THE LADYSMITH BOMBSHELL

16 December 1899

A single issue – 6 duplicated handwritten leaves with a faded cartoon on the front leaf by Earl Robert, bound in blue cloth boards and titled gilt on the upper cover, a good copy.

Under the cartoon is a handwritten note : Issued during the Siege – original - signed by W. J. Webb Sgt.N.P.

Originally issued in 8 parts: No 1 November 18th 1899 – No 8 January 8th 1900.

Walter James Webb was a trooper in the Natal Police during the Anglo Boer War. Tensions had been festering between the two Dutch Republics in South Africa – the Orange Free State and the Transvaal (or Z.A.R.) and the mighty British Empire. These tensions spilled over into open war on 11 October 1899 and the Natal Police, apart from performing their normal duties to the best of their abilities, were called upon to augment the Colonial forces gathering in Natal to come to the aid of the woefully inadequate number of British troops in the Colony. The force was divided into various segments – some were attached to Buller’s relief force finding themselves involved in some of the actions leading up to the Relief of Ladysmith whilst others were caught up in the town itself and formed part of the Defence thereof. Still more were assigned to the Melmoth Field Force and there was even a small number who were detached to Bethune’s Force who were used as a distraction to entice the Boers into having to defend another front.

Webb was in the force which occasioned after a long period (certainly for the inhabitants of that town) the Relief of Ladysmith. After much delay and many setbacks this force entered Ladysmith on 1 March 1900 thereby lifting the suffocating siege that had afflicted all residents. For his efforts Webb was awarded the Queens Medal with the Relief clasp.
https://www.angloboerwar.com/forum/5-medals-and-awards/26828-sgt-webb-of-the-natal-police