The statement supplied by the Premier of New South Wales to the War
Commission, Appendices to Evidence, p 177, shows that the 6th Imperial
Bushmen, which was raised in New South Wales, had a strength of 757 with 800
horses. It was under the command of Colonel the Honourable J A Kennett
Mackay. They sailed from New South Wales on the Armenian on 23rd April
1900.
The corps landed at Beira, crossed Rhodesia, and operated in the
north-west of the Transvaal. Under General Carrington they advanced to
the relief of their noble Colonial brothers at Elands River and, having seen
the enemy, took part in the very inglorious retreat. When the Elands
River garrison, having been relieved, was marching to Mafeking, they found
the 6th Imperial Bushmen at Zeerust, and the latter are said to have
expressed themselves very freely at the humiliating role they had been
forced to play. They had suffered some very trifling losses, but would
gladly have borne much to have had the credit of relieving Hore. The
Reverend J Green, who was at Elands River (see
Rhodesian Regiment), said the 6th were very sick at being in the
"inglorious attempt to pull us out of the fire ... No one felt
the humiliation like Lord Cecil"; and again, the evacuation of Zeerust was
inexplicable. "Cecil broke down and wept like a child". The son
of Britain's great Prime Minister had been one of the noble band who had
held Mafeking for seven long months. He doubtless felt what a falling
off in spirit was now come. Throughout August the regiment saw a good
deal of skirmishing. On the 27th they had several casualties,
including Sergeant Major Messenger wounded. After General Carrington
had gone home the regiment did excellent service under Lord Methuen and
other leaders in the Western Transvaal, and their good work was frequently
recognised. On 9th September the 6th had half a dozen men wounded.
In Lord Roberts' telegram of 12th September, he said: "Methuen reports that
Douglas was attacked yesterday morning when marching on the road from
Ottoshoop to Lichtenburg. After some hours' fighting Douglas drove the
enemy off and captured a quantity of grain and other stores. His
casualties were — wounded, Captain Bryce, Australian Bushmen, severely in
shoulder, 2 men severely, 2 slightly"; and on 18th September he wired,
"Methuen reports, Douglas came across a body of the enemy on the 12th near
Lichtenburg. He captured 39 prisoners, 10 waggons, and some sheep and
oxen. His casualties were—Lieutenant R J White, 6th Imperial Bushmen,
severely wounded and taken prisoner: a man of the regiment has died of
wounds received on same occasion". At Lichtenburg on 28th September
the regiment had 7 men wounded, 3 of whom died of their wounds. In
Lord Roberts' telegram of 12th November 1900 he spoke of the "excellent
work" of both the NSW Bushmen and New Zealanders, then under General
Douglas. The corps had several casualties about the 25th and 26th
December, including Lieutenant D F Miller wounded.
During the first four months of 1901 the 6th Imperial Bushmen, or the
greater portion of them, were with Lord Methuen and General Babington in the
Western Transvaal (see 4th New Zealand
contingent), and their work was most highly spoken of in despatches and
by the correspondents. During February the corps was frequently
engaged, and did many trying marches.
Major W E O'Brien, Lieutenants Thomson and Doyle, and many
non-commissioned officers and men, gained mention on the 23rd and 24th March
1901, when General Babington and Colonel Grey had a most successful action
with Delarey, in which they took 3 guns, 6 maxims, and many prisoners.
It was very fortunate that the regiment got, and made such a fine use of,
this grand opportunity, before their term of service came to an end.
Some of the regiment were still in the field in June, and on the 4th of that
month Lieutenant A E G King was severely wounded in the north-west of the
Transvaal. The appendix to the despatch of 8th July 1901 puts the
strength of the 6th Imperial Bushmen with General Babington, in May, at 193:
detachments were employed at other parts of the Transvaal at that time.
Colonel Mackay and his contingent sailed for home on 26th June 1901.
