“The battle of Ladysmith commenced between 2 and 3 a.m. on Caesar’s Camp and soon we were engaged all round.  The three companies which had proceeded to Observation Hill originally had just been relieved by three fresh companies.  At about 4 a.m.  Lieutenant Emerson reported to me that there was a party of Boers to his front, that he had fired on them, and that they had retired.  I thought it was the usual picquet and that they had gone right back (it was too dark to see much); but such was not the case, for they had concealed themselves in a fold in the ground about 300 yards to our front.  Their strength must have been between seventy and eighty.

“The enemy brought fire to bear on us from a 40-pounder howitzer, a field-gun, and a hotchkiss on Surprise Hill, and from one or two field-guns on the hill to our right over Hyde’s Farm.  They pounded away all the morning, and brought a continuous rifle fire on our position as well.  At about 9.30 a.m.  I heard a rattle of musketry from our centre work, and when I went up there I found that the enemy, who had concealed themselves in the fold in the ground in the early morning, had advanced right up the hill and had got within a few yards of our sangars before being seen.  We killed nine and wounded twelve.  They retired again to their cover, where they remained for the greater part of the day, slipping away by ones and twos back to their position.  At about 4 p.m. a tremendous thunder and hail storm came on, which blotted out everything.  The fire, which had ceased as the storm came on, was not renewed.  Our loss was two killed by rifle fire, when the Boers made their attack.  Our sangars were frequently breached by the 40-lb. shell during the day, but there was no loss from shell fire.”

These three companies were relieved by the Leicesters the next evening.

Lieutenant Masterson was rewarded with the Victoria Cross, and the following is the official account of his gallant deed:—­

“During the action at Wagon Hill, on the 6th January, 1900, Lieutenant Masterson commanded with the greatest gallantry and dash one of the three companies of his regiment, which charged a ridge held by the enemy, and captured the position.

“The companies were then exposed to a most heavy and galling fire from the right and left front.  Lieutenant Masterson undertook to give a message to the Imperial Light Horse, who were holding a ridge some hundred yards behind, to fire to the left front and endeavour to check the enemy’s fire.

“In taking this message he crossed an open space of a hundred yards, which was swept by a most heavy cross fire, and although badly wounded in both thighs managed to crawl in and deliver his message before falling exhausted into the Imperial Light Horse trench.  His unselfish heroism was undoubtedly the means of saving several lives.”