During the second phase—that is, after Lord Roberts had given over the
command to Lord Kitchener, and while the enemy were reinvading Cape Colony
and were making serious efforts to get at the lines of communication passing
through the Colony—an immense number of small forces were formed, some to
protect a district from invasion, others to guard towns and villages.
Although these troops were most inadequately trained and had few officers of
any experience, the most of them behaved well when the enemy appeared, and
many did really excellent service. Within the limits of this volume it
would be impossible, as it would be fruitless, to recount the numberless
skirmishes in which one or other of those locally raised bodies took part;
suffice it to say that they had at times to bear sharp casualties, as for
example in March 1901, near Tarkastad, where the Colonial Defence Force had
Captain John Rennie and 1 man killed and Lieutenants A Troppell and A W
Pringle and 8 men wounded. The New England Mounted Rifles suffered on
many occasions during 1901 in their endeavour to keep their district clear;
and on 23rd September, near Laurieston, 1 man was killed and Lieutenant J
Geddes and 4 men were wounded. On 21st November 1901 a body coming
under the generic title, South African Irregular Forces, when clearing the
enemy from the native districts about Tembuland, lost Captain Drummond
Elliot killed, Captain H P Everett and Lieutenants A Baxter and A Burmister
wounded. The Sutherland district troops were often engaged, and
suffered casualties on many occasions. On 29th May 1902, almost the
last day of the war, the Jansenville District Mounted Troops were fortunate
enough to capture Malan, one of the enterprising commando leaders who for a
long time caused no little concern to Cape Colony.
Some of the Mentions gained by the Defence Forces were as follows:—
LORD ROBERTS' DESPATCHES: 2nd April 1901.—Tembuland Mounted Rifle Corps,
Captain Q F Smith; Transkei Territories, Sir H E Elliot, awarded CB;
Lieutenant Colonels J G Leary, W E Stamford, awarded CB; Captains O M Blake
way, E J Hargreaves, W W Smith; East Griqualand Mounted Rifle Volunteers,
Lieutenant Colonel F W Armstrong; Captains E E Dower, A S Leary, J S King;
Transkei Mounted Rifles, Major S J Henley, Surgeon Captain C P B Wall.
4th September 1901.—Knysna Rangers, Major W Scott.
LORD KITCHENER'S DESPATCH: 8th July 1901.—Koffyfontein (Orange River
Colony) Defence Force, Corporal H J Jellard, promoted Sergeant on October
11th, 1900, for exposing himself to heavy fire at sixty yards' range when
getting on to a debris heap to connect a wire from a battery to a mine, and
also for holding an advanced position with one native.
8th December 1901.—Adelaide District Mounted Troops, Captain Welsh, for
coolness and good leading, operations in Cape Colony, September.
Bedford District Mounted Troops, Captain E J, T Pringle for same.
Colonial Defence Force, Captain H S S Harden for his defence of Sutherland,
September 7th. Sutherland District Mounted Troops, Corporal Sales,
promoted Sergeant, and Lance Corporal Jouste, promoted Corporal, on
September 7th, on patrol, on meeting enemy advancing to attack village, by
their coolness alarmed the garrison, and got all their men to safety.
Tarkastad Mounted Troops, Major H T Nickalls, 17th Lancers, attached, good
service near Vaal Vlei, October 8th.
8th March 1902.—Piquetberg District Mounted Troops, Corporal F James,
promoted Sergeant, in defence of Piquetberg, November 7th, volunteered to
carry ammunition to blockhouses at great personal risk from both sides.
South African Mounted Irregular Forces, Captain Ross for good services in
operations north of Middelburg, Transvaal, in February.
23rd June 1902.—South African Mounted Irregular Forces, Major C A Tremeer,
Captains C Parker, P T Blakemore; Cape Colony Defence Force, Major Nourse,
Captain Nettleton; Warrington Town Guard, M Van der Hooven; Willowmore Town
Guard, Lieutenant H Rees; Barkly West Town Guard, Sergeant E Mansfield;
Prince Albert's District Mounted Troops, L B Liddell; Fraserburg District
Mounted Troops, Sergeant W Evans. Lieutenant Colonel Southey,
described as Cape Local Forces, got the CB Lieutenant M C Foxcroft,
described as of the South African Mounted Irregular Forces, got the DSO; and
Sergeants C Muller and J Steevens, and Corporals C Davies and G Davidson,
similarly described, were awarded the DCM.
