The corps was raised in December 1900, being recruited in Cape Colony and
Natal. As soon as they could be mounted they were sent into the field,
and it is to the credit of the force and its leaders that they made no
mistake.
It will be remembered that Hertzog and other leaders had penetrated to
the south-west of Cape Colony. In his telegram of 3rd February 1901
Lord Kitchener said: "The commandos in Cape Colony are being hustled.
Kitchener's Fighting Scouts attacked one hundred Boers at Doornbridge.
Boers retired, leaving one killed. Horses, carts, ammunition, and
tools were taken. We had two men wounded". In the despatch of
8th March 1901 Lord Kitchener dealt with the efforts made to clear the
Colony in the preceding December, January, and February. Speaking of
events in the western parts of the Colony, his Lordship said: "While the
pursuit from De Aar and Britstown was maintained by columns under Lieutenant
Colonels Bethune (16th Lancers), Thorneycroft, and De Lisle, troops of local
levies were hurried up to occupy centres of disaffection in the Ceres,
Worcester, and Piquetberg district; at the same time Lieutenant Colonel
Colenbrander's newly formed regiment of Kitchener's Fighting Scouts were
railed to Matjesfontein, whence they moved out to hold the passes leading
south from Sutherland. My object was to keep the enemy north of the
Roggeveld Mountains, and to prevent any junction between Hertzog and
Kritzinger in the Prince Albert or Worcester districts. This being
achieved, it appeared to me useless to follow out into the far west an enemy
at all times disinclined to fight and ever ready to scatter". On the
9th January Hertzog's commando withdrew north towards Calvinia. "A
general advance northwards was commenced by the columns under Lieutenant
Colonels De Lisle, Scobell (Scots Greys), and Colenbrander (commanding
Kitchener's Fighting Scouts). These quite succeeded in driving the
enemy out of Calvinia and Van Rhyrisdorp, and pursued him as far north as
Carnarvon". The regiment was taken to the central district of Cape
Colony, where they had a very hard time. The pursuit of the enemy was
not a task free from danger, and KFS had one strong patrol captured near
Richmond on 27th February 1901. Lieutenant A E Benson and 6 men were
killed, Lieutenant Naughton and 12 men wounded, and some taken prisoners,
"after a pro
longed fight", the official telegram said. On 8th March Captain John
Boyd was killed.
The corps had been fortunate in getting in Colonel Colenbrander a leader
widely known and thoroughly respected as a fighting man in South Africa, and
among the other officers were some who had already distinguished themselves
by good work in other corps: it was thus soon possible to have a second
regiment.
In the despatch of 8th July 1901, appendix, both regiments are referred
to. It is there stated that Lieutenant Colonel Wilson's regiment in
May was 417 strong, and Lieutenant Colonel Grenfell's 364, and both were
then employed in the Pietersburg district, far north of Pretoria. In
the despatch of 8th May 1901 Lord Kitchener, after detailing General
Plumer's operations in that district, said that a commando had been reported
at Klipdam, 15 miles north of Pietersburg, which was said to be under
General Beyers.
"Lieutenant Colonel Grenfell, whose regiment, KFS, had been sent by rail
to Pietersburg, was, therefore, directed to clear up the situation.
Starting on the night of the 26th April, Lieutenant Colonel Grenfell
discovered the enemy's laager at Klipdam, and attacked it at dawn on the
27th with complete success, with the loss of only one man wounded.
Seven Boers were killed, 41 were captured, besides which he obtained
possession of the enemy's camp with 26 horses, 10 mules, many waggons and
carts, and 76,000 rounds of ammunition. Information having been
obtained that the enemy's last Long Tom was at Berg Plaats, about 20 miles
east of Pietersburg, on the road to Haenertsburg, I desired Colonel Grenfell
to make every effort to capture the gun. He moved at once, and at
daylight on the 30th occupied Doornhoek, thence pushing on to Berg Plaats.
On his approach the enemy opened fire at over 10,000 yards' range, but after
16 rounds they blew up the gun, while Colonel Grenfell's men were still
about 3000 yards distant, and retreated in a north east direction.
Colonel Grenfell captured 10 prisoners and 35 rounds of Long Tom ammunition,
our only casualties being two men wounded. As the result of a careful
search on the farm, Berg Vlei, adjoining Berg Plaats, 100,000 rounds of
Martini-Henry ammunition were discovered and destroyed. With Berg Vlei
as a centre Colonel Grenfell continued to operate for several days with
success, and a detachment of the 12th Battalion MI, under Major Thomson, was
able, under cover of a thick fog, to effect the capture of Commandant Marais
and 40 of his men. Other prisoners were brought in by Lieutenant
Colonels Colenbrander and Wilson of KFS, and on his return to Pietersburg,
on the 6th May, Colonel Grenfell reported that altogether he had accounted
for 7 Boers killed, 129 prisoners, and 50 voluntary surrenders: 240,000
rounds of ammunition were destroyed".
In May Grenfell commanded an expedition to Louis Trichard, 100 miles
north-east of Pietersburg. His force was 600 men of KFS, the 12th MI
Regulars, 2 guns, and four companies of the Wiltshire Regiment. The
column left Pietersburg, and two days later Colenbrander with the advanced
force occupied Louis Trichard. About the 20th Colenbrander, "by a
well-planned night march, surprised a laager on the Klip Spruit.
Field-Cornet Venter with 72 Burghers, 68 rifles, 18 waggons", and a large
amount of ammunition and many cattle, were captured. On the 25th May
Grenfell received the surrender of Commandant Van Rensburg and about 150
men. Shortly after this Colenbrander, in the Buffels district, had
some skirmishes, "killing seven and capturing a maxim. A detachment
under Major Knott overtook a commando under Barend Viljoen and captured 79
prisoners". Lord Kitchener said, in his despatch of 8th July 1901,
that this expedition did much to secure the pacification of the Northern
Transvaal. While Grenfell was on this expedition, Wilson, with a wing
of the KFS, two guns, and two companies 2nd Gordon Highlanders, was, in
conjunction with Major M'Micking's column, doing most excellent work in the
Nylstroom district. On 19th May 79 Burghers and 100 rifles, 33,000
rounds, 66 waggons, some dynamite were taken. On the 21st Wilson
attacked another position and took 18 prisoners, 48 rifles. On 2nd
June a detached force drove the enemy on Wilson, who, after a stubborn
fight, took 40 prisoners, 70 rifles, 8000 cattle, besides ammunition and
dynamite (see despatch of 8th July). Of course all this could not be
accomplished without loss. On 1st and 2nd June the regiment had 7
killed and 20 wounded.
On 1st July, at Hopewell, Grenfell surprised another laager, killing 1
and capturing 93 prisoners, 100 horses, much stock and ammunition.
During August and September 1901 many other expeditions were undertaken
by the corps, but the results of these were meagre compared to the splendid
successes previously obtained, and to those obtained in October, November,
and December. In the despatch of 8th November Lord Kitchener said: "In
the Northern Transvaal Colonel Colenbrander, KFS, has traversed the Water
Berg between Warmbaths and Magalapye on the Rhodesian Railway, a district
hitherto unvisited by our troops". Leaving Warmbaths on 6th October,
Colenbrander visited many "Boer supply depots, carefully located beforehand,
and during the march captured 45 prisoners of war, 67 rifles, nearly 4000
rounds of ammunition, and a very large number of waggons and cattle".
In the same month the column of Colonel Dawkins, formerly Grenfell's, did
excellent work, capturing 97 prisoners.
In the despatch of 8th December 1901 Lord Kitchener said that
Colenbrander, on his return march to Warmbaths, captured 54 prisoners and
much stock. About the end of November Colenbrander and Dawkins were
out again. On the 27th 200 of KFS pushed out through the Zand River
Poort. The enemy retreated; for two days "the pursuit was not relaxed,
and on the 29th Colonel Colenbrander, with half of KFS, pressed on ahead of
the remainder of the column upon Baden-horst's traces, and following them
closely till the morning of 3rd December, Colonel Colenbrander, after a long
and exhausting chase through an almost waterless region, came suddenly upon
the enemy and captured 15 prisoners, with all the waggons of the commando".
The remainder of the Scouts were successful "in killing 3 and capturing 17
Burghers, while 60 stragglers, driven into the hills near Sterkfontein, were
cleverly secured by the 12th Mounted Infantry of Colonel Dawkins' column.
The total results of these well-planned and carefully executed operations
were 104 prisoners", many waggons, cattle, etc.
The two columns did good work all through December. On the 13th
Colenbrander drove Badenhorst and 22 of his Burghers into the arms of
Dawkins, and ten days later KFS captured 60 prisoners at Jericho on the
Crocodile. Again it may be remarked that all these splendid results
could not be achieved without some losses, but these were marvellously
small. On the 20th December 3 men were killed and Lieutenant J Sampson
and 6 men were wounded at Zoutpans Drift. On the 26th Colenbrander set
out for Rustenburg, arriving there on 1st January 1902. "A skilful
march through Magato Nek on the night of 4th January enabled him to capture
a laager and 29 prisoners after an engagement at dawn, in which 5 of the
enemy were killed". In his telegram regarding this affair, Lord
Kitchener said: "This surprise was highly creditable to Colonel Colenbrander,
who with a very small force effected it within a few miles of a superior
force of the enemy". On this occasion there was one casualty.
Lord Kitchener also mentioned in his despatch of 8th January 1902 that
Colenbrander on 9th January came upon the native chief Linchwe and 2000 of
his people searching for stock stolen by the Boer leader General Kemp.
"Colenbrander directed the chief to return to the Pilandsberg, which order
he obeyed forthwith, much to the relief of the families scattered throughout
the district". Colenbrander, with the 1st KFS, continued to operate in
the Western Transvaal during January, February, and part of March 1902.
In the despatch of 8th February 1902 Lord Kitchener remarked that "in the
Northern Transvaal operations at any distance from the railway have
necessarily been temporarily suspended by the season of horse-sickness.
The departure of Colonel Colenbrander's column for the south for this reason
appears to have given General Beyers breathing-time, and sufficient leisure
for the initiation of a plan which aimed at an attack on Pietersburg in
conjunction with the simultaneous removal of a number of Burghers who had
been residing voluntarily and as neutrals in the refugee camp at that
place". The removal of some of the latter was effected, but otherwise
the attack was repulsed, the Town Guard supporting the troops with great
steadiness. In the despatch of 8th April it is stated that Beyers
moved from Malips Poort, southeast of Pietersburg, about 13th March, and
invested Fort Edward, a small fortified post near Louis Trichard. A
column of 200 mounted men and 300 of the Northampton Regiment moved out to
relieve the place, but was opposed, and on 24th March fell back.
Colenbrander's column, 1st KFS, was therefore brought up from Krugersdorp.
On the 27th he moved out from Pietersburg. On the 28th "he undertook a
long night march from Dwars River, which terminated at daybreak on the 29th
in the complete surprise of the enemy, who fled in an easterly direction,
with the loss of 3 killed and 4 captured". This is a notable instance
of irregulars succeeding brilliantly where regulars failed.
A portion of the 1st KFS were with Colonel Keir's column, which, along
with Colonel Cookson's column, was heavily attacked at Boschbult, 31st March
1902 (see 2nd Regiment Canadian Mounted Rifles). The detachment of KFS
had 1 man killed and 8 wounded.
In his final despatch, that of 1st June 1902, para 3, Lord Kitchener said
that "in the Northern Transvaal Lieutenant Colonel Colenbrander has carried
out some successful operations against General Beyers, who, on 5th April,
was in camp on the southern slopes of the hills close to Malips Poort".
Colenbrander, who had returned from the relief of Fort Edward on the 5th,
aimed at the surrounding of the enemy. "Two parties of 400 men each
were sent out on the 6th under General Celliers, National Scouts, and
Captain M'Queen, Steinaecker's Horse, to block the two roads open to the
Boers to the south-east and south-west. A third party under Captain
Lyle, 1st KFS, moved on the night of the 6th along the top of the hills to
the west of the Poort to block all possible exits in that direction; whilst
Colonel Colenbrander himself, with the 2nd Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers
and the remainder of his mounted men, left Pietersburg on the night of the
7th to make a direct attack on the Poort itself. The attack was
delivered on the morning of the 8th, and after severe fighting extending
over two days, in which, I regret to say, Lieutenant Colonel A J Murray,
commanding 2nd Inniskilling Fusiliers, was dangerously wounded, resulted in
the flight of the Boers in a south-easterly direction". Unfortunately
Captain M'Queen had failed "to reach the exact position assigned to him, and
this enabled General Beyers and the majority of his followers to make good
their escape towards Haenertsburg", but the Boers left their laager, waggons,
and camp equipment. Nine were killed, 11 wounded, and 108 unwounded
prisoners were taken. "Colenbrander's subsequent pursuit of General
Beyers in the direction of Oud Agatha after this highly successful
engagement was unfortunately marred by a mishap to a small mounted force
under Captain Blaine, 1st KFS, who, pushing on too eagerly into most
difficult country, fell into a cleverly arranged ambuscade from which he
only extricated his men with a loss of 6 killed, 1 officer and 11 men
wounded, and 30 taken prisoners".
Operations were suspended for a time during a stage of the peace
negotiations, but between 5th and 10th May Colenbrander's force was able to
account for 1 Boer killed, 21 wounded, and 101 armed prisoners. On
10th May hostilities in the district practically ceased.
In August 1901 Colonel Wilson, with the 2nd KFS, was railed to the Orange
River Colony, and in the despatches of October, November, and December 1901
there are frequent references to the work of Wilson's column. In their
new sphere they had endless marching and constant fighting, and always made
good use of their opportunities. The column had the good fortune to be
working under and often with Colonel Rimington (see despatch of 8th October
1901, para 7). On 4th October Wilson, marching from Kroonstad to
Heilbron, was attacked near the Rhenoster River, but drove off the enemy.
The regiment lost 4 killed and 6 wounded, including Lieutenants F G
Schnadhorst and E E Jones, both severely wounded. Lieutenant
Schnadhorst died of his wounds three weeks later.
On 14th November the columns of Colonel Byng, South African Light Horse,
and Wilson, 2nd KFS, were very resolutely attacked. After two hours'
fighting the attack was successfully repulsed by "Byng's rear-guard, which
was well and skilfully handled by Lieutenant Colonel Wilson of KFS, and the
enemy retired, leaving 8 dead on the field". The telegraphic despatch
stated that the rear-guard was composed of KFS, who had all the losses,
namely, 3 killed, including Lieutenant Hughes, and 8 wounded, including
Lieutenants Prince Radziwill, A E Smith, and C C Allsopp. Captain J B
Gedge was dangerously wounded about this time.
During December 1901 and January and February 1902 the 2nd KFS took part
in many big driving movements in the north of the Orange River Colony.
In his telegram of 27th January 1902 Lord Kitchener said: "Colonel Wilson,
KFS, moved out on Thursday night from Frankfort and surrounded a small
laager at Damplatz, capturing 20 prisoners, including Field-Cornet Strydoin.
During the return march he was attacked by a superior force under Alberts,
who was driven off after severe fighting, leaving 5 dead. All Wilson's
prisoners, except three, escaped". Kitchener's Fighting Scouts lost 8
killed and 7 wounded. In the despatch of 8th February, dealing with
events in that district, Lord Kitchener said that the columns of Keir and
Wilson and Damant's Horse "have acted vigorously whenever opportunity
offered against the enemy's bands under Commandants Alberts and Ross, which
continued to frequent the valley of the Vaal to the north of Frankfort".
In the beginning of March Wilson's column was, with other troops, taken to
the Western Transvaal, where, it will be remembered, Lord Methuen had met
with disaster. The 2nd KFS were placed under General Walter Kitchener,
and were present at the fiercely fought action of Boschbult on 31st March
1902, when they lost 1 killed and 7 wounded. They took part in the
final great drives, under General Ian Hamilton, towards the Mafeking railway
and back to Klerksdorp.
Kitchener's Fighting Scouts took the field when the war was far advanced,
but during the whole of the second phase of the campaign they did splendid
work. Judged by the losses inflicted on the enemy, no corps could
point to a finer record, and they are an outstanding example of what can be
made in a very short time of Colonial material, provided that officers
suitable for irregulars are found. A regular regiment can pull through
a campaign although it has in its commissioned ranks a fair proportion of
those not unknown types—the inconsiderate soldier and the finicking old maid
whose idea of taking responsibility stops short at the enforcement among the
rank and file of well-shaved chins and very clean equipment. In an
irregular corps there is no place for such people, and their presence is a
sure source of trouble and failure. Officers must be had with great
tact and common-sense, not unduly magnifying their position, and fearless of
all consequences when they act conscientiously on their own initiative.
Having been taken to Pretoria after the declaration of peace, Kitchener's
Fighting Scouts had, along with the Imperial Light Horse, Johannesburg
Mounted Rifles, and Scottish Horse, the honour of marching past Lord
Kitchener, who spoke highly of the work which had been done.
The Mentions gained by Kitchener's Fighting Scouts were as follows:—
Despatch of 8th December 1901.—Captain E St M Hutchinson, Lieutenant L S
C Lister, Lieutenant L C Hughes (killed), for conspicuous gallantry in
action near Heilbron, 14th November. Sergeant W Marsburg, 1st KFS, for
continual good work with scouts of Colonel Colenbrander's column.
8th March 1902.— Captain W Hurrell, 1st KFS, at Zoutpans Drift, December
21st, with 30 men charged an equal number of enemy in a difficult position
and captured 22, including Commandant Nagal. Lieutenant J Sampson,
Sergeant G Pirrie (died of wounds), for very valuable service in holding a
ridge against much superior force of the enemy for over half an hour at
Zoutpans Drift, December 30th. Corporal E P Berlyn, promoted Sergeant,
at same place bandaged an officer under very heavy fire and then carried him
under cover, being twice wounded in doing so, last time severely, and then
continued to give directions as to other wounded men. Sergeant W
Marsburg, 1st KFS, at Jericho, December 28th, when only accompanied by
native scouts, rushed 7 Boers and captured them, thereby preventing them
from giving the alarm to main body, which was subsequently taken.
Sergeant Majors R B Sheridon, Johnson-Scott, Sergeant C Peters, for good
service in north-western Transvaal, November and December 1901.
8th April 1902.—Lieutenant Colonel A E
Wilson; Lieutenant Colonel J W Colenbrander, got the CB
1st June 1902. —1st KFS —Captain J C
Lyle and Armourer Sergeant A P Pillan, good service in operations east
of Pietersburg, 25th March to 21st April 1902. 2nd KFS — Lieutenant J
S Kelly, Sergeant Major D R Bettington, Farrier Sergeant W Welsh, Sergeant E
Hatison, Trooper De Wet, for good service in action at Boschbult, 31st March
1902.
3rd June 1902.—1st Regiment—Captain D E Henderson; Lieutenant E Armstrong;
Regimental Sergeant Major J H Zeeder; Quartermaster Sergeant W M Croft;
Private D C Scott. 2nd Regiment—Captains
J B Gedye, O W Staten; Lieutenant J N
Brown; Regimental Sergeant Major D Gormley; Squadron Sergeant Major R E
James; Troopers C Olsson, R De Vere.
