The 2nd Battalion sailed on the Bavarian on 16th March 1900, and arrived
at the Cape on 6th April. Along with the 1st Worcestershire Regiment,
1st South Staffordshire Regiment, and 2nd Manchester Regiment, they formed
the 17th Brigade under Major General Boyes, and part of the VIIIth Division
under General Sir Leslie Rundle. The work of the division has been
briefly sketched under the 2nd Grenadier Guards.
At Biddulphsberg, 29th May (see 2nd Grenadiers), the Royal West Kent had
about 12 men wounded.
In his evidence before the War Commission General Rundle said: "The men
responded to every appeal made to them. One battalion, the Royal West
Kent, marched forty-five miles in forty-eight hours and fought a successful
action at the end. That was at Prinsloo's surrender when we joined
hands with General Hunter".
The opportunities which the VIIIth Division had of distinguishing
themselves were very few. After Biddulphsberg they had no big
engagement, but no troops had a harder time or did more conscientious work.
In the sphere of the VIIIth Division small fights were constantly
occurring, although these were not always so successful as the one Lord
Roberts describes thus in his telegram of 13th October 1900: "A satisfactory
little affair took place near Frankfort on the 11th, when Colonel Grove,
Royal West Kent Regiment, surprised a Boer laager at dawn. Seven of
the enemy were killed, 9 wounded, and 18 taken prisoner. Our
casualties, Sergeant Canty, Royal West Kent, severely wounded".
Thirteen officers and 18 non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned
in Lord Roberts' final despatch.
The battalion remained about Frankfort till the close of the campaign.
In Lord Kitchener's final despatch 5 officers and 5 non-commissioned
officers were mentioned.
