This regiment came into being in the second phase of the war for the
purpose of assisting to expel the invaders from the Colony. In April
and May 1901 they were often in action, and were said to have done very well
on two occasions in the latter month, particularly at Zwagershoek. At
Doornhoek, on the 13th, they had Lieutenant P E H Coombs and several men
wounded.
The first reference in despatches to the corps by name was unfortunately
associated with a mishap. In the despatch of 8th July 1901, dealing
with the operations against Kritzinger's, Letter's, and other commandos,
Lord Kitchener said: "On the 21st of June a party of 60 Midland Mounted
Rifles—a local corps— was surrounded and captured by Kritzinger between
Cradock and Graaf Reinet; 9 men were killed and 2 officers and 10 men
wounded". According to the published casualty lists the number of
killed and wounded was slightly larger. Captain H J Spandow died of
his wounds; Lieutenant A P Robertson was severely wounded. It is
satisfactory that the detachment made a very good fight, and that there was
no surrender until the losses became out of all proportion to the end to be
gained in holding out.
The Midland Mounted Rifles were to get their chance in due time.
The despatch of 8th September 1901 deals with the capture of Letter's
commando by Colonel Scobell on 5th September (see Cape
Mounted Rifles).
In the despatch Lord Kitchener said: "It must also be mentioned that three
days previously Letter's commando had been checked by a party of Midland
Mounted Rifles, who killed seven and wounded six of their number, and
prevented the Boers escaping by a pass which the patrol was then holding".
The corps continued to do much useful work in the central districts of
Cape Colony.
The Mentions gained were—
LORD KITCHENER'S DESPATCHES: 8th October 1901. — Lance Corporal R
M'Knight; Private H E Spiers, for good work in capturing 16 armed Boers,
24th September.
8th December 1901.—Lieutenant F B Doe, gallant defence, September 2nd, which
prevented Letter breaking south.
This last occasion seemed to be worthy of a larger number of Mentions.
