TOPIC:

As an "Artificial Limb Maker" the cause would have been better served if Longmate had have enlisted with the R.A.M.C. - I am sure his services would have been in demand.

Regards

Rory

Perfectly normal throughout the nineteenth century, for example, the Bechuanaland Border Police was recruited by the Colonial Office in London!

SWB wrote: Agreed, this is useful information - thanks Adrian for your work.

I wonder if there was a street in London with a row of recruiting offices for various units in the colonies or perhaps there was a "supermarket"?

djb wrote: I hadn't realised that the SA units recruited in the UK. Most of the nominal rolls only show SA locations but perhaps that explains why some nominal rolls seem to be incomplete.

The information about recruitment in the UK helped to potentially explain another query that was received today so that was very useful information.

Quite right Rory,

Perhaps there were a few lads being badly kicked by their horses and he would have been onhand to knock up a spare leg if required !!!

Cheers

Thanks Adrian for your post 26751. Fabulous images.

English newspapers carried adverts to recruit men to the Cape Mounted Rifles (and other units around the Empire). Here's one from the "Wanted" section of the Hull Daily Mail on 6th June 1901:
Young men wishing to join the Cape Mounted Rifles, Canadian Mounted Police, Australian Police, American Army, etc. ; full particulars post free 1s[hilling] - B.I. Gorringe, 69, Endwell Road, Brockley, London.

...and a story from the Western Times (1st Feb 1902) encouraging men to enlist through the Cape's agency in London:

While recruiting is going on actively for the four battalions of the County of London Imperial Yeomanry, which are being raised for home defence and service in South Africa, and also for the various corps in different parts of the country, recruits are urgently wanted for the Cape Mounted Riflemen, who have done good service throughout the campaign. The number of men required to complete the corps, which has been one of the most useful bodies of irregulars, is only 50, but for these places picked men are being selected, one of the qualifications being that only single men are admitted. The age limit is between 18 and 27, and the height not less than 5ft. 6in., the minimum weight being ten stone, and the men are instructed to apply by letter to the Agent-General for the Cape.

There must have been many young men who had romantic notions of adventure and replied to adverts stories like that above. A letter in the London Daily News of 29th July 1905 warns them against the idea:

Sir, - May I suggest that anyone intending to join the above corps [the Cape Mounted Rifles] should carefully read the particulars before enlistment.

Recruits should know that the climate is very trying, and the hardships great.

Out of the pay of 5s. per day a trooper had to purchase his horse (Government only paying £10), forage, etc., so that almost the whole of the pay is swallowed up. In case of illness during the time spent in hospital he has to provide for the keep of his horse, and also to pay for his maintenance in hospital, so that, in a sense, a man is fined for bad health.

My brother died after attacks of enteric and dysentry, and the only intimation was a letter received on the 22nd [of this month] from a comrade mentioning the funeral. Inquiries at the offices of the Cape Government Agency elicited no information. The death of a trooper apparently does not concern officialdom, and a mother's anxiety is of no moment. - Yours, etc.,
Belgravia, S.W.
C.H.C.

The next letter on the page is extolls the healthgiving virtues of a trip on London's Tube!

Hello James,

PM sent RE: Sidney Riches CMR as per post above.

Cheers
Adrian