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(Written by Leslie Donkin).

Private Leslie Donkin, a member of the Third Queensland South African Contingent, writing during the siege of Elands River (defended by colonial troops), on Sunday, 13/8/1900. sends the following interesting diary of the day to his parents in Brisbane :—

No doubt, ere this, you will have heard that the Boers have got 500 of us completely surrounded, but they have no hope of getting us out of where we are,
and we daily hope for relief, as this sort of thing is getting rather monotonous, and—we are anxious to get a wash. For some three weeks back we had a sort of idea that the enemy were in the close neighbourhood, but had no knowledge in what strength. We were out scouting day after day, but never ran across any scouts, though we heard continuously of them. We had just begun to think that it was all a lot of rot about them, but last Saturday morning, the 4th instant, we were just sitting down to breakfast when a 12lb. shell rudely interrupted it. There was a general rush for our trenches, which were anything but shell-proof, but helped to save a lot of lives. You can imagine how we felt, all huddled together in the trenches, while shell after shell burst right in our camp, together with a continuously heavy rifle fire. The first day over 1000 shells burst in our camp,
12lb., 7lb., and pompoms, and, considering the unprepared state of the camp, very little damage was done. Only two deaths occurred, and several arms and legs were missing, but we can't understand how any of us got off so far. A man sitting next to me was badly hit with a piece of shell, and a few minutes after a pompom went right through a quart-pot that was no further than 2ft. from me. The second day only 450 shells were fired, and the next day only 300 or thereabouts. We were getting a bit tired of counting them by this time. The
last shell of the day took our officer. Mr. Annat, off. as it blew him very nearly in
half. His was the first and only death in the Queenslanders so far, although we have fifteen all told wounded, but, thank God, none seriously.

BOERS FIRING BRITISH AMMUNITION.
The fourth day only four shells were fired, and since then just one now and then, just to remind us they are there still, but I think they are very short of shells, as most of them are captured shells, bearing the British broad-arrow. It's a bit of hard luck when you get shelled with your own shells. We have been busily engaged digging and filling up, trying to make ourselves bomb-proof,
and have very nearly finished now, after five days, night and day, digging and trenching. The Boers around us are a very cunning lot, as after we had got out holes dug, and crawled therein, they stopped firing until just after daylight. Having got our range during the day, left their guns in position until we went
out to feed the horses, when in came the shells again, first pom-poms, and then time-shrapnel, to burst just as we were rushing into our holes again.
We were all mounted on arrival here, but the shells have got away with nearly 200
of our horses, so I suppose that those of us that come out all right will be foot sloggers again, hard luck isn't it ? The first day we got a wire through to Zeerust. and had word that General Carrington left to our relief, but so far has not turned up.

A REQUEST TO SURRENDER.
The fourth day the Boers asked us to surrender the stores (some £5000 worth),
our arms, and ammunition, and we would get a free pass back to Mafeking on condition that we all signed to return to Australia, and not fight, them again. Of course we declined, and told them to keep up the firing, as it would not hurt us. I forgot they also wanted us to give up our boots as well, as they were very short of these articles. They told the officer who went out that they had a very poor opinion of the Australian troops, so, as we are all colonials here, we may make them change their ideas. The greatest difficulty we have to put up with now is water and watering the horses. We send three carts and the horses down every night, and the snipers line themselves along the creek, and give us fits. The night before last we had two black's and two horses shot, and last night several, horses and mules. It is not the most comfortable thing in the world to be there and get shot at, and not see any thing to shoot at.

TRYING ON THE NERVES.
I won't be sorry how soon the relief column comes along, as this is very trying
on the nerves, and I don't want mine ruined, although they are all right so far.
The shell fire has now completely ceased, but the bullets are flying around all day
and now and then at night. It is hardly safe to stick up one's head above the bags,
as we are completely surrounded by Boer snipers, who are only 900 yards away. We caught one sitting in a tree the other night, a couple of men having taken off
their boots and put on four pairs of socks, got right under the tree, and brought him down before he knew they were there. I don't suppose there is likely to be any accident to myself, but have asked Dods [George Archibald Cowan Dods] to post this if there should. The authorities here seem to think that this will be about the last stand, so when it is over you may expect us back any time, and I will be
very glad to get home again. You will hardly know me when you see me, as I only
weighed 9st. 4lb. at the Exhibition, and now I have turned the scale at 11st. 5lb., so you see the trip has done me good. The siege is very different from Mafeking, inasmuch as we have plenty of food, and freely help ourselves.
The siege still continues, but in a very half-hearted fashion. They seem to have
made up their minds that they can't shell us out, and have not the grit to rush us at night.

RELIEF AT LAST.
Eleven days have now elapsed since the siege started, and yet no sign of any relief, but the Boers seem very uncomfortable all around, and never stay long in one position. The snipers are still pretty busy, but the lot of us have got quite used to the rifle. You would be surprised to see what little notice is taken alter three or four days' firing. Relief at last, and not from the side expected. Who do you think relieved us?
Lord Kitchener, with 25,000 men, but the Boers cleared out some six or seven hours before they came. After taking away most of our stores, he left again for Pretoria, and Lord Methuen, with 20,000 men, came in next day. We have joined his force, and are now at Zeerust, and hope to go in a day or two to Mafeking, where we are to be outfitted again. There has been a row here for General Carrington not relieving us and for retiring from Elands River after having fired a few shots, right through Zeerust to Mafeklng, and letting the Boers again
get possession of the town ; but there is no sign of them here now. It was a great experience marching with so large a column as Lord Methuen's. We have seen a great many big-wigs now — namely, Lord Kitchener, Lord Methuen, Duke of
Teck, and Major Ricardo (brother of the Queenslander). The total loss of stock during the siege was 1460 horses, bullocks, and mules, so we were very nearly out of transport altogether, but managed to scrape up enough bullocks and
mules to hang on to the main column. I have enclosed a map of the little hill we defended, which will give you some idea how hot a time we had. Tell father that the entire area of our camp was not quite four acres, in which were 400 odd men, and about 1600 head of stock. I have, so far, been very lucky in the actions I have been in, as both the goes we have had are reckoned as general engagements, and carry a bar with it, so I have, so far, two bars and two medals to receive. Wherever they got that yarn about surrendering from entirely beats us
all hollow, as we never would have given in under any circumstances. Major Tun-
bridge informs us that he sent a wire to the Premier at once, giving all necessary details, so you must have heard that I am safe. The big-wigs of the army don't seem very different from our own officers.

MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES.
Our officers, in fact, showed much more pluck in our engagement than any others, especially our own leader, Mr. Annat, who was unfortunately shot dead. Major Tunbridge and Dr. Duka, I believe, have been mentioned in despatches for conspicuous bravery. There is a fight going on a few miles from here, but we have been left out of it, as we are horseless, and, in fact kitless. I am anxiously awaiting our arrival in Mafeking, both as there is a mail awaiting there, and we shall then know what is the next move, and where we are to go to.
The majority hope for home, as by the time we are refitted, and get back again, the Boers should just about be finished. We reached Mafekiijg without much opposition on the part of the Boers, only an occasional bit of sniping, but we were unfortunate enough to have Lieutenant-General Little wounded by one of these. We are at present at Mafeking, and are likely to be here for some time, when we leave by train for Pretoria.

THE DIARY OF A SIEGE. (1900, October 20). The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), , p. 823 (Unknown). Retrieved May 2, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article21249834