Early in January 1900 the Legislative Council of Ceylon unanimously
agreed to send a contingent of 125 mounted infantry raised from white men in
the Colony. This offer was accepted, and the squadron sailed on 2nd
February, having been equipped with the greatest possible despatch.
The Ceylon MI joined Lord Roberts while he was advancing on Bloemfontein,
in time to be present at the engagement of Poplar Grove. On 6th March
Lord Roberts wired to Ceylon: "I have just ridden out to meet Ceylon Mounted
Infantry and welcome them to this force. They look most workmanlike,
and are a valuable addition to Her Majesty the Queen's Army in South
Africa". In the despatch of 15th March 1900 Lord Roberts noted that,
along with the 5th and 7th Regiments of Regular Mounted Infantry and the 1st
City of Grahamstown Volunteers, they formed the 4th Brigade of Mounted
Infantry under Colonel Ridley.
The squadron was one of those praised by Lord Roberts in the despatch of
31st March 1900 for good work on the way to Bloemfontein. With Ian
Hamilton and Ridley the corps took part in the advance to Pretoria, and was
present at the battle of Diamond Hill, 11th and 12th June.
Thereafter they were in the movement on Heidelberg under Ian Hamilton,
crossed to the south of the Vaal with Hunter and Ridley, and under the
latter took part in the first .pursuit of De Wet to the Reitzburg Hills and
into the Transvaal.
The squadron was afterwards operating in the Orange River Colony.
Having been taken back to the Transvaal, they were present with General
Clements in the action of Nooitgedacht, 13th December 1900, when his force
suffered very severe loss. The Ceylon MI had 1 killed and 3 wounded.
They sailed for home after about a year's service.
A second contingent, 103 strong, sailed from Ceylon on 23rd April 1902,
but peace was declared before they took the field.
The Mentions gained were:—
LORD ROBERTS' DESPATCH: 2nd April 1901.—Major Murray Menzies, Lieutenant
Thomas (killed). Major Menzies was subsequently granted the honorary
rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Army.
SIR R BULLER'S DESPATCH: I0th June 1900.—Under Thorneycroft's MI occurs
the sentence, "Lieutenant R Villiers, who joined the regiment as a private,
having been in the Ceylon MI, has done specially good work throughout".
