In a bid to raise morale Dartnell was among the organisers of a children's Christmas party on 25 December 1899 for which he managed to obtain four Christmas trees which were suitably decorated while presents were given to the children by Father Christmas, who was actually a costumed Regimental Sergeant-Major of the Imperial Light Horse. On 4 January 1900 Dartnell's empty tent received a direct hit from a Boer shell, destroying the contents. The Siege of Ladysmith ended on 28 February 1900 when an advance party of the Composite Regiment of the Mounted Brigade reached Ladysmith which including 15 members of the Natal Police.