White at first was dead set against any actions involving raids outside the defence lines against the Boer besiegers. A number of British officers advocated aggressive action against Boer gun positions, Hunter and Rawlinson being prime movers in this regard. According to Captain Johnny Gough of the Rifle Brigade, “Hunter was full of wild schemes” and Rawlinson proposed an attack on “Bulwana Tom” (the Boer Creusot gun) as early as 11th November.
