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The regiment was in Ladysmith when the war broke out. They were not
engaged at Elandslaagte, but were present and did good work at Rietfontein
on 24th October 1899 (see 1st Liverpool Regiment). At the battle of
Lombard's Kop or Ladysmith, 30th October (see 1st Liverpool), the 19th
Hussars were with the 5th Lancers and some Natal Mounted Volunteers sent out
under General French, but were unable to get as far as was intended, and had
to be assisted in order to hold their own, and had subsequently to retire.
During the siege the regiment frequently had some fighting. On the
night of 7th December one squadron "penetrated some four miles towards the
north, destroying the enemy's telegraph line and burning various kraals and
shelters ordinarily used by them". On 6th January, the day of the
great attack, two squadrons of the 19th Hussars held Maiden's Farm to
prevent the Boers attacking Waggon Hill from the west, and part of the
regiment were in the fight on the hill itself.
Two officers were mentioned in Sir George White's despatch of 23rd March
1900.
After the relief the regiment was brigaded with the 5th Lancers and 18th
Hussars under Major General Brocklehurst, and took part in the advance of
General Buller to Volksrust and afterwards to Lydenburg, being constantly
engaged.
Four officers were mentioned in General Buller's final despatch, and 5
officers and 6 non-commissioned officers and men in Lord Roberts' despatch
of 4th September 1901.
During the second phase of the campaign the regiment was almost always in
the Eastern Transvaal, and their history is much akin to that of the 18th
Hussars, whom they accompanied on endless expeditions, and with whom they
fought in very many actions. In his despatch of 8th August 1901, para
11, Lord Kitchener says: "On 29th July General Kitchener was able to report
from Blauwbank the gratifying news of a very successful engagement, in which
the 19th Hussars, after a long chase, had recaptured one of the two pom-poms
taken from the Victorians on 11th June. The 18th Hussars, who followed
the 19th in support, were also able to come up with the enemy and assist in
the capture of 32 prisoners and 20 waggons". On 16th August the 19th
Hussars had very heavy fighting in dense bush with a large force of the
enemy at Elandskraal, North-East Transvaal. The regiment was for a
time very hard pressed, but fortunately their old friends, the 18th, again
appeared on the scene in time to drive off the enemy and to release 4
officers and 19 men who had been captured.
Three officers and 17 non-commissioned officers and men gained mention in
Lord Kitchener's despatches written during the war, and in the final
despatch the names of 3 officers and 4 non-commissioned officers were added.
