catch
up, so if a pal was seen he was gone next moment to give way to another
pal. Most of the reservists had been through the ranks of the 1st
Battalion, and with it through the Tirah Campaign; almost all were
hurriedly recognized, and a hearty and hasty shake of the hand was all
the greeting exchanged. Old jokes came to the fore, and were bandied
from one to the other as the 2nd Battalion hurried along. There was no
time for more--one battalion was in a hurry and the other exhausted.

[Illustration: Devon Officers Remaining Fit For Duty At The End of the
Siege (Rajab--Regimental Barber)]

It was well on in the day before the 1st Battalion got back to its camp
at the Railway Cutting.

On Sunday, March 4th, a Thanksgiving Service was held on the flat ground
between the Convent Hill and the Naval Brigade Hill, which was attended
by Generals Buller and White, and on its conclusion the battalion moved
into tents outside the works and in front of Gloucester Post.

It was a strange experience moving out into the open, away from the
protection of the works. The nerves of most had had a severe strain from
want of food and continual anxiety.

It was the anxiety which killed. There is nothing more conducive to the
deterioration of men's minds than false alarms on an empty stomach.

CHAPTER III

EVENTS FOLLOWING THE SIEGE OF LADYSMITH, AND THE ADVANCE NORTH UNDER SIR
REDVERS BULLER

1900

The first few days following the relief were employed in the sorting and
reading of four months' mails and the opening up of presents. Many
complimentary telegrams were received by the battalion from England.

Major Davies, Captain Bartlett, and Lieutenant Willis, all of whom had
been doing duty with the 2nd Battalion during the relief operations,
joined the battalion on the 7th with some eighty-six men who had been
sent from Jullunder.

The two battalions were together for a few days only, as the 2nd
Battalion after a short rest proceeded with Sir Redvers Buller's force
towards Modder Spruit.

On March 10th the Ladysmith garrison was reorganized, the battalion
being placed in the 7th Brigade with the Gordon Highlanders, the
Manchester Regiment, and the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade. This brigade
was commanded by Colonel W.G. Knox, C.B.

Colonel Park, unfortunately struck down with enteric fever on the last
day of the siege, was shortly afterwards invalided to England. In his
absence Major Davies took over command of the b