the column completed its advance next day to Belfast, where
it arrived about midday and camped to the south side of the railway.

The distribution of the garrison, carried out at the commencement of
February, continued more or less the same till the time the Regiment
left Lydenburg. Three companies were north of Lydenburg, and were
stationed at the Mission House, Mission Camp Fort, and Bridge Hill. One
company was at Strathcona Hill, south of the town, two companies under
the command of Major Davies were at Witklip, whilst the three companies
which had proceeded with General Kitchener to Belfast were quartered on
their return in Lydenburg.

During this time Colonel Park was commanding the Lydenburg district with
Captain Ravenshaw as Brigade Major.

On February 5th the Boers attacked all the Lydenburg posts. The attacks
were not heavily pressed. There were no casualties on the side of the
defenders, whilst the Boers lost, as far as could be ascertained, two
killed and seven wounded.

On February 16th two Boers surrendered at Mission Camp. These stated
that their friends in the laagers were badly off for meat and had hardly
any horses left, most of them having died of horse-sickness.

Early in March, 1901, Colonel Park decided on raiding Piet Schwartz's
laager, which was stationed on the ridge to the north of and overlooking
Kruger's Post. His force consisted of three companies Devons under
Captain Jacson, three companies Rifle Brigade, three companies Royal
Irish, one squadron 19th Hussars, three companies mounted infantry,
three guns 53rd Battery, one howitzer, and one pompom, and by the 12th
his arrangements were complete. The infantry were to make a night march
and to attack at dawn, whilst the mounted troops and guns were to be at
Kruger's Post just after dawn to assist.

Under cover of darkness, the column rendezvoused at the Spekboom Bridge,
one company having gone on ahead to seize any Boers who might be coming
down at nightfall, as was their wont, to form a picquet there.

A start was made from the bridge at about 9 p.m. Leaving the main road
on their left, the column proceeded in single file, Devons leading,
along a footpath which led them over a Nek in the hills and thence down
into a donga. An accident, which might have been attended with very
unfortunate results, occurred at the very commencement. The Royal Irish,
who were in the rear, instead of following and keeping in touch with the
remainder of th