Inniskillings, Connaughts and Dubs recognised for utmost gallantry in South Africa

Following the action at Inniskilling Hill and the subsequent Relief of Ladysmith, General Buller made several references in his despatches to the Inniskillings and other Irish regiments; the despatch to Field Marshal Lord Roberts dated 14 March 1900 included the following:

... and the attack was made by two battalions, supported by a half battalion only - The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, The Connaught Rangers and half The Royal Dublin Fusiliers. The attack was delivered with the utmost gallantry, but the men failed to reach the top of the hill. The regiments suffered severely, but their loss was not unproductive; their gallantry secured for us the lower sangars and a position at the foot of the hill, which ensured our ultimate success ... . So was accomplished the Relief of Ladysmith. It was the men who did it - danger and hardships were nothing to them, and their courage, their tenacity and their endurance were beyond all praise.