TOPIC:

I collect to the Driscoll Scouts Regiment.
Can anyone tell me how this regiment would be broken down. I take it that because it was a mounted unit that instead of say platoons they had squadrons.
I know for example that they Had RQSM which I take was Regimental Quarter Sargent Major and SSM which I take was squadron Sargent Major.
am right or am I barking up the wrong tree? If I am right what was the make up of a squadron. Was it for example 1 Captain, 2 Lt's 4 Sargent's
8 Corporals and 60 troopers?
Any help much appreciated
Regards
Zimscout

Zimscout,

There is a page here on the organisation of the Regular army which may indicate how the local mounted units were organised: www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/im...its/698-british-army

For the cavalry, it says

Cavalry Squadron. Commanded by a Major.
Cavalry Troop. Each with 4 sections, 8 men each.

By the Great War, a cavalry regiment contained a HQ and machine gun section (8 officers and 76 men) and then 3 squadrons. Each squadron contained 6 officers and 152 men, commanded by a major or lieutenant, A squadron was divided into 4 Troops of 32 men and a troop into 4 Sections of 8, so the same as the Boer War.

This image is of a Cavalry Brigade in 1899:



Source: The Graphic, 16 September 1899

Looking through the QSA roll for Driscoll's Scouts, I can see several Squadron Quarter Master Sergeants (eg Baker on p31 and Cranswick on p42). There are several SSMs eg Ellis on p50 which is probably Squadron Sergeant Major which is a rank used in the regular cavalry regiments. There are also Staff Sergeants. Two Regimental Sergeant Majors are listed on p69. A Farrier Quarter Master Sergeant appears on p77.

Thanks David.
What started all this off was that I was looking to find who were the original members (about 60) of the Driscoll Scouts. Wepner was there first major engagement. There were 64 Driscoll Scouts at that "event" but looking through the Wepner medal roll as I am sure you can, there seemed to be ab awful lot of officers for so few men, 3 Captains, 7 Lt's 5 Sargent's but only 7 Corp and 30 Troopers. So from these I was trying to picture the make up and structure of the unit.
After Wepner the Regiment grew rapidly to over 450 men.

Many thanks, helpful to try and picture the structure.