This corps was raised at Vryburg by Captain G C Dennison, DSO, in
September 1900.
The despatch of 8th July 1901 shows that prior to that date the corps,
about 80 strong, was part of the column working from Kimberley, chiefly in
the west of the Orange River Colony. In the first months of 1901 they
saw a good deal of fighting about Koffyfontein. In the despatch of 8th
August 1901 Lord Kitchener said: "Major Paris, RMA, with the Kimberley
column, left Warrenton on 19th July, and after an engagement with 150 of the
enemy, who were gallantly driven from a strong position by Dennison's
Scouts, effected a junction on the 24th with Colonel Henry near Aaronslaagte.
Operating from Palmietpan on the 25th July with 230 mounted men, 2 guns, and
a pom-pom and 30 infantry, carried in carts, Major Paris again found the
enemy in some strength at Wolvepan under Commandants Badenhorst and Erasmus
and Field-Cornet van Aswezan. He attacked on 3 sides, maintained a
running fight, in which the 74th Squadron Imperial Yeomanry, the Kimberley
Light Horse, and Dennison's Scouts seem to have been well handled, and
finally forced the enemy to beat a very hasty retreat. Seven dead
burghers were left upon the field and Van Aswezan was captured, Major
Paris's casualties being 1 man killed and 2 wounded. After this Major
Paris returned to Warrenton and was employed in the South-West Transvaal and
Griqualand. In January he was frequently engaged, and on the 5th he
effected the capture of a convoy of 40 waggons and much stock.
Dennison's Scouts were still with Major Paris when he joined Lord Methuen in
the beginning of March, and were in the column when it was defeated on 7th
March (see Cape Police). Dennison
Scouts, commanded at the time by Captain Brown, were part of the rear
screen, and held on till ridden down. They suffered severely, losing 6
killed out of a strength of 58.
In his 'A Fight to a Finish’ (Longmans, 1904) the commander of Dennison's
Scouts describes what he saw of the campaign, including his experiences as a
prisoner—he was captured at Kuruman (see Cape
Police), —but the value of the book is greatly affected by the entire
absence of dates.
The Mentions gained by the corps were:—
LORD KITCHENER'S DESPATCHES: 8th March 1901.—Captain
G C Dennison. 23rd June 1902.—Sergeant Major W J Hagan.
