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 Australian Contingent, 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.
Click on the icon to read the account of this unit from Lt Col P L Murray's 1911 'Official Records of the Australian Military Contingents to the War in South Africa' 
This was a composite corps containing:
- The 4th South Australian Contingent, Lieutenant Colonel Rowell commanding. (See that Corps.)
- The 4th West Australian Contingent, Major J Rose.
- The 4th Tasmanian Contingent, Captain R C Lewis, DSO.
The regiment was long with General Plumer in different parts of the seat of war, and did very good work, particularly in the operations north of Pretoria, and in the Eastern Transvaal. As stated in the despatch of 8th March 1901, when it was clear that De Wet was to attempt a serious invasion of Cape Colony, Lord Kitchener, about the end of January 1901, railed Plumer's troops from Brugspruit in the Eastern Transvaal to Cape Colony; and it was largely due to them that De Wet was driven out of the Colony (see 4th Victorian Contingent). Both the South and West Australians suffered some casualties in the numerous rear-guard actions which the Boer commandos fought. After pursuing the remnant of these commandos northward, Plumer's men were again entrained at Brandfort for the district north of Pretoria, to take part in the expedition to Pietersburg. In Lord Kitchener's despatch of 8th May 1901 he says: "On the night of the 24th April a very gallant act was performed by Lieutenant Reid, Imperial Bushmen Corps, who had been detached from General Plumer's post at Commissie Drift, on the Olifants River, Transvaal. This officer, when in charge of a patrol of 20 Australians, located a Boer laager some 15 miles SE of the drift, which he surrounded, and boldly attacked at dawn. The enemy at once surrendered, Commandant Schroeder and 41 other prisoners, with a maxim, being taken". This is certainly one of the very finest exploits undertaken by any small body during the whole war, and shows a boldness and initiative that was far too often absent from the doings of the regulars. Lieutenant Reid ran the great risk involved in his action, but his fearlessness was rewarded with success; and further, he was serving under a General who was most quick to recognise pluck, skilfulness, and the all-important quality of willingness to take risk. Lieutenant Reid belonged to the South Australian Contingent.
On the Pietersburg trek, and after the occupation of that place, the 4th Imperial Bushmen contributed largely to the success of Major Vialls, who operated generally in advance of General Plumer's force, and took many prisoners and waggons, and one gun.
Some of the 4th Imperial Bushmen were in the escort to a convoy which "was heavily attacked by some 400 of the enemy on the Bethel Standerton Road on 25th May". The escort under Colonel Gallwey "fought with great gallantry, and completely foiled the enemy's repeated efforts to press into close quarters". — Lord Kitchener's Despatch of 8th July 1900, para 8.
The following Mentions were gained under the heading 4th Imperial Bushmen:—
8th May 1901.—Lieutenant H A Reid, for the exceedingly smart manner in which he effected the capture of a force double his number, together with a maxim gun. Sergeant P J Williams and Private T H Porter (promoted Corporal) volunteered to carry despatches from General Plumer to General Beatson, a distance of 60 miles through enemy's country; they got there and returned safely, though fired on, burning a Boer field forge en route.
8th July 1901.—Trooper G De Kehyr, during attack on convoy near Bethel, May 25, carried a man out of action on his own horse, thereby incurring great risk. Sergeant Major J S Brigman, Sergeant B C Philliphant, gallantry on same occasion.