The distribution of the losses among the various battalions--eighty among the Canadians, ninety in the West Riding Regiment, one hundred and twenty in the Seaforths, ninety in the Yorkshires, seventy-six in the Argyll and Sutherlands, ninety-six in the Black Watch, thirty-one in the Oxfordshires, fifty-six in the Cornwalls, forty-six in the Shropshires--shows how universal was the gallantry, and especially how well the Highland Brigade carried itself.

It is to be feared that they had to face, not only the fire of the enemy, but also that of their own comrades on the further side of the river.

A great military authority has stated that it takes many years for a regiment to recover its spirit and steadiness if it has been heavily punished, and yet within two months of Magersfontein we find the indomitable Highlanders taking without flinching the very bloodiest share of this bloody day--and this after a march of thirty miles with no pause before going into action.
A repulse it may have been, but they hear no name of which they may be more proud upon the victory scroll of their colours.
What had we got in return for our eleven hundred casualties?
We had contracted the Boer position from about three miles to less than two.
So much was to the good, as the closer they lay the more effective our artillery fire might be expected to be.

But it is probable that our shrapnel alone, without any loss of life, might have effected the same thing.

It is easy to be wise after the event, but it does certainly appear that with our present knowledge the action at Paardeberg was as unnecessary as it was expensive.