The 2nd contingent, about 162 all ranks, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel
K Hutchison, left Brisbane on 13th January 1900, and arrived at Cape Town in
February. They were at once hurried to the front, and a portion were
able to take part in the advance after Cronje's surrender. After
Paardeberg the Queenslanders (called in the despatch the 1st and 2nd
Queensland Mounted Infantry) were put into the 3rd Brigade of Mounted
Infantry, the commander of the brigade being Lieutenant Colonel C G Martyr.
The remainder of the brigade were regulars. The brigade had several
times very stiff work on the way to Bloemfontein, and bore its share of the
fighting with credit. In the despatch of 31st March 1900, giving the
names of those who had distinguished themselves in the advance, Captains
Reid and Browne of the Queensland 1st Contingent were mentioned. The
strength of the Queenslanders who marched into Bloemfontein on 13th March
1900 was officially stated at 16 officers, 312 men, and 369 horses.
At Sannahs Post, 31st March 1900, when Broadwood's force was ambushed
(see Roberts' Horse), the troops of Colonel
Martyr were about Boesman's Kop, on the west side of the spruit, and they
fought hard to relieve the pressure on Broadwood. The Queenslanders,
who were under Colonel Ricardo, lost 2 killed, 3 wounded, and 5 taken
prisoners.
In the advance to Pretoria the Queenslanders, now about 400 strong, were
in the 3rd Mounted Infantry Corps under Pilcher, the other regiments in
Pilcher's corps being the 3rd Mounted Infantry (Regulars) and the 1st and
2nd New Zealand Mounted Rifles. Pilcher's corps were part of the
Mounted Infantry Brigade which distinguished itself during the next few
months under General Hutton and other leaders. They operated on the
left in the advance from Bloemfontein northwards, and frequently earned
praise from the Commander-in-Chief (see Canadian Mounted
Rifles and New Zealand Mounted Rifles). At the crossing of the Yet
the Queenslanders had several casualties, and again, after the Vaal was
crossed, they had some sharp brushes with the enemy and suffered some
losses. In Lord Roberts' telegram of 2nd June 1900 he remarked: "Very
few guns were left in the Johannesburg forts, only one 6'3 muzzle-loading
howitzer, made at Woolwich in 1878, and two 65 mm Krupps. On May 30
the Queenslanders captured a Creusot gun and waggon, 11 waggons of military
stores and ammunition".
After the occupation of Pretoria the Queensland Mounted Infantry, along
with the other Mounted Colonials, under Hutton, operated to the east of the
capital. They were present at the battle of Diamond Hill, 11th to 13th
June, and afterwards had much outpost work, generally in that direction.
In the beginning of August 1900 Colonel B Mahon left Pretoria with a
column containing the Imperial Light Horse, Lumsden's Horse, New Zealanders,
1st and 2nd Queensland Mounted Infantry, and the 4th Queensland Imperial
Bushmen, which had landed at Cape Town in June, and some Yeomanry. The
column operated towards Rustenburg in conjunction with Ian Hamilton, then by
the north of Pretoria back to the capital. Lieutenant G Newton of the
4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen was wounded on 12th August. Mahon left
Pretoria again on 30th August and made a forced march to Wonderfontein, and
after assisting a post, held by 125 Canadians, who had been pressed, Mahon
struck south and joined General French at Carolina (see
Imperial Light Horse). After a
wonderful march through most rugged country, and after no little fighting,
in which the Colonials did well, Barberton was captured on 13th September.
Mr Goldmann, in his 'With General French and the Cavalry', gives a good
account of the fine work accomplished by Generals French and Mahon and their
troops.
When Mahon left Pretoria on 30th August the Queensland Mounted Infantry,
now much reduced in numbers, and one squadron of the 4th Queensland Imperial
Bushmen, commanded by Captain F L Jones, accompanied him. The
remainder of the 4th joined General Ridley's mounted column. The
Queenslanders who had been with Mahon returned to Pretoria in October.
After the departure of the 1st Contingent, the 2nd contingent were next
employed in the central portion of the Transvaal, chiefly north of Pretoria
and on the Delagoa Railway. A portion of the 2nd contingent was in the
Belfast district, on that line, in January and February 1901; and at
Schwartz Kopjes on 13th February they were in a stiff brush, and suffered
several casualties.
On 31st March 1901 Captains Harris and Thompson, with 3 other officers
and 76 men of the 2nd contingent, sailed for home. Some time previous
to that the remnant of the 1st contingent had been released from further
service.
Captain Robert Gordon, DSO, of the 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, who
as a colonial officer had been attached to the 1st Battalion Gordon
Highlanders in India, and with that battalion had served in the Tirah
campaign, was, after the battle of Magersfontein, again attached to the 1st
Gordons, and with them fought at Paardeberg. He was then appointed to
command the MI company of the 1st Gordons, a portion of the famous 6th
Mounted Infantry which, under De Lisle, was in many a hard-fought action.
This command he retained until 18th January 1901, when he was wounded at
Doom River, Western Cape Colony. On this occasion the Gordons had
Lieutenant Clowes and some men killed. As to De Lisle's work, see 1st
and 2nd NSW Mounted Infantry.
