Majesty the Queen: "I wish you and all my brave soldiers and sailors a
happy Christmas. God protect and bless you all.--V.R.I." In the evening
there was a soldiers' sing-song in the lines, which was finished off by
three most hearty cheers for Her Majesty. Christmas Day completed the
eighth week of the siege.

The losses which the 2nd Battalion sustained at Colenso were
heliographed into Ladysmith. These were 15 N.C.O.'s and 10 men killed,
72 wounded, and 33 taken prisoners. This was in addition to the officers
wounded and taken prisoners already mentioned.

On December 27th, shortly after breakfast, a shell from the big gun from
Bulwana pitched and burst in the officers' mess shelter, where fourteen
officers had taken cover on the whistle being blown. Lieutenant A.F.
Dalzel was killed and the following were wounded:--

Lieutenant P.H. Price-Dent, dangerously in the head.
Lieutenant Caffin, dangerously in arm and shoulder.
Lieutenant Byrne, slightly.
Lieutenant Tringham, slightly.
Lieutenant Kane, slightly.
Lieutenant Scafe, slightly.
Lieutenant Twiss, slightly.
Lieutenant Blunt, slightly.
Captain Lafone, slightly.
Private Laycock, mess waiter, slightly.

The wounded were taken into the Railway Cutting and there cared for.
They were then sent down to hospital in a church in the town. Lieutenant
Dalzel was buried that night in the cemetery after dark during a heavy