This corps was raised at the end of December 1900, and in the first week
of January 1901, when the enemy were penetrating to within easy distance of
Cape Town, they were sent to occupy Pickaneer's Kloof. They just
managed to arrive in time. Although fiercely attacked on the 28th, and
losing 4 killed and 23 wounded, including Captain Rose, they held on to the
positions commanding the pass. This was a most promising beginning,
and during the next seven months the corps did much excellent work. By
the middle of February the corps was 500 strong, their commander being Major
Owen Lewis. They were much split up, sections being attached to many
columns, both in Cape Colony and the Orange River Colony. The fine
work of those with De Lisle and Bethune, when they were in Western Cape
Colony and afterwards in the north-east of the Orange River Colony, was
several times spoken of. In a telegram from Calvinia, dated 8th
February 1901, the Press Association correspondent who was accompanying
Colonel De Lisle said: "Very valuable assistance was given to our force by a
section of the Cape Town Cyclist Corps under Captain Rose last week. We were
cut off from all telegraphic communication, and Colonel De Lisle relied on
them exclusively for the purpose of despatch-riding, a duty which they
performed admirably". And again on the 24th he said: "The comprehensive
manner in which the country has been scouted by Colonel De Lisle is largely
due to the mobility and enterprise of the Cyclist Corps, who have done
excellent work as scouts and despatch-riders".
The corps had casualties at various times. In July 1901, near Beaufort
Station, 1 man was killed and Lieutenant Brunton and 1 man were wounded.
Major Owen Lewis was mentioned in
Lord Kitchener's despatch of 23rd June 1902, and received the DSO.
