The monotonous bombardment with which the New Year had commenced was soon to be varied by a most gallant and spirit-stirring clash of arms.

On January 6th the Boers delivered their great assault upon Ladysmith--an onfall so gallantly made and gallantly met that it deserves to rank among the classic fights of British military history.

It is a tale which neither side need be ashamed to tell.

Honour to the sturdy infantry who held their grip so long, and honour also to the rough men of the veld, who, led by untrained civilians, stretched us to the utmost capacity of our endurance.
It may be that the Boers wished once for all to have done at all costs with the constant menace to their rear, or it may be that the deliberate preparations of Buller for his second advance had alarmed them, and that they realised that they must act quickly if they were to act at all.
At any rate, early in the New Year a most determined attack was decided upon.

The storming party consisted of some hundreds of picked volunteers from the Heidelberg (Transvaal) and Harrismith (Free State) contingents, led by de Villiers.