Umvoti Mounted Rifles

In October 1899 the UMR were commanded by Major George Leuchars and were 89 strong based in the Helpmakaar District with one Troop on the southern border of Natal.

On 2^nd October the Natal Carbineers were ordered to patrol the Free State Border and observe the passes, and within the next few days the cyclists of the Durban Light Infantry were patrolling from Colenso to Springfield, covering 80 miles on bad roads in twelve hours.  Along with the Natal Naval Volunteers the Durban Regiment was employed in building forts near Colenso.  The Umvoti Mounted Rifles were watching the drifts lower down the Tugela, - an invaluable service, which they performed for many months; other bodies were on outpost duty. 

On the 21^st General French and Sir George White fought the battle of Elandslaagte.  In his despatch of 2^nd November 1899, para. 14, Sir George mentioned that before that battle the Natal Field Battery moved out with General French at 4 am; some of the Natal M.R. and Carbineers were also with him.  When the enemy were found near the station the battery opened fire, but the position was strong, and the little guns were outranged; reinforcements had therefore to be got.  Before the main action commenced one squadron from each of the 5^th Lancers, 5^th Dragoon Guards, and Natal M.R. were sent out to turn the enemy's right flank and harass his rear.  Two squadrons of the Natal M.R. took part in the final pursuit.  On the night of the 21^st Sergeant Schroeder and Corporal Jones of the Umvoti M.R. bore the good news of the Elandslaagte victory to General Yule; to reach him they had to pass through large bodies of the enemy. 

While General Buller was pounding away along the Tugela some of the Natal Volunteers under Major G.  Leuchars were usefully employed about Greytown and the Zululand border.  The Umvoti Mounted Rifles, about 80 strong, with 50 Police, were at Greytown and Tugela Ferry from the beginning of the war, and 2 guns of the Natal Field Artillery and 150 Natal Royal Rifles were after 10^th January in the Melmoth Field Force operating from Eshowe.  The Greytown force did most excellent work; they were practically isolated from 18^th November to 13^th February, when they were joined by Bethune's Mounted Infantry.  During that period the posts and drifts held by the Umvoti Mounted Rifles and Police were repeatedly attacked.  On 23^rd November a commando 400 strong attacked 100 men holding the drift, but the enemy was driven off.  The stubborn defence made by Major Leuchars and his men prevented an invasion from that quarter and had a great moral effect, as was proved by the tenor of despatches from General Burgher to General Joubert which were captured.  In this affair Sergeant Major Ferguson was severely wounded. 

In General Buller's movement which commenced on 7^th May for turning the Boers out of the Biggarsberg, and so clear Natal, the Volunteers were in the 3^rd Mounted Brigade (see South African Light Horse).  The Brigade was engaged almost daily between 10^th and 19^th May.  Colonel Bethune co-operated from Greytown, and joined General Buller on 13^th May (see Bethune's Mounted Infantry).  Bethune's force was composed of 5 squadrons of his own regiment, 1 squadron Umvoti Mounted Rifles, two 12-pounder  guns worked by men of the Royal Garrison Artillery, two 7-pounder guns, Natal Field Artillery, 2 Hotchkiss manned by the same corps, and 6 companies of the Imperial Light Infantry, a corps which was raised in the Colony.  For seven months this force, or portions of it, had done good work in protecting the north-east of Natal from invasion or raids. On 19^th May the Durban Light Infantry and Natal Royal Rifles were ordered to garrison Dundee.  When Laing's Nek was turned by General Buller (see South African Light Horse), the Natal Mounted Volunteers were the advanced-guard of General Clery's force, which crossed the Nek itself on 12^th June.  Dundonald's Brigade had been split up, and the South African Light Horse were part of the turning force. 

On 21^st September 1900 authority had been obtained from Lord Roberts to raise among the Natal Volunteers a composite regiment of 300 mounted men to take over the duties hitherto performed by the Volunteer Brigade, and thus facilitate the return of the remainder of the Brigade to their daily avocations.  The Volunteer Composite Regiment was made up as follows:

		Officers	Men
	Natal Carbineers	6	125
	Natal Mounted Rifles	5	32
	Umvoti Mounted Rifles	1	13
	Border Mounted Rifles	3	48
	Natal Field Artillery	-	19
	Natal Royal Rifles	-	8
	Durban Light Infantry	-	39
	Hotchkiss Gun Detachment	-	6
	Volunteer Medical Corps	1	4
		16	294

The regiment, under Lieutenant Colonel Evans, Natal MR, did much hard and effective work down to the close of the campaign. 

Lord Robert’s despatches: 2^nd April 1901:  Umvoti Mounted Rifles - Lieutenant Colonel G.  Leuchars.