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The regiment joined General French in the Colesberg district in December
1899, and took part in his operations there until he left for Modder River
in the begining of February 1900. Their work was several times
mentioned in complimentary terms in General French's despatches—such as
where he, referring to the seizure of a position by the 10th Hussars and
Inniskillings on 4th January 1900, said, "The 6th Dragoons, led by Captain E
A Herbert, showed no less dash, pursuing the enemy mounted and inflicting
some loss".
One squadron under Major Allenby went to Modder River and took part in
the expedition to Koodosberg Drift and also in the rush to Kimberley, being
then in the 1st Cavalry Brigade (see 6th Dragoon Guards). The other
two squadrons remained at Colesberg under General Clements, and with him
joined the main army at Bloemfontein about the beginning of April 1900.
For his good work on the way to Bloemfontein Major Allenby was mentioned in
Lord Roberts' despatch of 31st March.
In the northern and eastern advances the 6th Dragoons were in the 1st
Cavalry Brigade, the work of which has been sketched under the
6th Dragoon
Guards.
In Lord Roberts' final despatches 7 officers and 8 non-commissioned
officers and men were mentioned.
In the first part of 1901 a part of the Inniskillings was brought to Cape
Colony and saw some fighting and much hard work there. In May 1901 and
ensuing months the regiment operated in the Eastern Transvaal in a column
under Colonel Pulteney, and afterwards in the north of the Orange River
Colony under Colonel Rimington and other commanders.
The regiment was unfortunate in that it was often split up, and as a
whole was somewhat unlucky in getting opportunities for gaining distinction;
but it did much good work, and produced two of the outstanding cavalry
leaders of the war, Rimington and Allenby, whose feats will long be
remembered with great pride in the regiment.
Two other officers gained mention in Lord Kitchener's despatches written
during the war, and in the supplementary despatch 4 officers and 5
non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned.
