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Auction: 14018 - The Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1902, featuring Occupation and Siege Issues, The Harry Birkhead Collection
Lot: 148

(x) Ladysmith
The town was besieged from 1 November 1899 until 28 February 1900
Nearly all mail was detained in Ladysmith until the siege ended although a few covers are known to have been smuggled out during the siege
1900 (Feb.) envelope, brought in by runner, addressed to "The Chief of Staff N F Forces Ladysmith", "Recd AH" (General Sir A Hunter) who wrote, in red crayon, "Good news in during the night 25/2/00", the envelope then circulated to various officers who initialled the envelope having viewed the contents. A fascinating item of ephemera

Note: General Hart attacked Boer troops on Terrace Hill at 5pm on 23 February. They gained the top at 7pm but as there was no cloud cover they were unable to send a heliograph message to Ladysmith so sent off a runner that night. The following day the British Forces were decimated. A ceasefire was declared on Sunday 25 February

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Sold for
£180