The 1st Battalion sailed on the Majestic about 13th December 1900,
arrived at the Cape about the 30th, and was at once sent round to Durban.
Along with the 2nd Royal Lancaster Regiment, 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, and
1st South Lancashire Regiment, they formed the 11th Brigade under Major
General Woodgate, and part of the Vth Division under General Sir Charles
Warren. The work of the brigade is sketched under the
2nd Royal
Lancaster, and that of the Natal Army generally under the
2nd Queen's, Royal
West Surrey.
At Venter's Spruit the York and Lancaster had heavy fighting, chiefly on
20th January, when they had 3 officers wounded, 10 men killed, and about 100
wounded.
The battalion was not on Spion Kop, but on that day they had about 10 men
wounded.
In the feint attack on Brakfontein, 5th February, the battalion got
rather close, their losses being 1 killed and 21 wounded.
After Vaal Krantz the Lancashire Fusiliers and York and Lancaster
remained at Frere and Springfield to protect the British left and rear; this
battalion was brought back to the main army in time to take part in the
final and successful assault on the Boer position between the Tugela and
Ladysmith. Their losses were comparatively light.
The York and Lancaster had Lieutenant Colonel W J Kirkpatrick and 7 other
officers and 6 non-commissioned officers and men mentioned in despatches for
work in the relief operations, 1 sergeant getting the distinguished conduct
medal.
The battalion having come north from Ladysmith with the remainder of the
division, was present at the taking of Botha's Pass and the battle of
Alleman's Nek. Thereafter for a time they guarded the railway, and
then were chiefly employed about the north of Natal and the south-east of
the Transvaal.
The battalion remained a long time about Volksrust, Wakkerstroom, Ingogo,
and Utrecht. They frequently had some fighting, and several times had
most arduous work taking out convoys to the columns working to the Swazi and
Zululand borders. A good account of this work is given in the
published war record of the regiment. In the memorable defence of Fort
Itala, 26th September 1901 (see 2nd Royal Lancaster), the battalion was
represented and shared the glory, the regiment losing 4 killed and 14
wounded.
In January 1902 the battalion was employed under Brigadier General Bullock
in erecting a line of blockhouses from Botha's Pass to Vrede, which they
garrisoned till the close of the war.
The Mounted Infantry company of the York and Lancaster Regiment saw an
immense deal of work, commencing in the Orange River - De Aar district.
They were present at Paardeberg, Sannah's Post, Ian Hamilton's engagements,
Diamond Hill, and the pursuit of De Wet in July and August 1900.
In General Buller's final despatch of 9th November 1900. 6 officers
and 3 non-commissioned officers were mentioned. In Lord Roberts' final
despatch 11 officers and 17 non-commissioned officers and men were
mentioned. Two non-commissioned officers were mentioned by Lord
Kitchener in his despatch of 8th March 1901. and in his final despatch
the names of 4 officers and 5 non-commissioned officers and men were added.
