The 2nd contingent, 8 officers and 113 other ranks, commanded by Captain
C J Reade, embarked on the Surrey on 26th January 1900, arrived at the Cape
on 25th February, and at De Aar on 6th March. Here they at once
marched off as a portion of a column designed to put down the rebellion
about Prieska (see Orpen's Horse).
Some very hard riding was done, but the squadron managed to bring back their
horses in fair condition to De Aar. Here they entrained for
Norvals Pont and marched thence to Bloemfontein, where they joined the 1st
contingent and the main army. A party of Nursing Sisters from
the colony also joined the army at this time.
In the advance from Bloemfontein to Pretoria, which commenced on 3rd May,
the South Australians, commanded by Captain Reade, along with the Victorian
MR, Tasmanians, and a battalion of regular mounted infantry, formed the 4th
Corps of Mounted Infantry under Colonel St G C Henry, which acted as the
screen and scouts of the centre of Lord Roberts' army. Their
task entailed much hard riding, and they had fighting on many occasions,
particularly between the Vaal and Pretoria. The work of Henry's
corps in these engagements was much praised. At Johannesburg the
South Australians were first into the fort. Henry's corps was
engaged at Diamond Hill 11th-13th June, and thereafter held posts east of
Pretoria. On 21st July the South Australians had a rather warm
skirmish. On the 28th they set off in the eastern advance, still
as part of Colonel Henry's corps. The South Australians had
severe fighting and some casualties about Belfast on 7th September;
thereafter they marched to Komati Poort. Near that place they
discovered some of the enemy's abandoned guns. They were in the
big review at the Poort on 28th September. On 9th October the
two contingents entrained for Pretoria. Soon after this the 1st
contingent and 25 of the 2nd entrained for Cape Town, and arrived at
Adelaide on 30th November. The remainder of the 2nd were
attached to Alderson's column, which was one of those employed in February
and March 1901 in a big sweep through the Eastern Transvaal. On
29th March they sailed for home.
