 Reinforcements began to arrive in South Africa in November under General Redvers Buller . The relief of the three besieged garrisons became the general 's priority . He divided his corps and assumed personal command of the Ladysmith expedition . The relief effort was hindered by three successive defeats in December , termed by the British as " Black Week " , and further reverses in January and early February . The siege of Ladysmith ended on 28 February . The King 's then gained a volunteer company and had its mounted infantry absorbed by an MI battalion . 
