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1st Dragoons |
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Click here for a list of recipients of the
QSA.
The regiment sailed in the beginning of November 1899, and arrived at
Durban about the 26th. They performed excellent service during the
operations for the relief of Ladysmith. The regiment was present at
Colenso, 15th December (see 2nd Queen's, Royal West Surrey), but was not
heavily engaged.
When the turning movement by the west was attempted the regiment was in
the Mounted Brigade under Lord Dundonald, along with the 13th Hussars, South
African Light Horse, Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry, part of Bethune's
Mounted Infantry, some regular Mounted Infantry, one squadron Imperial Light
Horse, and one squadron Natal Carabiniers. Much good work was done by
the Mounted Brigade, particularly about 19th January 1900, when they
captured about 40 Boers and seized important positions near Acton Homes.
So far as they were concerned everything was done to command success in the
second attempt to relieve Ladysmith, and the seizure of the positions about
Acton Homes was entirely in accordance with the scheme of General Buller, a
scheme which Lord Roberts said was well devised and should have succeeded.
When General Buller retired after Spion Kop and Vaal Krantz, Colonel
Burn-Murdoch of the 1st Royal Dragoons was left in command at Springfield to
protect Buller's left flank. His force consisted of the 1st Royal
Dragoons, 13th Hussars, two squadrons of the 14th Hussars, two naval
12-pounders, A Battery RHA, and two battalions of infantry. On and
after 22nd February most of these troops were brought down to Colenso to
take part in the last great effort. In his despatch of 14th March
1900, para 60, General Buller thus refers to the work of the mounted men:
"During the whole of the fourteen days the 1st and 2nd Cavalry Brigades had
kept our rear and flanks, their patrols extending from Greytown to
Hongerspoort and Gourtown".
Seven officers and 2 non-commissioned officers of this regiment were
mentioned in General Buller's despatch of 30th March 1900, and 2 officers
and 2 privates were mentioned in General Warren's despatch of 1st February
1900.
When General Buller advanced north through the Transvaal Burn-Murdoch's
brigade was left to watch the Natal border, and for a considerable time was
chiefly employed about the south-east corner of the Transvaal. The
brigade at that time was the 1st Royal Dragoons, 5th Dragoon Guards from the
Ladysmith garrison, and 13th Hussars.
Seven officers and 6 non-commissioned officers and men of the regiment
were mentioned in General Buller's final despatch of 9th November 1900, and
4 officers and 3 non-commissioned officers were mentioned in Lord Roberts'
despatch of 4th September 1901.
In May and June 1901 the regiment, along with the 6th Inniskilling
Dragoons, was in a column commanded by Colonel Pulteney which operated
successfully in the Eastern Transvaal. In July "Lord Basing, with the
Royal Dragoons, two guns, and a pom-pom, was engaged covering the
construction of the Frederickstad and Breedtsnek line of blockhouses, and in
keeping up communication thence to General Barton's column" west of Krugersdorp.
In consequence of a concentration of Boers in the south of the Orange
River Colony, Lord Basing and his men were brought by rail to Springfontein
in August 1901, and thence proceeded to operate in the south-east of that
colony.
In the spring of 1902 the regiment operated about Ficksburg and Senekal,
and afterwards in the Bothaville district and down the valley of the Vaal,
"in the systematic work of clearance". All this often involved sharp
fighting and not a few casualties.
In Lord Kitchener's final despatch 4 officers and 4 non-commissioned
officers and men were mentioned.
