The Imperial Transport Service was employed to move goods and provisions around South Africa for the British Government.
Quoting from Lady Brigg' book (see the Account); 'The firm employed over 2000 waggons, which required about 40,000 oxen to work; and as large quantities were from time to time captured by the enemy, numbers of oxen killed through one cause and another, it needed no less than from 85,000 to 100,000 oxen to keep up the efficiency of the service. The firm employed in drivers and leaders nearly 7000 men (natives), in overseers, conductors, and inspectors (who had all to be mounted), about 500. The clerical staff alone exceeded 200 men. The number of miles travelled backwards and forwards by the oxen was considerably over 25,000'
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