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The BMR was 286 men strong and was based in Ladysmith and Acton Homes.

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

QSA (3) DoL, Tvl, L Nek (330 Tpr. H.K. Melville, Border M. R.)

The Border Mounted Rifles had 2 men killed and 9 men wounded at Rietfontein.

Trooper Melville was dangerously wounded through the lungs and was probably evacuated for medical treatment to Estcourt.

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

QSA (1) DoL (332 Tpr. P.R. Hulley. Border M. R.)

“In the determined attack by the Boers on Caesar’s Hill in the early hours of the morning of 6 January, the Border Mounted Rifles acted as escort to the 53rd Battery, R.A. Later, No. 1 Squadron, under Captain Royston, were detached and sent to reinforce a party of Gordon’s on Caesar’s Hill, with whom they remained all day. Four of his men: Troopers F C Fox, J H Gold, B H Lawson and P R Hulley, were killed, and Corporals F A L Larkan and Colin Wilson wounded. Two of the men escorting the guns (Troopers H D Archibald and H Dante Archibald) were wounded.

Sergeant-Major Fraser writes interestingly on this battle: -
An officer of the Gordon’s told Royston to reconnoitre. He went forward himself and saw nothing, though the Boers must have seen him. Then he called out it was all right and for his men to come on, and they crossed the flat near the edge of the hill, in open order among the stones, just under the edge, instead of crossing the flat.

Suddenly a number of men appeared on the edge and, instead of at once bolting for cover, the BMR appear to have hesitated a little, until somebody called out – They are the Boers. The Boers fired and our men bolted for cover and opened fire. Four B.M.R. men were killed and two wounded. F C Fox, one of those killed, was, at one time, an officer in the R.A.”
“Rough but Ready” by E Goetsche, p82.

Border Mounted Rifles receiving rations at Ladysmith

Source: ILN 18 November 1899

Picture courtesy of Noble Numismatics

QSA (3) Defence of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's Nek (47 Tpr J.Watts Border M.R.) Impressed.

From the City Coins auction, 4 November 2022

QSA (3) Defence of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (396 Tpr: H. M. Raw, Border M.R.)

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (4) Defence of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, Orange Free State, unofficial rivets between third and fourth clasps (413 Tpr: T. Stapleton. Border M.R.);
Natal (0) (Sgt: T. Stapleton. Border Mtd. Rifles.),

Together with a miniature Natal 1906 medal, with 1906 clasp