Chapter 5

THE FIRST BOER ASSAULT

Joubert's boast--The preliminaries of attack--Shells in the town-- A simultaneous advance--Observation Hill threatened--A wary enemy--A prompt repulse--Attack on Tunnel Hill--The colour-sergeant's last words--Manchesters under fire--Prone behind boulders--A Royal salute--The Prince of Wales's birthday--Stretching the Geneva Convention--The redoubtable Miss Maggie--The Boer Foreign Legion-- Renegade Irishmen--A signal failure 58