HOW LADYSMITH WAS RELIEVED (Manuscript account)

AS DESCRIBED BY SERG. J. HIPWELL, 2nd Batt. Royal Fusiliers, Feb 28th 1900.

Eleven page diary account of events from Tuesday, 13th February to 6th March describing his involvement in engagements leading up to the relief of the town on 28th February.

Written in on lined paper in an exercise-book with a cloth back and marbled paper sides (200 x 160 mm). Several of the pages are loose.

This appears to be a fair copy from the original pencil manuscript notes which are also included.

With a carte de visite photograph (165 x 105 mm) of Sergeant Hipwell.

Hipwell writes, ‘On Tuesday the 27th we were in support, with our regiment behind the hill facing Grobblaars Kloop which in called the death trap, were we lost about 80 killed and wounded, but one thing I must say this was “Majuba Day” & the Boers knew it, for we gave them one of the best hidings they have ever had, our Division lost a good many, but the Boers lost terribly, even women were found dead in the trenches. I bet they remembered Majuba Day after this, for they ran in all directions leaving positions that no other nation under the sun could drive us from, we captured tons of stores & clothing. This was the last determined stand the Boers made around Ladysmith.’

‘The second battalion of the Royal Fusiliers had served in garrison on the Island of Guernsey, in Belfast and at the Curragh outside Dublin since returning from India in 1889.  It was sent to the Cape Colony in South Africa in October, 1899 as part of the Sixth Infantry Brigade.  Shortly thereafter, Captain Charles FitzClarence of the Regiment won the Victoria Cross for valiant service against Boer irregulars near Mafeking.  

The second battalion fought at Colenso on 15 December, 1899 and participated in the subsequent Relief of Ladysmith.  In January and February of 1900, the battalion fought at the Tugela Heights and spent the rest of the war in the Orange Free State and Transvaal.  The Regiment was granted battle honours for South Africa 1899-1902 and the Relief of Ladysmith.’

From The History of the Royal Fusiliers, 1815 to 1914.(http://www.royalfuzileers.com/regiment2.html)