PART TWO

The Relief Force and its commander--Rapid advance of the Column--Halt at Vryburg--The younger Cronje across the line of advance--Colonel Rhodes' ingenious message--Skirmish with the enemy--Junction with Colonel Plumer's force--Artillery fight--Cronje outwitted-The relief effected.

Junction with Colonel Plumer's Force.
On his part, Mahon rode swiftly north-westward all the 14th and early 15th, and as day of the 15th broke, struck the first outposts of Colonel Plumer's force at the Kaffir kraal known as Jan Masibi's. As the column from the south appeared on one side, that from the north marched in amid clouds of dust from the other. There were the 350 stalwart soldiers of the Rhodesian Regiment, who for seven weary months had been incessantly skirmishing with the Boers, and attempting to relieve Mafeking; there were 200 Queenslanders of enormous stature; there were six quick-firing guns of the C Canadian Battery, manned by the hardy militiamen of the far West, fresh from a journey which is without parallel in the annals of war. In the short space of a month they had travelled by sea from Capetown to Beira, by rail from Beira to Marandellas, by road from Marandellas to Buluwayo, and by rail again from Buluwayo to Ootsi, whence they had marched, covering 70 miles or more in two days, to Jan Masibi's, completing 3,100 miles of journeying by steamer, rail, and road, from Capetown. Their guns were an invaluable reinforcement to Mahon, who could now dispose of 1,500 men and 15 pieces of artillery, two of which, however, were muzzle-loading 7-pounders of little value. No shadow of gloom marred the meeting. Though both forces were eating their last rations, and retreat was out of the question, the men were absolutely determined to force their way into Mafeking or perish. It was neck or nothing.

Artillery in Mafeking Waiting to Co-operate with the Relief Column

The Artillery Fight.
On the 16th the combined force struck south-westward down the Molopo, on the last stage of its great march. And now the far-away village, with whose story the whole world was ringing, came into sight. Over the veldt could be seen the sheen of tin roofs and some white specks of houses. At mid-day a halt was called, seven miles from the beleaguered town, on the northern bank of the Molopo, while the mules were watered. The position occupied by the British was not favourable; all around the ground rose considerably, and here, as elsewhere, it was covered with bushes. The artillery took post on a gently swelling eminence to the north; the convoy halted in a saucer-like depression; the Imperial Light Horse watched the left flank, and Colonel Plumer the right; the Kimberley Mounted Corps guarded the rear. Soon after 1.30 several shots put the British on the alert. As yet no thing could be seen of the enemy, and it was not certain where they were Gradually 'their fire swelled and developed on the right front, and the British artillery took position-horse guns on the left, Canadian guns and "Pom-Poms" on the right, ready to open. As they waited, the Boers got to work with three 15-pounders, a 7-pounder, and a "Pom-Pom." Their shells dropped everywhere, but did infinitesimal damage. With a prodigious banging the British pieces replied, and a hot artillery duel, the roar of which dominated the incessant crackle of the rifle fusillade, was immediately in progress. The enemy were now showing in considerable strength in front and on both flanks.

The British artillery preponderance, however, was overpowering. M Battery speedily cleared its front and forced back the Boers; the Canadian quick-firers, rained shells upon a donga in which the enemy were seen to be hiding, and with some trouble induced them to depart. The last stand was made by them at Israel's Farm, upon the British right front; here they checked Colonel Plumer, but when the guns of M Battery and of the Canadian Battery, as well as the "Pom-Poms," concentrated upon the farm, the fight came abruptly to, an end. It had lasted five long hours with little incident; it was an incessant "sniping" upon a prodigious scale, in which the casualties were by no means heavy. In all, sixty men on the British side were killed or wounded; the Boers suffered far more severely, as was only to be expected in view of the strength of the British artillery. Among the trophies of the victory was a wagon with 2,000 shells for the Boer "Pom-Pom."

The rapidity and energy of the British attack stood Mahon in good stead. Spades and picks were found in numbers just to the rear of the line which the Boers had held, whence it was plain that they had intended to entrench themselves. Behind earthworks, such as they were capable of constructing, with the advantage of superior numbers, their defeat would have been no easy task, especially when it is remembered that the British had not sufficient supplies or provisions to permit of any elaborate maneuvering. Even now the tenacious Cronje did not feel thoroughly beaten.

Cronje Outwitted.
There is good evidence to show that he intended calling up more men from Snyman's commandos before Mafeking, and offering further resistance before Mahon reached the besieged town. But he was outwitted by a stratagem of the British leader.

Mahon had already exchanged heliograph signals with Baden-Powell. He had announced that his force would halt where it had fought, and would march into Mafeking at 4.30 a.m. of the 17th.

Meeting of Baden-Powell and Mahon H. C. Seppings Wright, after a sketch made-up by an officer who was present.

The Relief Effected.
Meantime he sent Major Karri Davis with eight of the Light Horse to reconnoitre the road. They sped straight into the besieged town without let or hindrance, and sent him back word to the effect that the way was open. The defenders of Mafeking had watched with sickening anxiety the clouds of dust and flashes of guns on the horizon, all the afternoon and evening of the 16th, and as this handful of men rode into the town they had the first clear evidence, of a British victory. A crowd swiftly gathered; there was tumult and cheering and singing of "God Save the Queen," and after that again three cheers for Baden-Powell, the steadfast, the wily, the invincible.

Nor was the rest of the column long in following in their footsteps, At 11 p.m. Colonel Mahon happened to wake-men thought there was design in this seeming accident-and gave orders for the wagons to inspan. The night was bright with a full moon, and the last stage of the march was accomplished without incident. In absolute silence the train of men and wagons passed through the Boer patrols, who were so careless and unobservant that next day they could not believe that Mahon had stolen through their lines and entered the town till they had ocular demonstration of the fact. At 4 a.m. of the 17th the first of the Mafeking outposts was encountered by the relief force, and amidst general exultation pipes were lighted and conversation opened in tones louder than a whisper. A few minutes later Colonel Baden-Powell rode up. There were no dramatic acts or words. Mahon said, simply "Glad to meet you. How are you? " And Baden-Powell replied: "Good. How are you? It's a long time since we met." Thus in true Anglo-Saxon fashion two of the heroes of the war exchanged greeting. As day broke the relief force halted and breakfasted in Mafeking.

The First Train into Mafeking. This is the train of supplies which Colonel Plumer had kept in readiness. As can be seen in the photograph, its passage through the veldt had as far as possible been disguised with foliage, so that when at rest it could scarcely be distinguished.

The Relief of Mafeking: The Procession through the Market Square. Colonel Baden-Powell and his staff were on horseback between Dixon's Hotel and the adjoining house, which had been the Colonel's headquarters.

For the splendid success of this enterprise Colonel Mahon deserves the highest credit. His leadership was perfect throughout. In ten days of actual marching he covered 223 miles of arid country, though perpetually threatened by a superior enemy. He met that enemy twice in action, and oil each occasion discomfited them. So certain were the Boers that he must fall in reaching Mafeking that some of their number who were prisoners in the town told Baden-Powell that he had not a chance of success. They counted upon capturing him and his whole force. The intense anxiety which Lord Roberts and General Hunter, both admirable judges, are known to have felt for him is, perhaps, the best measure of the difficulty of his task. There was no more brilliant feat of arms in the whole campaign than this meteoric rush through the desert. But while giving all due credit to Mahon for his achievements, Colonel Plumer's energy and decision in moving so swiftly to reinforce the southern column should not be overlooked, nor the patience and caution which he displayed in the weary months when his tiny force was the only bulwark between the Boers and helpless Rhodesia, the only hope in the eyes of beleaguered Mafeking. Molten has said that it is the highest achievement of the General's art to unite two forces in the face of the enemy And before Mafeking this was accomplished with faultless precision under Lord Roberts' guiding hand by his two gallant subordinates,. Mahon and Plumer.

The result of the expedition was awaited with breathless interest all over the civilized world; its. Success was a disappointment to those of our enemies who were already clamoring for intervention.

Colonel (now Major-General) Baden-Powell in the uniform of the 13th Hussars Photo by Lafayette

Mafeking Day at Piccadilly Circus
The announcement of the relief of Mafeking was made somewhat unconventionally by an excited footman at the Mansion House at 9:35 p.m. of May 18th. In an instant the news was all over the crowded space in front of the building, and as if by magic scores of Union Jacks made their appearance, whilst the crowd sang "God Save the Queen" and cheered for Baden-Powell, Roberts and all the generals they could think of.  The scenes in the West End were equally exciting; not even on Ladysmith-day had the sombre metropolis witnessed such rejoicing.

Mafeking Day at Piccadilly Circus From: H. W. Wilson, With the Flag to Pretoria: A History of the Boer War, 1899-1900, London, 1901

---

		H. W. Wilson, With the Flag to Pretoria: A History of the Boer War, 1899-1900, London, 1901. Colonel Mahon's Line of March from Barkly West to Mafeking.
		H. W. Wilson, With the Flag to Pretoria: A History of the Boer War, 1899-1900, London, 1901. Chapter XXVI: "The Siege of Mafeking." Part One.
		Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell (Robert Baden-Powell), Lessons from the Varsity of Life, 1933. Chapter VII: "The South African War."
		"This small place, which sprang in the course of a few weeks from obscurity to fame ..." opens Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's retelling of The Siege of Mafeking.  Author of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, Conan Doyle provides an excellent contemporary account of the siege in his history, The Great Boer War: A Two-Years' Record, 1899-1901.
		It was at the Siege and Defense of Mafeking during the South African (Anglo-Boer) War that Baden-Powell made his name and first gained public recognition. 1999 marks the beginning of the Centennial of the War. Developed as part of that observance, Perspectives on the South African War provides a collection of links to original and contemporary sources on the South African War.
		The Baden-Powell Home Page. Links regarding the life and services of Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell, Defender of Mafeking, Founder of the World Scouting Movement.

---

		Return to the Pine Tree Web Home Page

Your feedback, comments and suggestions are appreciated.
Please write to: Lewis P. Orans

Copyright © Lewis P. Orans, 1999
Last Modified: 3:29 PM on October 17, 1999