Click here for a list of recipients of the
QSA.
The regiment sailed on the Armenian on 8th February 1900, and arrived at
the Cape on 1st March. Along with the 8th and 14th Hussars they formed
the 4th Cavalry Brigade under Brigadier General Dickson. The 3rd and
4th Brigades took part in the movement to the south-east of Bloemfontein,
commencing about 21st April, with the object of clearing the way to Wepener,
then besieged. That place having been relieved on 24th April, the
cavalry under French marched to Thabanchu to clear that stronghold
preparatory to Ian Hamilton beginning his march north (see
Duke of
Cornwall's Light Infantry). The 4th Brigade were on the left in the
action at Thabanchu, and had rather a hard task. An excellent account
of the engagement is given in Mr Churchill's 'Ian Hamilton's March'. On 1st
May there was further fighting at Hout Nek, in which the 8th Hussars had
heavy work and did it well.
Both brigades rejoined the main army on 8th May, and the 4th were along
with the 1st on the extreme left on the way to Pretoria (see
6th Dragoon
Guards). At Diamond Hill, 11th and 12th June (see
1st Royal Sussex
Regiment), both brigades were again on the left, and found that the task of
turning the enemy's right was beyond their strength, then at a very low ebb,
while the country was all against an outflanking movement.
In the beginning of July 1900 the regiment was holding Waterval post,
north of Pretoria. On the 11th they were heavily attacked, and as
stated by Lord Roberts in his despatch of 10th October 1900, para 20, "the
7th Dragoon Guards were well handled, and our loss would have been trifling
had not one troop mistaken the Boers for their own comrades". The
regiment lost 1 officer and 3 men killed, 2 officers and several men
wounded.
The 4th Brigade took part in the eastern advance, and accompanied General
French to Barberton, and thereafter to Heidelberg (see
6th Dragoon Guards).
The brigade remained for a time about Heidelberg, and after Clements'
disaster at Nooitgedacht was taken to Krugersdorp to assist in clearing the
Megaliesberg. Later in December the 7th Dragoon Guards were brought to
Cape Colony to help in driving out the invaders.
In Lord Roberts' despatch of 4th September 1901 9 officers and 6
non-commissioned officers and men of the regiment were mentioned for good
work up to the time of his lordship leaving South Africa.
Having been brought north again to the Orange River Colony, the regiment was
in March 1901 brigaded with three Yeomanry battalions under Major General
Broadwood, and took part in very numerous movements during the ensuing
months, under the direction of General Elliot, in the north-east of that
colony. The regiment was employed in that district for practically the
remainder of the campaign. The work there was absolutely incessant,
going on often night and day. In his despatch of 8th August 1901, para
4, Lord Kitchener says, "At midnight on 30th July Colonel Lowe, 7th Dragoon
Guards, successfully surprised a farmhouse, from which he took 11 armed
prisoners, with rifles, bandoliers, and horses". It was these useful
captures and constant night attacks which were to worry the enemy into
ending the campaign. In Lord Kitchener's despatch of 1st June 1902,
describing one of General Elliot's final sweeps, he says, "Farther to the
south an endeavour to penetrate General Elliot's screen near Deilfontein was
promptly and gallantly repulsed by the 7th Dragoon Guards, who drove back
the Burghers with a loss of 4 men and 28 horses killed, and 5 men and 16
horses captured".
Two officers and 5 men gained mention in Lord Kitchener's despatches
during the campaign, and in the supplementary or final despatch 4 officers
and 4 non-commissioned officers were mentioned.
