Some time after Ladysmith was relieved, the Rifle Brigade erected a monument at the foot of
Surprise Hill to commemorate their feat, inscribed with the names of those who
were killed and buried nearby in a mass grave. Lieutenant Gilbert Ferguson’s
name is included even though his body was taken into Ladysmith for burial in
the Borough cemetery. Some years ago the monument was vandalised by people
digging for artefacts. It collapsed into a heap of stones. Only later was the
white marble plaque with the names of those Riflemen who died in the attack,
smashed into fragments.
Surprise Hill to commemorate their feat, inscribed with the names of those who
were killed and buried nearby in a mass grave. Lieutenant Gilbert Ferguson’s
name is included even though his body was taken into Ladysmith for burial in
the Borough cemetery. Some years ago the monument was vandalised by people
digging for artefacts. It collapsed into a heap of stones. Only later was the
white marble plaque with the names of those Riflemen who died in the attack,
smashed into fragments.
