According to the official publication 'Australia and New Zealand',
Sydney, 1904, p 440, the contribution of the colony to the army in South
Africa was 78 officers, 1450 men, and 1524 horses.
The 1st contingent, which, by the desire of the War Office, was limited
to one infantry unit, 127 all ranks, sailed on the Medic on 31st October
1899, and arrived at the Cape on 26th November. Captain F H Rowland
was commander, and Captain G R Lascelles, Royal Fusiliers, was adjutant.
The contingent was on arrival sent to the De Aar-Modder River line of
railway, and was employed occupying posts, first at Belmont, and after 10th
December at Enslin, to protect the line. At the end of January the
South Australians were, along with the remainder of the Australian regiment,
converted into mounted infantry and taken to Naauwpoort, where they received
horses and joined the force of General Clements, who was holding a long line
opposite the Boers' positions at Colesberg. The contingent took a
prominent part in the severe fighting which occurred in this district during
the last three weeks of February 1900 (see Victorian Mounted Rifles).
Lieutenant J Powell was killed on the 12th, the day on which the Boers, in
very strong force, attacked the whole of Clements' extended line.
Fortunately, the Worcestershire Regiment, on the extreme right, and the
Victorians and other troops on the left, held the ground with admirable
determination, although at both flanks the losses were heavy. Twenty
of the South Australians, under Powell, were in the garrison of Pinkhill,
the attack on which was most fierce and persistent.
The result of the action on the 12th was to convince General Clements
that he must retire to Arundel. During the movement, which commenced
at midnight, 13th and 14th, the South Australians formed the rearguard, a
position of honour and great responsibility, seeing that General Clements'
men had been without rest or sleep for nearly forty-eight hours.
Notwithstanding these great exertions, Captain Lascelles, of the South
Australians, on arriving in the neighbourhood of Arundel, went back with a
mixed body of volunteers, mostly Australians, to endeavour to bring in or
assist some infantry who had been left behind (see 1st and
2nd Victoria Mounted Rifles).
Competent judges have said that the withdrawal of the force to Arundel was
one of the best-managed operations undertaken during the campaign. On
the 20th the Boers again attacked Clements, but were driven back.
During the next eight days there was constant fighting, in which the South
Australians took their share. On the 21st Trooper W E Smith was
killed. On the 24th Captain Lascelles took out two squadrons of Prince
Alfred's Guards (Cape Colonials) in order to ascertain whether the enemy was
still holding his positions in strength. The little force got into a
place where they were subjected to an extremely heavy fire for three hours.
Ultimately they withdrew with the loss of a few wounded and taken prisoners.
Captain Lascelles and his men were complimented by General Clements.
In the advance from Arundel on the 28th the South Australians again formed
the rear-guard. When Clements was preparing to cross the Orange River
the South Australians were sent forward on 8th March to the front at Norvals
Pont, where they were in contact with the enemy until the 15th, when the
force crossed. During the march through the Orange Free State the
squadron was in the right column under Major Dauncey of the Inniskillings.
Continued in the history of the 2nd
Contingent.
