Sixth Division (Kelly-Kenny).
12th Brigade (Knox). 
Oxford Light Infantry. 
Gloucesters (2nd). 
West Riding. 
Buffs.
18th Brigade (Stephenson). 
Essex. 
Welsh. 
Warwicks. 
Yorks Seventh Division (Tucker).
14th Brigade (Chermside). 
Scots Borderers. 
Lincolns. 
Hampshires. 
Norfolks.
15th Brigade (Wavell). 
North Staffords. 
Cheshires. 
S. Wales Borderers. 
East Lancashires Ninth Division (Colvile). 
Highland Brigade (Macdonald). 
Black Watch. 
Argyll and Sutherlands. 
Seaforths. 
Highland Light Infantry.
19th Brigade (Smith-Dorrien). 
Gordons. 
Canadians. 
Shropshire Light Infantry. 
Cornwall Light Infantry.

With these were two brigade divisions of artillery under General Marshall, the first containing the 18th, 62nd, and 75th batteries (Colonel Hall), the other the 76th, 81st, and 82nd (Colonel McDonnell).  Besides these there were a howitzer battery, a naval contingent of four 4.7 guns and four 12-pounders under Captain Bearcroft of the ‘Philomel.’  The force was soon increased by the transfer of the Guards and the arrival of more artillery; but the numbers which started on Monday, February 12th, amounted roughly to twenty-five thousand foot and eight thousand horse with 98 guns—­a considerable army to handle in a foodless and almost waterless country.  Seven hundred wagons drawn by eleven thousand mules and oxen, all collected by the genius for preparation and organisation which characterises Lord Kitchener, groaned and creaked behind the columns.

Both arms had concentrated at Ramdam, the cavalry going down by road, and the infantry by rail as far as Belmont or Enslin.  On Monday, February 12th, the cavalry had started, and on Tuesday the infantry were pressing hard after them.  The first thing was to secure a position upon Cronje’s flank, and for that purpose the 6th Division and the 9th (Kelly-Kenny’s and Colvile’s) pushed swiftly on and arrived on Thursday, February 15th, at Klip Drift on the Modder, which had only been left by the cavalry that same morning.  It was obviously impossible to leave Jacobsdal in the hands of the enemy on our left flank, so the 7th Division (Tucker’s) turned aside to attack the town.  Wavell’s brigade carried the place after a sharp skirmish, chiefly remarkable for the fact that the City Imperial Volunteers found themselves under fire for the first time and bore themselves with the gallantry of the old train-bands whose descendants they are.  Our loss was two killed and twenty wounded, and we found ourselves for the first time firmly established in one of the enemy’s towns.  In the excellent German hospital were thirty or forty of our wounded.

On the afternoon of Thursday, February 15th, our cavalry, having left Klip Drift in the morning, were pushing hard for Kimberley.  At Klip Drift was Kelly-Kenny’s 6th Division.  South of Klip Drift at Wegdraai was Colvile’s 9th Division, while the 7th Division was approaching Jacobsdal.  Altogether the British forces were extended over a line of forty miles.  The same evening saw the relief of Kimberley and the taking of Jacobsdal, but it also saw the capture of one of our convoys by the Boers, a dashing exploit which struck us upon what was undoubtedly our vulnerable point.