At the beginning of December the following was the distribution of the companies of the Regiment:—­

Two companies at Paardeplaats under Captain Bartlett. 
One company at Bridge Post under Captain Travers. 
One company at Strathcona Hill under Lieutenant Willis; and
Four companies at Mission Camp.

On December 9th and 10th a foraging expedition with three guns and four companies of the Rifle Brigade went out towards Van Der Merves’ Farm under Colonel Park.  These brought back twenty-eight wagon loads of forage without experiencing any opposition.

It was reported on the 12th that Nelspruit had been cut off by the Boers and required assistance.  A column was immediately formed, composed of one squadron 19th Hussars, four companies Devons under Major Davies, and four companies Rifle Brigade with some guns; the whole proceeding under General Kitchener en route to the Mauchberg and Devil’s Knuckles.  Three companies of the Regiment had been taken from Mission Camp and one from Paardeplaats.

A blizzard blowing all night and the following morning, accompanied with thunder and heavy rain, delayed the advance of the troops till noon, when a start was effected, and the Mauchberg was occupied by the Devons without opposition.

Further advance down Hell’s Gate to the Devil’s Knuckles was found impracticable owing to the state of the road.  Troops from Machadodorp had been sent to Lydenburg to act as a garrison whilst the column was out; but instructions were received from head-quarters on the 15th ordering the immediate return of the column to Lydenburg, as well as of the reinforcements back to Machadodorp.  The Devons had been, however, sent out from the Mauchberg previous to the receipt of the order to retire.  They skirmished down the road towards Devil’s Knuckles, and in a very thick fog Boers and British nearly walked into each other’s arms.  There was a good deal of musketry fire, with the result to the British side of one Devon wounded.  As was usually said on such occasions, “Boers’ loss was probably very great.”  The three companies returned to Mission Camp late on the evening of the 16th.

On the 18th Major Davies was ordered to Witklip to take command of the forts; he took with him one company as a reinforcement to the garrison.

On Christmas Day the Regiment received a number of telegrams from friends in England wishing them good luck.  A race meeting was held in the afternoon on the Lydenburg race-course.  The public went armed, and two field guns were brought into action on the course.  These precautions were necessary, for the Boers at this time were very busy, and on the night of December 28th-29th attacked the post at Helvetia, near Machadodorp, and captured it.

The post contained a 4.7 naval gun called “Lady Roberts,” and this, with the garrison of three companies of the Liverpool Regiment, was taken, only one small fort manned by a small contingent of about fifteen men holding out.  General Walter Kitchener left at once with four companies of the Rifle Brigade, two companies of the Regiment (from Witklip), two guns, and the mounted troops, in the hope of intercepting the Boers and recovering the gun.  The Boers, however, had made good their retirement to the hills, and General Kitchener returned to Lydenburg with the column on the 31st.