This corps, strength about 500, under Lieutenant Colonel R G Scott, VC,
DSO, did work on the Orange River - Kimberley line not unlike what the
Railway Pioneer Regiment did on the Central Railway. Although the
Kimberley railway was not in the centre of the theatre of operations, still
the west of the Orange River Colony, and that portion of Cape Colony
bordering on it, was infested by roving bands bent on destruction; and
Scott's Railway Guards had often skirmishes involving losses, and had much
dangerous patrol work to undertake. On 15th June 1901 the corps
engaged the enemy at Hartebeestfontein, in the Western Transvaal, and
captured some prisoners, stock, and ammunition. On 20th August
Lieutenant A V Harvey and 1 man were killed and several wounded at Devondale.
At Lillifontein on 19th October they had again several casualties, and at
the various posts where the corps were stationed — Devondale, Brussels,
Content etc, they often had a few losses.
The Mentions gained were as follows:—
LORD KITCHENER'S DESPATCH: 23rd June 1902.—Captains R Brand and
M W McLoughlin, Quartermaster
Sergeant Worrall, Trooper Van Der Merwe.
