 The Boers enclosed Ladysmith on 2 November , beginning a 118 @-@ day siege . The King 's , commanded by Lieutenant @-@ Colonel Llewelyn Mellor , became assigned to the north @-@ eastern defensive sector under Colonel Knox , a disciplinarian who instituted a programme of fortification development in his area . Construction of the defences occurred mostly at night , although rain , oppressive heat , and cold limited the opportunity to rest . On 6 January , the King 's mounted infantry helped repulse a Boer attempt to penetrate the southern perimeter . By late January , the scarcity of supplies had become particularly acute . Disease pervaded while the town resorted to consuming the garrison 's horses and mules . 
