the british 16th and 69th field batteries galloped to within range and opened fire. leaving the 1st battalion leicestershire regiment and the 67th field battery to guard the camp, the british infantry, led by the 2nd battalion royal dublin fusiliers and supported in succession by the 1st battalion king's royal rifle corps (krrc) and the 1st battalion royal irish fusiliers (rif), moved forward to make a frontal attack, and reached the foot of the hill where they were to advance through a small wood. however they were pinned down by heavy rifle fire from the top of talana hill. symons went forward to urge them on, and was mortally wounded in the stomach, although he was able to mount his horse and ride back into dundee where he later died. under symons' successor, brigadier-general james herbert yule, the krrc managed to reach a small stone wall at the foot of talana hill, where the dublin fusiliers were pinned down by boer fire. with the royal artillery laying down accurate fire on the summit the krrc supported by the rif were able to proceed up the hill. when they reached the top, they suffered casualties from their own supporting artillery. the boers abandoned their positions on the hill. despite the british artillery being repositioned to harass the boer retreat, they declined to fire, worried that they might hit their own troops again.