On 11th January 1900 Lord Strathcona offered "to equip and land at Cape
Town, at his own expense, 500 Rough-riders from the Canadian North-West, as
a special service corps of Mounted Rifles. Two days later his offer
was accepted by the Secretary of State for War".
On 16th March the force embarked 28 officers, 512 of other ranks, with
599 horses, 3 maxims, 1 pom-pom, 500 rounds per rifle and 50,000 rounds for
each maxim. A more munificent offer has seldom been made by a subject
to his country.
The regiment landed at Cape Town on 10th April. Unfortunately
nearly 200 horses had been lost at sea, an unusually large proportion.
After about five weeks impatiently spent near Cape Town, the force again
re-embarked for Natal; two squadrons were put off at Durban and one, 'B' was
taken to Kosi Bay as part of an expedition into Swaziland, but this did not
come off; perhaps the enemy was found to have heard of it. 'B'
squadron came back to Durban. In June the corps was taken by rail to
Newcastle and joined General Buller's army, being put into the 3rd Mounted
Brigade under Lord Dundonald, and attached for the time to General Clery's
Division. On 1st July they had, near Waterval on the Natal-Pretoria
Railway, the first of many skirmishes, and suffered their first losses in
action. That week they were engaged on several occasions, having
altogether about 15 casualties. In one of these little actions
Sergeant A H L Richardson gained the
Victoria Cross. "On 5th July at Wolve Spruit, about 15 miles north of
Standerton, a party of Strathcona's Corps, only 38 in number, came into
contact, and was engaged at close quarters, with a force of 80 of the enemy.
When the order to retire had been given Sergeant Richardson rode back under
a very heavy cross-fire and picked up a trooper whose horse had been shot
and who was wounded in two places, and rode with him out of fire. At
the time when this act of gallantry was performed Sergeant Richardson was
within 300 yards of the enemy, and was himself riding a wounded horse".
General Buller did the regiment honour by asking them to provide 150 men
as escort to himself to Heidelberg, on his way to Pretoria to meet Lord
Roberts.
As a result of the conference between these
leaders General Buller shortly commenced preparations for moving northwards
across the Eastern Transvaal, so as to meet and co-operate with Lord
Roberts' army in the neighbourhood of Belfast. Lord Dundonald's
Brigade, the South African Light Horse, and Strathcona's Corps, were part of
the force taken by General Buller, and right well did both regiments serve
their General all through the advance to Belfast and Bergendal, and
afterwards into the mountains of the Lydenburg district (see
South African Light Horse).
Having returned to the Delagoa Railway line about the 7th October, the
regiment were here told to make over their horses, and they entrained for
Pretoria. The regiment parted regretfully from General Buller, a
leader in whom they had learned to repose every trust, and who was ever
ready to appreciate the good services they heartily gave. When he bade
them farewell General Buller said that, having served in the north-west of
Canada, he looked upon the corps as old friends, and he gave them and the
South African Light Horse the highest praise. In his final despatch
General Buller said: "Lord Strathcona's Corps joined the force in June, and
from the moment of their arrival they served with marked success. I
can hardly speak too highly of the value Strathcona's Horse have been to the
Natal Field Force". As to Colonel Steele, he said: "Has great
influence with all ranks in his regiment; having a thorough knowledge of
frontier work, his services have been most valuable".
On 20th October horses were again served out to the regiment, and they
were sent to reinforce General Barton near Frederickstad. On 10th
November when acting as advance-guard they earned the commendation of that
excellent leader. In a letter to Colonel Steele General Barton said:
"I cannot speak too highly of the practical and effective manner in which
the duty assigned to your splendid corps was carried out by yourself and all
under your command yesterday. I have specially mentioned this in my
report". The regiment had, among other good deeds, effected the
capture of 600 cattle and 1200 sheep.
In his despatch of 8th March 1901 Lord Kitchener mentioned that when, in
November 1900, he learned that De Wet was to attempt to invade Cape Colony,
a big lot of troops was railed from the Transvaal to the south of
Bloemfontein, and among these he included Strathcona's' Corps. They
were put under General C Knox, and took part in the hard and exciting work
which a pursuit of De Wet always entailed. This work lasted throughout
December. On 20th January 1901 the regiment re-embarked for Canada,
via England; and on 15th February they had the great honour to receive a
Colour from King Edward, who also presented them with their medals.
