The CLH was formed on 7 January 1901 as the second battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer Rifles. It was converted to light horse, and renamed 'Colonial Light Horse', on 1 October 1901, after Boer forces under Gen Jan Smuts had invaded Cape Colony. At that time, the unit was commanded by an Australian, Major Arthur Baker DSO. The CLH initially had three squadrons, and formed a fourth in December 1901.

The unit was disbanded on 30 June 1902. It was deployed in the western districts of Cape Colony, and saw quite a bit of action, the last one being on 3 June 1902, a few days after the war had officially ended

 

The regiment saw a good deal of service in Cape Colony at a time when glory was very hard to harvest, but they did useful work in worrying and running down small commandos, and they seem to have kept out of serious mishaps. They were still engaged with scattered bodies of the enemy when peace was declared, and had sharp fighting thirty-six miles east of Fraserburg on 3rd June 1902, actually four days after the declaration. The commandos had apparently not taken the news seriously, if these had reached the neighbourhood. On this last occasion Squadron Sergeant Major Carter and 3 men were killed, and Lieutenant F L Whalley and 1 man were wounded.

 

QSAs are listed under the Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer Rifles.  For example 777 SSM TR Carter is listed on the casualty roll as CLH and listed on the QSA roll under 2nd DOEVR (WO100/242p5).

There are KSA listed under the unit title CLH.