NESBITT, CHARLES WARREN, Captain,
was born in 1866, son of Lieutenant Colonel R A Nesbitt. He served in the
South African War, 1900-1, in command of Nesbitt's Horse. The Official
'History of the War in South Africa' (compiled by Major General Sir F
Maurice, KCB, and published by Messrs Hurst and Blackett), says on page 415
of Volume I: "Immediately on his arrival the Field Marshal (Lord Roberts)
strove to systematize and support the efforts of the many South African
Colonists who were pressing to be allowed to take up arms in self-defence.
Their embodiment had already been sanctioned by Sir R Buller, and approved
by the Home Government. Colonel Brabant's Corps was expanded into two
regiments, and their leader appointed a Brigadier-General to command a
Colonial division composed of his own two regiments (Brabant's Horse), the
Cape Mounted Rifles, Kaffrarian Rifles, Border Horse and Queenstown Rifle
Volunteers. Two new mounted corps, entitled Roberts's Horse and Kitchener's
Horse, were raised, besides numerous local defence corps, such as Nesbitt's
and Bayley's from the Eastern province, and Orpen's from the Hopetown
district. Colonel C P Ridley, in charge of the Western line of
communications, commanded the 2nd Mounted Infantry Brigade, made up by the
2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th Mounted Infantry Regiments, the City Imperial
Volunteers, Queensland Mounted Infantry and Nesbitt's Horse". For his
services in this campaign Captain Nesbitt was mentioned in Despatches, and
created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 19
April 1901]: "Charles Warren Nesbitt, Captain, Nesbitt's Horse. In
recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The
Insignia were presented to him by the King 25 July 1901.
