"Railway Cutting.
"G.O.C. directs me to convey direct to you the following message from Sir R. Buller:—
"'Congratulate all troops on gallant defence, especially Devon Regiment.'"
The losses sustained by the garrison of Ladysmith on the 6th January were:—
Killed. Wounded.
Officers 18 25
Men 150 224
Total killed and wounded, 417.
By the death of Captain Lafone the Regiment lost one of the kindest-hearted and best officers that ever led a company.
The Boers' losses are estimated at 64 killed and 119 wounded. This estimate may be considered low, for the Standard and Diggers' News, copies of which were found later on in the war, gave six full-length columns of killed and wounded amongst the various commandos.
A large donga was utilized by the Boers as a dressing station. The violent storm on the afternoon of the 6th filled all the dry dongas and turned them at once into mountain torrents. It is said that all the wounded Boers in this donga were swept out into the Klip River and drowned. The dead of the Regiment were buried with those of other regiments, in a grave under Wagon Hill. Captain Lafone and Lieutenant Field were buried in the cemetery in Ladysmith.
On the morning of January 8th all the wounded were sent by train to Intombi Camp, including Lieutenant Masterson, who was doing well.
On January 9th the Regiment was concentrated at the railway cutting, the company at the railway station having been permanently relieved from the post by a company of the Liverpool Regiment. The battalion was thus ready to be moved to any portion of the defences requiring assistance, in case of attack.