The 4th contingent, one squadron, commanded by Major J Rose, sailed on
the Manhattan on 7th May 1900, and after having touched at Beira and Durban,
landed at Port Elizabeth on 19th June. They were at once taken to the
Kroonstad district of the Orange River Colony, where, on 23rd June, they
joined a force under Colonel Brookfield which was to see some very severe
fighting in the ensuing three weeks. In the action of Barkin or Baken
Kop, 3rd July, Major Rose was wounded. This action is referred to
under the 4th South Australians, with whom
this contingent did over a year's hard campaigning. These two
contingents, along with the 4th Tasmanians, formed what was known as the 4th
Imperial Bushmen, and some notes of the very fine work of the regiment are
to be found under that heading. While the 4th Imperial Bushmen
operated with Plumer in Cape Colony, and in the north of and east of the
Transvaal, this squadron had casualties on various occasions.
