When the 1st Inniskillings arrived in Ladysmith after raising the siege, they were transferred from Hart’s Brigade to the garrison command. As the Battalion had suffered so greatly in the battles of Colenso General Sir Redvers Buller decided not to allow the Skins to take part in active operations until they were back to nearly full strength.

The duties at Ladysmith were heavy. At first the Battalion provided the entire town guard; later, when drafts arrived and men returning from hospital began to increase numbers, it held key features outside the town. Drafts totalling 450 men arrived from Ireland between April and June, although not all were regular soldiers; many belonged to the Militia Reserve and others were volunteers from the Militia.

In between the spells of duty on the defences of Ladysmith, the Battalion trained hard – route marches and musketry – and for pleasure organised football and cricket matches, hockey, gymkhanas and race meetings. Everyone celebrated St Patrick’s Day with the usual gusto. It was not until August that the Inniskillings were ready to continue field operations against the Boers.