This corps was raised, on a modest basis as regards numbers, about the
time Lord Roberts landed at Cape Town. Their leader, Captain Driscoll,
was a British resident in Burma, who made his way to the front, and whether
his motives were love to do something for the mother country, ambition, or
mere love of adventure, he most certainly did work of the highest value
throughout more than two years' hard campaigning.
The corps took part in General Brabant's operations in February and March
1900 for clearing the north-eastern portion of Cape Colony (see
Cape Mounted Rifles); and when Colonel Dalgety
occupied and defended Wepener, 3 officers and 52 men of Driscoll's Scouts
were with him. During the siege Lieutenant Weiner and about a dozen
non-commissioned officers and men were wounded. After Wepener was
relieved the corps was attached to the Colonial Division under General
Brabant, and were in the advance through the east of the Orange River Colony
to the line Senekal to Hammonia; the right or eastern end of that line being
largely left to the keeping of the Colonial Division during June and July
1900, when the operations for surrounding the enemy were in progress.
The corps were present at the severe engagement fought by General Rundle at
Biddulphsberg on 29th May. They had several casualties in this action
and in the fighting during June and July before Prinsloo's force was
surrounded.
In a telegram dated 12th July the 'Daily Telegraph' correspondent said:
"Captain Driscoll, leader of the Scouts bearing his name, captured four
armed Boers single-handed and brought them prisoners into camp. This
was a splendidly plucky feat. Driscoll's Scouts are rendering General
Rundle most valuable service". Another correspondent mentioned that at
the time Captain Driscoll was quite alone. He had been taking coffee
at the door of a store, when he saw four armed Boers go round the house.
In a second he had "covered" them, and they agreed to hand over their arms.
He then marched them to his men some miles away.
Sir Archibald Hunter, in his despatch of 4th August 1900 regarding the
surrender of Prinsloo, said, para 26: "The following day, the 26th, I
entered Fouriesburg with my mounted troops, and found that the town had
already been occupied by a portion of Sir Leslie Bundle's Division, headed
by Driscoll's Scouts, after a forced march from Commando Nek of twenty-five
miles". The corps were very highly thought of by Sir Leslie Bundle,
and he kept them as scouts for his division when the bulk of the Colonials
were taken north to the Transvaal on the trail of De Wet.
The corps were for a time under Major General Hector MacDonald in the
Bethlehem district, and in October they were attached to a column based on
Harrismith under Brigadier General Campbell. Under these leaders they
did a great deal of marching and skirmishing. In November and December
they were with Bruce Hamilton, under whom they had constant hard work, which
they performed to the general's satisfaction. He frequently
complimented them.
In the second phase of the war the corps was greatly augmented in
numbers; having done well and made a name, it got recruits. The
despatch of 8th July 1901 shows that the strength in May was 422 men and 489
horses. At that time, and for some months previous, they had been
operating in the Orange River Colony both east and west of the railway,
along the Vaal river, and in the south of the Transvaal. Early in
February they were engaged near Ladybrand, and had some casualties. On
the 24th they lost 2 killed and 6 wounded, and on the 26th had further
losses in the Winburg district. On 4th March Lieutenant Moss was
severely wounded near Jagersfonteiii in the south of the Orange River
Colony. On the 2nd a party of 50 had been sent to join a column.
They were surrounded by 300 Boers, but about 35 got into a kraal, which they
held for twenty-four hours until relieved. On 16th March Lieutenant
MacMinn and several men were wounded. Driscoll's Scouts were for a
considerable time in the column of Colonel Western, who was frequently
credited in the despatches with useful captures made chiefly in the
neighbourhood of the Vaal. Near Parys, on 19th April 1901, Lieutenant
Norman Breslin was severely wounded. In August Western's column was
taken to Cape Colony, and operated for a short time against Myburg about
Jamestown. In September the corps was taken to the south-east of the
Orange River Colony, where for about four months they operated under General
Knox, Colonel Rochfort, and Colonel Western. In the despatch of 8th
January 1902 Lord Kitchener remarked that Colonel Rochfort's troops, under
Lieutenant Colonel Western and De Moulin and Major Driscoll, were moved to
the west of the railway in pursuit of straggling bands of the enemy.
In the despatch of 8th February 1902 Lord Kitchener said: “On the 26th
January Major Driscoll, whose column had called at Petrusburg to obtain
supplies there, learned that on the previous evening Nieuwhoudt's commando
had been seen in the vicinity of Makaw's Drift on the Modder. He at
once started in pursuit, and crossing at the drift, came up with the Boer
force, which was in movement on the Boshof road about eight miles to the
north of the river. A short engagement ensued, in which Major Driscoll
was successful in capturing 17 prisoners, including 2 field-cornets, 12
waggons, 69 riding-horses". Driscoll was then sent to the extreme
south-west of the Orange River Colony. The despatch of 8th March 1902
mentions that in February Western and Driscoll's troops moved north towards
Boshof; Driscoll's Scouts had an engagement on the way at Simon's Valley,
capturing 6 prisoners, 180 horses, mules, some cattle, waggons, and
ammunition.
The enemy having been very aggressive in the south-west of the Transvaal
in February and the first half of March, Driscoll's Scouts, acting as one of
Colonel Rochfort's columns, were taken to the valley of the Vaal.
About 11th April they crossed the river, and paid some surprise visits to
various likely resorts of the enemy. A forced march on the 15th
resulted in a successful surprise near Schweizer Reneke, when 57 prisoners
were taken, including two of De Wet's staff. Other efforts also met
with success. After this Driscoll's Scouts took part in the final
great drives in the Western Transvaal under General lan Hamilton, which Lord
Kitchener said were extremely successful.
The following Mentions were gained by the corps:—
LORD ROBERTS’ DESPATCH: 2nd April 1901.—Captain
D P Driscoll.
LORD KITCHENER'S DESPATCHES: 8th May 1901.—Lieutenant Breslin, in command
of a post near Kroonstad, attacked by Boers on 27th February 1901, held out
from morning till midnight. Sergeant Pogson for assisting on same
occasion.
8th August 1901.—Quartermaster R J M'Kinnery, at Maatjesspruit, July 7th,
rallied a troop without an officer; materially checked enemy, who were
pressing rear-guard.
LORD KITCHENER'S FINAL DESPATCH.—Major D
P Driscoll, Captain C F Smith,
Lieutenant K Sartorius, Regimental Sergeant Major F J Kirkwell, Squadron
Sergeant Majors J Ellis, W Morgan, J Hunt, and Sergeant S P Pontas.
