They had made desperate marches, one of them through thick bush, where they went for nineteen miles without water, but nothing could shake the cheery gallantry of the men.

To them fell the honour, an honour well deserved by their splendid work throughout the whole campaign, of entering and occupying the ultimate eastern point which the Boers could hold.

Resistance had been threatened and prepared for, but the grim silent advance of that veteran infantry took the heart out of the defence.

With hardly a shot fired the town was occupied.

The bridge which would enable the troops to receive their supplies from Lourenco Marques was still intact.