forgotten by the regiment, as long as an officer who was present with
it in South Africa remains in it. Over and over again he brought up
food to the officers under heavy fire, and through those desperate
thunderstorms. Always cheery, ever ready, there he was in his
shirt-sleeves, with a drink and a snack, just as one had resigned
oneself to going without anything. A word must also be said in praise
of our French _chef_, M. Burst, who cooked for the officer's mess
throughout, and proved himself on all occasions a brave man.

[Illustration: The Dublins are coming--Ladysmith.]

After breakfast on March 1st, the 11th Brigade advanced along the
railway towards Ladysmith. It was thought that the Boers would be
holding Bulwana, and the brigade had orders to attack the hill. But it
was soon learnt that the enemy had retired, and we eventually reached
Nelthorpe Station about mid-day and bivouacked. Major English and
Captain Venour took the opportunity of riding into Ladysmith.

March 2nd was spent at Nelthorpe. On the 3rd, Sir Redvers Buller's
army entered Ladysmith, and the honour of leading the army fell to the
2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers--an honour which nobody grudged
them, on account of the constant fighting they had taken part in since
the beginning of the war, and the heavy casualties they had suffered.
The route was by the railway bridge, and the streets of the little
town were lined by the garrison, who, emaciated but clean, presented a
startling contrast to their war-stained relievers.

[Illustration: Sir George White watching Relief Force entering
Ladysmith.]

The entry into Ladysmith, with its enthusiasm and meeting of old
friends, formed a fitting ending to the battalion's Natal campaign.
Hardly any other unit in the army had suffered such casualties. Only
five company officers marched through Ladysmith with it. The others
had been killed, wounded, or disabled.

CHAPTER IX.

THE SIEGE OF LADYSMITH.

'I am shut up.'--_Ps._ lxxxviii. 8 and _Jer._ xxxvi. 5.

_Chronicle of the part taken by the detachment 2nd Battalion Royal
Dublin Fusiliers in the Siege of Ladysmith from November 1st, 1899, to
February 28th, 1900._ _By_ LIEUT. L. F. RENNY, _2nd Batt. Royal Dublin
Fusiliers_.

The detachment which was left behind in Ladysmith when the battalion
was ordered to Colenso consisted of two officers, three
non-commissioned officers and fifty-one men. The latter were made up
by a section of 'G