four o'clock
At the same time the men were working with tremendous energy , for news had just come in that the enemy was advancing in strong force . It was nearly two o'clock in the afternoon when Captain Lacey and his company resumed their place in the square . About that time an officer of the Berkshire Regiment represented the condition of his men as requiring attention . They certainly did require it , for they had been without food since four o'clock that morning , and were consequently in urgent need of provender as well as rest and water -- the last having been all consumed . As it was imperative that the work should go on , it was found necessary to serve out food by wings . Accordingly , the men of one half-battalion received rations and water , and were then sent to their zereba with the Gardner guns , while the other half , still lying in reserve by their piled arms , received their rations . The marines also sat down for brief rest and refreshment .