Gough’s diary entry reads: “Got leave last night to try my scheme on Thornhill’s farm. I had 2 Coys i.e. 6 officers and 177 men. It was raining and a pitch black night. Everything went off splendidly and we completely surrounded the building ½Coy going as far as the railway. I then searched the houses but found there was no-one there. Cruel hard luck as all my plans worked out splendidly. Better luck next time.Reached the camp at 4.15 a.m., on the way back we looted some vegetables. I am certain if any Boers had been there that I would have bagged the lot – the farm is about 1½ miles out.”
