Harold Fisher 3 Dec 1899 ‘fools or heroes’ (cy) PC. James 140. Pearse 136–7
62 Rawlinson diary 5 Jan 1900, Rawl 7/1
63 TH III, 182 (footnote)
64 OH II, 558. TH III, 181
65 Ibid. Jeans 218–19
66 Jeans 196, 219–20. TH III, 183–4
67 Sapper G. Hall quoted K. Griffith 214. Hall tape, PC
68 OH II, 558–9. TH III, 185
69 Jeans 220. OH II, 558–9. TH III, 185
70 OH II, 559–60. TH III, 186–8
71 TH III, 189
72 Rawlinson diary 5 Jan 1900, Rawl 7/1. Gen Hunter’s ev RCSAW III, loc cit. OH II, 560–1, 563
73 Hunter loc cit. OH II, 562
74 Jeans 222–3. OH II, 562–3
75 OH II, 565
76 Capt J. Gough diary 5 Jan 1900, Gou
77 OH II, 563–4. TH III, 185–96. Jeans 223–4. For Bowen see quote at head of chapter
78 Jeans 224
79 Ibid. OH II, 565–7. TH III, 196–7
80 White–Buller 9.30 am 6 Jan 1900, SD I, 494 (no 45)
81 Rawlinson diary 6 Jan 1900, Rawl 7/1
82 Ibid
83 TH III, 197–9. Cf OH II, 568
84 Pearse 203. Nevinson 216
85 Rawlinson diary 6 Jan 1900, Rawl 7/1
86 White–Buller 3.15 pm 6 Jan 1900, SD I, 495 (no 47)
87 Col Park diary 6 Jan 1900, Dorset & Devon Regt Museum. OH II, 568–9. TH III, 197–201
88 H. Gough Soldiering On 72
89 Ibid. See Breyt III, 57 for other estimates of Boer dead
90 OH II, 569–70. Breyt III, 57. Col Park diary loc cit
91 Rawlinson diary 7 (?) Jan 1900, Rawl 7/1
92 Steavenson 6–12 Jan 1900, Stea
CHAPTER 24: THE TUGELA LINE
Head of chapter Buller–wife 23 Jan 1900 Bull (Crediton)
1 [Lt Grant] ‘Linesman’ Natal (8th impression) 12
2 W. Churchill Ladysmith 236–7. Atkins 196–7
3 White–Buller 6 Jan 1899, cy enc Buller–L 6 Jan 1899, CT no 92B
4 Buller’s ev RCSAW III, 177 col 2. OH II, 336–7
5 White–Buller 6 Jan 1899, SD I, App 494 (no 46). See paraphrase in OH II, 337
6 OH II, 337. Ct TH III, 198
7 Buller’s ev RCSAW III, 117 col 2. Breyt III, 18 puts figure as low as 300
8 [Lt Grant] ‘Linesman’ Natal 13
9 See Buller’s cypher index 14, Bull (PRO) 7/841. OH II, 337. Cf SD I, 495
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