On November 5th the Intombi Camp was formed, and all the wounded and most of the women and children, with a few of the able-bodied male civilian inhabitants of Ladysmith, were moved into the neutral camp.

On November 6th and 7th, with the exception of a shell or two, things were quiet on Devon Post, but on the evening of the 7th a furious bombardment began at four o’clock, the Boer guns all round firing into the town and at anything they could see moving.  No damage was done.

In addition to the works on Devon Post, which were manned by the Regiment, a half-company picquet was told off nightly.  This picquet extended and lay down across the main road at the foot of the forward work.  It mounted after dark and was relieved before daylight in the morning.  Many will remember the spot where this picquet was posted as the most ill-chosen, inconvenient, and hard platform for a bed on a rainy night.

The nights of the 6th, 7th, and 8th were occupied in making the works stronger and building additional works.

On November 9th the Boers made their first attempt against Ladysmith.  The attack commenced at 6 a.m. with heavy musketry fire directed on to the northern defences; and three hours later the attack developed on Helpmakaar Post and Caesar’s Camp.  Shells came very thickly from two howitzers and three high-velocity Creusot guns into Devon Post.  This lasted till about 2 p.m., when the action was concluded with a royal salute from the naval batteries and three hearty cheers, which, started by the Naval Brigade, were taken up all round the defences in honour of the birthday of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.  A curious ending to a battle.

During the action a well-directed shell from one of Christie’s ancient howitzers, which were now located on Helpmakaar Hill, pitched with good effect into the middle of a large group of Boers who were entrenching themselves on a small rise of ground underneath Gun Hill.

Helpmakaar, which had always been a single-day post, was now turned into a three days’ post, companies remaining in the fort for three days before being relieved.

On the 11th three companies of the Regiment were sent out under Captain Lafone to blow up a farm building under Bulwana, about one and half miles distant from Devon Post.  After a long delay, owing to the blasting materials having been forgotten, the operation was successfully carried out, and the party returned with only some slight annoyance from the enemy’s pompom and a few shots from a high-velocity gun stationed on Bulwana.

The Boer artillery on Bulwana and Gun Hill was well served, and their shooting was excellent.  One morning they opened with a 40-pounder howitzer, known under the name of “Weary Willy,” on to the main work at Devon Post, at a portion of the work occupied by “Walker’s Hotchkiss Gun Detachment.”  About twelve consecutive shots pitched within a five yards’ radius, and one crashed into and nearly breached the parapet, which was here about six feet thick and built of large stones.