[4][5] During 1899 Labram assisted Major General Kekewich in preparing Kimberley's defenses prior to the city's siege; including the construction of a 155-foot (47 m) high watch tower, search lights and a telephone system.

[6][7] Labram installed an emergency fresh-water supply system for the town, and designed a bulk refrigeration plant for perishable foodstuffs[8] specifically for the storage of meat from cattle that had to be slaughtered as it could no longer be let to pasture.

[12] Labram was killed on 9 February 1900, less than a week before the siege was lifted, by a Boer shell that hit his room in the Grand Hotel on Market Square.

[10][11]: 134  Kekewich gave Labram a full military funeral, that was attended by thousands despite Boer shelling specifically targeting the procession.

Your late husband placed unreservedly at my disposal his great genius, and I can not sufficiently express my gratitude for the many works he completed, which have much assisted me to prolong the defense of Kimberley.