About two miles from the head of the plain the main body was halted to allow the guns from the left to rejoin us, but Broadwood's brigade continued the gallop to the very top of the pass on the left, and the 12th Lancers dismounted and held the kopjes in front.

The right front was held by the Household Composite and Gordon's Lancers."[35] [Footnote 35: "The Cavalry Rush to Kimberley," p.
909.] After a brief stop to re-assemble the march was resumed.

Just beyond the head of the plain the chimneys of the mine works at Kimberley became visible--still ten miles distant.

Cronje, by this aware of the direction and purpose of the movement, tried to intercept the advance at a place called Benaauwheidfontein Farm, four miles from the town, but he was just too late to occupy the commanding positions.

Brushing aside the inadequate force opposing him, French passed on, and about 7 P.M.entered the place, joining hands with the long besieged.
Kimberley was relieved, and the British cavalry established on Cronje's rear.
The general situation that evening, Thursday, February {p.275} 15, was as follows: Methuen at Magersfontein, in front of Cronje; the 7th Infantry Division at Jacobsdal, ten miles to the south-east; the 6th holding the Klip and Rondeval Drifts on the Modder, twenty miles east of the Boer army; the 9th near Jacobsdal, in reserve, ready to move where most needed.