Imperial Yeomanry

   (20)  The Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry Squadron, the 5th (Warwicks), 2nd Bn I.Y. landed in Cape Town, South Africa on 26th February 1900, arriving at Kenhardt, Northern Cape Province on the 11thApril. They fought their first action at Kheis Drift on 28th May 1900.

Lieut. Meynell HUNT writes on 2nd August 1900 at Eland’s River Station (thirty miles east of Pretoria on Delagoa Bay line) of his short stay at Pretoria on 31st July; having received orders to take the 2nd Troop W.I.Y. to the Elands River Station, which he describes as ‘such a desolate place, a tiny station in the middle of the veldt, nothing to be seen but waste, with a boggy brook half a mile away, which I presume is the Eland River. 

ADDERLEY records the 2nd August 1900 the 2nd Troop W.I.Y. under Lieut. HUNT proceeded to Elands River Station to guard the railway with patrols constantly in touch with the enemy. 

Lieut. Meynell HUNT writes:

3rd August - ‘A strong patrol went from here, and another from Bronkhurst Spruit, working northeast of these places. They were out most of the day, going over yesterday’s ground and far beyond. They found no one till they came to a cluster of farmhouses. On our advance guards approaching, three men galloped away, but putting the glasses up a lot of horses could be seen in the outhouses.’ Using discretion, they noted the position and returned to camp at 4pm. HUNT writes ‘Our horses are looking thin, having continual work all day now, and only oats to eat; we cannot get hay. 

4th August - The patrol out yesterday found a calf at one of the Boer Farms, and the result is the 2nd Troop are having veal for dinner.’ 

‘We have had no letters or papers for over a fortnight; hope to get some soon. 

9th August - Elands River Station ‘We had a busy day on the 7th. Two trains passed at seven and half past for Middleburg and a wire came through soon after saying both trains had been fired on by a party of sixty mounted Boers. We were ordered out at once, a hundred and fifty of the Borderers and the 2nd Troop W.I.Y., and told to proceed to Scheit-poor, the point from which the train was fired upon. There were seventeen horses shot and four killed and three men, one of whom died; while another had five bullets through his helmet, and every truck had bullet holes.’

They advanced in extended order with their flanking parties being nearly a mile from their centre, thus covering a lot of country. Some eight miles beyond they came across a group of farms with outbuildings which they searched and ‘found the houses to be all empty. Every sign of a hasty flight and everything left behind.’ 

HUNT writes that ‘having received orders to burn the farms we proceeded, to carry them out. Sgt WILLOUGHBY, Dr. UNWIN and myself with two troopers, then burnt the lot - right under the noses of the owners in some instances. One of them belongs to ERASMUS the leader of the commando. We then withdrew, remounted, and retired to Eland’s River.‘

11th August – Patrols had to be out by 5am and will have to be out every morning to see the country is clear before the trains go through.’

‘A train (of open trucks) full of Boer War women and children went through an hour ago to Belfast via Middleburg – there were twelve trucks about 40 in each truck.’ 

12th August – another train full of women and children went through to Belfast – hundreds of them. All quiet here today so far at 12 noon.’ 

Lieut. Meynell Hunt 5th Company (Warwickshire) 2nd Bn. Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa. This photograph is the property of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum Trust and should be credited as such if used elsewhere.

'A Dusty Hot Day and Resting Between  Attacks.

These photograph are  the property of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum Trust - men from 5th Company (Warwickshire) 2nd Bn. Imperial Yeomanry on Patrol in South Africa.

 ‘With the Warwickshire Yeomanry in South Africa’ by Lieut. Meynell HUNT was published in 1902. Reprints of this book can be found in America and India – see www.abebooks.co.

  (21) The Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry Squadron, the 5th (Warwicks), 2nd Bn I.Y. landed in Cape Town, South Africa on 26th February 1900, arriving at Kenhardt, Northern Cape Province on the 11th April. They fought their first action at Kheis Drift on 28th May 1900.’

Whilst in Pretoria on 27 July 1900 Meynell HUNT received orders to take the 2ndTroop WIY to the Eland River Station which he describes as ‘such a desolate place, a tiny station in the middle of the veldt, nothing to be seen but waste, with a boggy brook half a mile away, which I presume is the Eland River. ‘

Lieut. Meynell HUNT writes on 17th August at Eland’s River Station (thirty miles east of Pretoria on Delagoa Bay line):

‘We are still here, the 2nd Troop (Warwicks), the rest of us are at Este Fabricken. We had a small adventure three days ago. Having information that some Boers were sleeping in a farmhouse four miles or so away, we got up at half-past four and endeavoured to catch them napping. We reached our destination, surrounded the building and were going to inspect them, when ping, ping, bullets began to fly all around us, and we found a party of Boers were on the hill some fifteen hundred yards away, so retiring from the farm we kept open order and got over the brow, but they would not approach; we watched their movements through our glasses. We burnt a farm on the way back which we had to miss a week previous on account of the Boers coming up at the time rather strong.

Trooper R. VALINTINE 5th Company (Warwicks) 2nd Bn. Imperial Yeomanry writes:

17thAugust 1900 (Grand Hotel, Pretoria) - ‘KINGZETT (Sergt), WYLIE, SYKES, JOHNSON, BRISCOE, PORTER, HOLLICK, BANNISTER and I have been attached to Colonel BROOKES’s Column since we left Pretoria, there are 850 Connaught Rangers, 1,000 Royal Fusiliers and four guns of the Canadian Royal Artillery altogether. Col. BROOKE is defending Piennaars Poort, a very strong position with the railway running through the Poort which is about a mile long. We are his scouts, to do all the patrolling, as the enemy are only four miles off, we often get potted at while out in the early morning. I have leave for today and tomorrow in Pretoria.’

VALINTINE mentions in his letter that he has ‘a jolly good bedroom here and this with three meals a day comes to 15 shillings a day, so that is hardly expensive for times of War.’

ADDERLEY records that the 2nd Troop W.I.Y. remained at Elands River Station until 21st October 1900 and were in continual touch with the enemy.

The enclosed pictures are the property of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum Trust and should be credited as such if reproduced elsewhere.

  (23) The Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry Squadron, the 5th (Warwicks), 2nd Bn. I.Y. landed in Cape Town, South Africa on 26th February 1900, arriving at Kenhardt, Northern Cape Province on the 11th April. They fought their first action at Kheis Drift on 28th May 1900.’

Lieut. Meynell HUNT, 2nd Troop W.I.Y. writes on 26th August at Eland’s River Station (thirty miles east of Pretoria on Delagoa Bay line) that he ‘had received orders on the 23rd August from the Officer commanding the Line of Communications to send a Corporal and six men to Van der Merve and Pienaars Poort, so Corporal PASSMAN went to the first-named place and Corporal HUGHES to Pienaars Point, each with six men. The places are five and ten miles from here, the latter being one of great strength, being a gap in the range of hills, the railway running through as well. It is held by the Connaughts and two guns of the Canadians, nearly a thousand men.

We were excited on Friday morning by hearing Lord ROBERTS was coming through. The first train brought word passed through at 7.30am.’ The next train ‘some twenty minutes later included a carriage (a most unusual event) we rushed out, but it was the staff only, with their servants and horses, and about 100 men in trucks as guards. Soon after this another train approached, and we could see two saloon carriages attached, so there was no doubt he was in this one. When the train pulled up Lord ROBERTS opened the window of his carriage and talked to Captain CASS, of The Connaughts, our Officer Commanding here,’ after twenty minutes the train proceeded to Belfast’. 

Meynell HUNT’s letter concludes with the sad news that Lieut. Fordham FLOWER had been killed in action at Hamman’s Kraal, north of Pretoria, somewhere by Waterval. ‘They were advance scouts, and when in or near the bush veldt were fired on by the Boers concealed in the long grass or bush. He was struck by an explosive bullet and died soon after reaching the ambulance.’ 

Tpr R. VALINTINE writes:

26th August 1900 Hamman’s Kraal

‘We have had 2 or 3 days fighting since I last wrote to you from Pretoria – rather tiring work, as it meant getting up at 4 every morning to stand to arms and when you are on stable guard as well, or night patrol, it does not mean much sleep. We have had bad luck in our two days fighting, as we lost poor FLOWER. He was the most gentlemanly fellow and looked after his men.’

VALINTINE’s mentions in his letter of the 26thAugust that he ‘lost poor old ‘Coffee Pot’ the same day that FLOWER was killed. ‘VALINTINE describes how his horse ‘Coffee Pot had seven bullets through him and had carried him 300 yards after his horse was shot the first time.’

Photos below:

Lieut. Fordham FLOWER who was killed in action at Hamman’s Kraal, north of Pretoria, somewhere by Waterval.

Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh, 1st EARL ROBERTS, V.C., K.G., K.P., O.M., G.C.B., G.C.I.E., V.D., Commander in Chief, South Africa, during Anglo-Boer War.

  (24)  The Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry Squadron, the 5th (Warwicks), 2nd Bn I.Y. landed in Cape Town, South Africa on 26th February 1900. 

Lieut. Meynell HUNT, 2nd Troop W.I.Y.  writes at Elands River station:

1st September 1900.

 ‘How time goes. We have been talking today of what we will have for Christmas Day, it is getting so near. UNWIN and myself have been in Pretoria the past two days.  I must tell you a rather funny thing that happened. We walked up the train, to select our carriage, in the shape of a coal truck, and an Officer who was in one said” this is alright, fairly clean,” so in we swarmed.  After progressing at the usual rate (it takes two to three hours to get to Pretoria, the distance about thirty miles) we reached our destination. We found our travelling companion very agreeable, and we of course talked of the war and all sorts of things. On arriving at Pretoria his servant came up and addressed him as “Your Grace.”  Fancy our feelings; and we had been talking to him quite as an ordinary individual! – I dare say giving him advice as well. It turned out to be The Duke of Westminster; he was coming up from Belfast, had slept all night in the truck, and was very black, not a bit like a Duke and really you don’t expect to find one in a coal truck do you.’    

The Duke of Westminster was an ADC on Lord ROBERTS staff  - see:

https://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/cheshireyeomanryhughgrosvenor.htm

Meynell HUNT concludes his entry for the 1st September: ‘Having got some stores in the shape of potatoes, tinned peas, and a great find of six cakes we returned here. Troops still going through. KITCHENER and MAHON passed yesterday. A column passed by road, and a convoy of hundreds of wagons is going through now.’ 

 2nd September 1900

 ‘Two long trains, each with two engines, passed through today, for Pretoria with the released Englishmen, some eighteen hundred. Some have been in captivity for over ten months after the Colenso fight.’ 

The released prisoners ‘give encouraging accounts of the enemy, no food, no transport, no horses, and all they have now is a bit of railway. We are also gathering in stock now. Over a thousand head last week.’ 

4th September 1900 

‘Nothing to add, except we seem to be gathering in cattle and sheep by the thousand as they leave the bush veldt.  This they do by instinct this month, and if the Boers try to keep them back, they will break through and make for their home farms. When the rain comes on, the veldt is very unhealthy, and the cattle cannot live on it. By this process we hope to get all the Boer herds and touch them this way as well.'

Tpr R. VALINTINE. 4th Troop W.I.Y. writes:

6 September 1900 

I am in Pretoria again as RICHARDSON and I have brought 2,000 head of cattle down here with the aid 16 “boys” so we have had our work cut out, as you can imagine, the pace is one and half miles an hour, the heat of the day is getting awful’

VALINTINE concludes his entry for the 6th September ‘Captain FORBES gave me Lt. FLOWER’s horse after he was shot, he is a brown, and over 16 hands high, but a very rough ride.’ 

  (26) The Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry Squadron, the 5th (Warwicks), 2ndBn I.Y. landed in Cape Town, South Africa on 26th February 1900. 

Lieut. Meynell HUNT, 2nd Troop W.I.Y. writes

Elands River Station, Delagoa Bay Railway Line. 

23rd September 1900

‘Yesterday the 22nd was a red-letter day for the Elands River Station. We have all been grumbling “How slow it was” and “How are we to pass the time today?” when the usual order of things was reversed as the Boers attacked us in large numbers with two field guns and a pom-pom. Thank goodness we had trenches, or we should have suffered heavily.”

Meynell-HUNT explains that the first intimation they had was when one of the mounted patrols sent out that morning galloped in saying ‘the enemy were advancing from the northeast in force.’

HUNT put his shoes and hat on and ran out in his pyjamas ‘to see score of Boers coming over the sky-line about two miles away.’

HUNT was concerned that the foot patrol – ‘a Sergeant and twenty men - would be cut off but they came at the double down the line, getting the protection of the railway banks etc; and they were soon covered by our men in the trenches,’ who opened up on the enemy at two thousand yards. The WIY horses were then moved behind a plate layers hut for protection at the far end of the station.

The action lasted from 5.30am to 8.30am with the enemy positioning their two field guns on a hill two thousand nine hundred yards to the north-east. One of the first shells went straight down the Station House chimney – sending it in every direction and raising clouds of dust. The enemy numbered about three to four hundred; seventy of whom attempted to occupy a farm to the west of the WIY position and were repulsed.

‘What saved us, experts say, was the ground being soft sand, and the shells burying themselves; had it been hard ground they would have done far greater damage. Indeed, as it is, they have done enough, every building is full of holes from shot and shell.’

After the enemy had withdrawn – patrols were sent out and it was discovered that the telegraph line had been cut on both sides of the Station and that they had attempted to blow up the railway line some three miles ahead.

A full account of the action can be found on pages 114 to 116 of Meynell HUNT’s book – during which the Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry had one man killed whilst on patrol that morning and none wounded during the action itself.

The enclosed pictures are the property of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum Trust and should be credited as such if reproduced elsewhere.

  (28)The Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry Squadron, the 5th (Warwicks), 2nd Bn I.Y. landed in Cape Town, South Africa on 26th February 1900. Their story can be found by way of previous posts in this Facebook Group and in the History pages of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum Website.’

Lieut. Meynell HUNT, 2nd Troop W.I.Y. writes at Eland’s River Station of which the following are but extracts:

19th October 1900 

‘The week has passed with nothing of note to chronicle. The War is not half over, and we have become buoyed up by false hopes, but there is no chance of seeing England this year that, we have made up our minds to begin trekking and roughing it once more.’

‘The Yeomanry are all being mounted as necessary, and the volunteers who had mobilised for home in Pretoria have been formed into a divisional brigade and are far from happy.’

HUNT records he went to Pretoria by train on the 18th October and what should have been a short journey of 35 miles took five hours travelling in a dirty coal truck. He lunched with Captain FORBES (left) at the Yeomanry Hospital ‘from which he heard the news of Squadron at Pienaar’s River’ and ‘was deeply grieved to hear that TOONE a strong healthy fellow, who was engaged to be married and had a farm in the Rugby district had died of enteric in Hospital at Pretoria ‘

27th October 1900

‘Joined the Squadron yesterday at Jericho, all seem fit and well. We are with General PAGET’s column, several thousand strong and on our way to Crocodile River.’ 

Trooper R. VALINTINE, 5th Company (Warwickshire) 2nd Bn Imperial Yeomanry writes at Pienaar’s River:

19th October 1900

‘Left Pretoria on 21st September and have been trekking and skirmishing ever since. Sniping seems to rule the day now, and we can’t get the Boers to fight no matter how hard we try. We lost one of our fellows two days ago; he died of enteric and was engaged to be married when he got home, his name was TOONE, he came from near Rugby.’

VALINTINE records we went to Lt FLOWER’s grave six miles from Haman’s Kraal on the 18thOctober, we planted a tree, covered the grave with stones and put a barbed wire fence around it.

The enclosed pictures are the property of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum Trust and should be credited as such if reproduced elsewhere.

  (29)  The Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry Squadron, the 5th (Warwicks), 2nd Bn I.Y. landed in Cape Town, South Africa on 26th February 1900. Their story can be found by way of previous posts in Facebook Group in the History pages of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum Website.’

Lieut. Meynell HUNT, 2nd Troop Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry writes:

27th October 1900 At Jericho (35 miles west of Piennars River Station) – his account is summarised as follows:

The 2nd Troop received orders on Sunday 21st October at 12.30pm to proceed to Pretoria, they boxed their horses and after a tiresome journey which included a sandstorm, followed by heavy rain, they reached their destination at 6.45pm that evening. ‘After detraining and getting our kits off we fed and watered the horses. It was then 9 o’clock so we all slept in the station that night.’ 

The following morning, they received orders to proceed to Sunnyside Yeomanry Camp on the 23rd, they boxed their horses and on arrival, received yet further orders to proceed to Piennars River, which they reached by 12.30pm on the 23rd.

‘On the 24th October the 2nd Troop supplied ten men for patrols which left at 4.15am.’ 

The 2nd Troop then received order to re-join the Squadron at Jericho.

HUNT writes when re-joining the Squadron on the 27th ’all seem fit and well. We are with General PAGET’s column, several thousand strong and on our way to Crocodile River.’ 

ADDERLEY records that ‘on the 27th October 1900 the force under General PAGET’s command included 2 Batteries of Artillery (38th and 7th) 2.5in guns, 1st Bn. Scots Guards, and the Cavalry under Colonel HICKMAN, which comprised the 5th Warwicks, 49th Montgomery, 66th Yorks, whilst General PLUMMER commanded the Australian Bushmen, and the British South Africa Police.

A converging march on Jericho of three columns from Piennars River, Hamanskraal and Waterval was made to clear up the district.’ During which HICKMAN’s column captured 54 prisoners, 18 wagons and 3,500 cattle, for the loss of one man. It was ascertained that BOTHA and DE WET were attempting to join forces and so the Commander in Chief ordered PAGET to Rustenberg, and the column crossed the Hex River, and reached Rustenberg, being joined by the Infantry on the 31stOctober.’

Lieut. Meynell HUNT writes:

28th October and 30th October at Rustenberg ‘I omitted to say that on re-joining the Squadron the Troop had been cut down from three to two and instead of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4thTroops had been altered into ‘A’ and ‘B’ Troops, so when we re-joined, we became ‘C’ Troop. So many men have fallen sick or joined the police, and our casualties also have compelled Captain FORBES to drop the 4th and this make three strong Troops.’

31st October 1900 at Rustenberg: ‘this is one of the very few places in South Africa that you can call pretty. It has a fair sprinkling of Dutch and English inhabitants, and many Africans. The houses are nice; there are a couple of churches, the streets are wide with grass edges either side, and small streams of water are running everywhere, beautifully clear, and that with no end of trees for shade, makes up rather a pretty town. As a background, there are towering mountains, grand in their ruggedness.’

Trooper R. VALINTINE, 5th Company (Warwickshire) 2nd Bn Imperial Yeomanry writes: 

31 October 1900 ‘Rustenberg - we came here marching day and night all the time, we had 18 hours in the saddle, with only two halts of one hour each. The reason is that BOTHA is here in the hills with 2000 men, long toms etc, and we are working in conjunction with METHUEN, CLEMENTS and BROADWOOD. The latter are holding the principal passes through which they think he will attempt to escape, and we have got to do the attacking.’ 

Leaving Rustenberg on 1st November ‘PAGET’s column marched north-west, camping at Magato Pass, and on the following morning crossed into the valley of the Selous River. The enemy were in positions on some parallel ridges two miles west of the river. After severe fighting most of the day, the position was carried by detachments of the Warwickshire and Yorkshire Yeomanry, and the British South Africa Police.’ 

3rd November 1900 at Hartebeesfontein, Lieut HUNT, describes the action on 1st November when ‘Trooper W. MARTIN, Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry had the misfortune to be kia at Twii River on 1st November, others had lucky escapes’ that day. 

  (30) The Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry Squadron, the 5th (Warwicks), 2nd Bn I.Y. landed in Cape Town, South Africa on 26th February 1900. Their story can be found  in the Facebook Group i

Lieut. Meynell HUNT, 2nd Troop Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry writes:

 7 November 1900 

Bulhock

‘We left camp at half-past six on the 6th trekking north-west, passing a place called Ebenezer, a store on the Mafeking Road. Here we endeavoured to get in touch with the enemy, but after a few rifle shots and shells they left; crossing the road we proceeded to Bulhock, a nice valley lying in the midst of hills, with a lot of it cultivated.’ 

HUNT records that within three miles of the camp he received orders to return and escort the telegraphists who were some 13 miles away in the Koster Valley; and on doing so the telegraphists ‘attached the wire and it was laid as we proceeded. It was a lovely moonlight night and cool making it splendid marching. At half-past seven we could see the campfires in the distance, looking like a big town on the hillside. We arrived in about eight in the evening thus bringing to column into direct telegraphic communications with Pretoria.’

On reporting his arrival at headquarters General PAGET invited HUNT to dinner and ‘as we had been in the saddle since half-past six with, only biscuit and cold coffee for refreshment I accepted the invitation and had a good meal.’

8th November 1900

‘We left Bulhock on the 8th the cavalry and the guns took a wide sweep to the west, the column going north. We were advance guard and had to wait while General BROADWOOD’s column passed our front, they also turned north. We were in touch nearly all day with the enemy, the firing, both rifles and guns being very heavy at times.’ The camp that night was pitched on the east bank of the Selons River – the 2nd Troop arrived in camp late that night having gone from north when they started trekking in the morning to due east.

9th November 1900

‘We left camp at quarter to six reveille at half-past three and went direct over a neck called Rhebokhock. This is the same range of mountains the Magliesburg, as the Magatos Pass, but about ten miles north of it. After crossing we turned south east and cantered on, as escort to General PAGET, to Boshhock arriving at eight. The General stayed twenty minutes only, and then took six of the escort and cantered on to Rustenburg. The rest of his staff and escort watered and fed their horses and proceeded to the same place at eleven, also bringing the luggage of the General, arriving at about 3pm.’ 

HUNT was then allocated a house by the Provost Marshal, the 2nd Troop being camped close by.

The column having camped at Kookfontein on the night of the 9th arrived at Rustenburg on the 10th.

The enclosed picture is the property of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum Trust and should be credited as such if reproduced elsewhere.

  (32) The Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry Squadron, the 5th (Warwicks), 2nd Bn I.Y. landed in Cape Town, South Africa on 26th February 1900. Their story can be found by way of  posts in the Facebook Group.

ADDERLEY’s ‘History of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Cavalry’ records ‘that the column continued the march for Pretoria on 20th November and after passing Eerstefabrieken had a heavy engagement at Rhenoster Kop, which lasted till night both sides losing heavily. General LYTTELTON came up next day from Middleberg, only to find the enemy had cleared in the night’ 

Lieutenant Meynell HUNT writes: 

27th November 1900 

At Imperial Yeomanry Hospital, Pretoria. He had unfortunately ‘developed boils which ended in a carbuncle’ and remained at Rietfontein being transferred on the 20th November to the I.Y. Hospital at Pretoria.

‘At the present moment, 6 o’clock on 27th November, we are in the middle of the most terrific storm of wind and dust I have ever seen here yet. Tents down in all directions, people blown about everywhere; and after the wind and dust, come rain thunder and lightning. It is most dreadful - what a day to be trekking!  Thank goodness one has a roof over one’s head.’

Trooper Rudolph VALINTINE, 5th Company, 2nd Battalion Imperial Yeomanry writes: 

15th November 1900

No.7 General Hospital Pretoria – ‘While out scouting the other day, my horse rolled with me in a bog, and having got free I had to wade through about 25 yards, up to my waist to get my horse out too. I have strained myself a bit and hope to be fit again within a week’

25th November 1900 

Imperial Yeomanry Brand Hospital, Pretoria

‘Have been moved over here, though a bit stiff still, am very comfortable, am well looked after, still in bed but shall be up for certain later this week. The rainy season is here now, in earnest, it rains pretty well every day, so that it is awfully bad for those on the veldt and the hospitals are getting filled rapidly.’ 

‘There are 7 Doctors and about 30 nurses here, and about 500 beds. We have 6 beds in a tent.’

Trooper VALINTINE remained in hospital at Pretoria until 9th December 1900 when he writes 

‘I have recovered from my fall but have a little rheumatism.’ There are no further entries in his diarised letter book. 

The notice above the bed of the Imperial Yeoman depicted in the enclosed caricature indicates that he was a patient at No, 7 General Hospital which moved from Estcourt in Natal to Pretoria, after the Transvaal’s capital was occupied by ROBERTS on 6th June 1900. 

NAM 1982-07-26  - See ‘ashes and blood’ The British Army in South Africa 1795-1914 by Peter A BOYDEN, Alan J. GUY & Marion HARDING, published in 1999.

  (33) The Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry Squadron, the 5th (Warwicks), 2nd Bn I.Y. landed in Cape Town, South Africa on 26th February 1900. Their story can be found by way of previous posts in the Facebook Group and here  in the History pages of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum Website.’ 

ADDERLEY’s ‘History of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Cavalry’ records ‘that the column continued the march for Pretoria on 20th November and after passing Eerstefabrieken had a heavy engagement at Rhenoster Kop, which lasted till night both sides losing heavily. General LYTTELTON came up next day from Middleberg, only to find the enemy had cleared in the night’ 

After this the column trekked by easy stages to Watervaal, north of Pretoria. Here a week was spent in camp and on 26th December Lieut. HUNT and others re-joined from Pretoria Hospitals. 

On the 30th December 1900 they marched north to Hamanskraal and the west through Zoutpan to Jericho, over the Crocodile and Hex Rivers. A forced night march was then made without baggage to Boschpoort pass in the Zwart Mountains, to intercept a commando, but the force to make contact with the enemy and retraced its steps. The General took the guns and infantry to Commando Nek, whilst the Warwicks and 66th Yorks returned to Jericho and they experienced difficulties in crossing the Crocodile River which had swollen considerably due to heavy rain since the previous crossing. 

On arrival at Jericho, the Yorks went to Pienaars River and the Warwicks to Watervaal via Zoutpan, each taking a string of Boer families by the way. 

‘On the 10th January 1901, the Warwicks were ordered by wire from Colonel HICKMAN to re-join the column.

Lieutenant Meynell HUNT writes: 

Striking tents we got away about half past three on 10th January, camping the night at Wonderboom, and trekking again at four in the morning for Reitfontein (west) , which after going all day, we reached at three, only to find orders to join the column that night seven or eight miles on.’  HUNT records ‘that it was a very hot day with sun pouring on us all the time, and they got in at seven after a very long march.

Orders were then received for all mounted troops to parade with two days supplies, Cape carts only, no tents- only a mackintosh sheet and cloak- so off we went through one of the wildest countries I have yet seen – the scenery was grand and the air splendid, making everyone feel fit.   

ADDERLEY records,  that the march occupied five days instead of two through wild country and consequently supplies were scarce. During the march little fighting took place, a rear-guard action one day, and sniping all the time, but several hundred heads of cattle were taken, and a few wagons, which were burnt.

Pretoria was reached via Quagga Pass on 14 January, and the troops camped there for several days, the transport arriving in the meantime.  

HUNT records, on the 29th January 1901,  

on the evening of the 23 January we heard of the death of our Queen, but it was not confirmed till 24 January. 

  (34) The Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry Squadron, the 5th (Warwicks), 2nd Bn I.Y. landed in Cape Town, South Africa on 26th February 1900. Their story can be found by way of previous posts in the Facebook Group here in the History pages of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum Website.

ADDERLEY records that on the 21st of January 1901 the Warwicks received orders to entrain with the Brigade for the south on route for Naauwpoort for what turned out to be the famous De WET hunt. The Warwicks being selected as Escort for General PAGET. The General had three columns under him each 1,000 to 2,000 strong with guns under General PLUMER, Colonel HICKMAN and Colonel BETHUNE respectively.

Lieutenant Meynell HUNT writes:

Naauwpoort (Cape Colony) Sunday 10 February 1901

‘The Squadron has now been here a week. They say it is a very healthy place – well it ought to be something, in every other respect its awful. We are camped on a sandy plain, the wind having a very clear sweep across us and as far as the dust goes it is a good second to De Aar.’

He records that on the second day the sandstorms were dreadful and on leaving his tent for one hour he had to dig for his bed and belongings, which were covered in four inches of sand. Everything is prepared for a big coup, at least the whole force moved off at five am today under General PLUMER. We alone are waiting here but expect to leave tomorrow.

De Aar Sunday 17 February 1901

This is the first opportunity I have had to write since leaving Naauwpoort, which we did at five am on Monday 11 February, taking General PAGET’s baggage and two field hospitals.

We reached Phillipstown about 10 o’clock, it was a glorious day, and made one feel that life was worth living as we cantered on mile after mile over the veldt. The town looked very picturesque lying in a valley some miles on.

On arrival we linked our horses in the square, and fed, and then most of us explored the town, buying what we could, such as sardines, bread, fowls etc. We heard here of De WET moving north of us about fifteen miles away. PLUMER close to him, fighting six hours the day before. Here orders were received to proceed to De Aar – a long trek of thirty miles.

HUNT writes ‘Our strength is one officer and twenty-seven men, and we are all well I am glad to say, which is a great thing. Our horses are a good lot and look fit, but we have only three of the original ones left with us that we brought out from England. left with us. The place is full of Generals and great hopes are held of breaking up De WET’s commando if not of capturing him personally.’

De Aar Sunday 25 February 1901

We have been here a week now and have seen thousands of troops move off in different direction. General PAGET making this his station for directing affairs. Twice we have had orders to march and once to entrain, but each time they have been countermanded.

We are having some very some very rough weather, a heavy wind and rainstorm nearly every twenty-four hours, deluges when they do come.

ADDERLEY records. 1 March 1901 

The Squadron entrained at De Aar for Naaupoort and next day for Springfontein, where they detrained. The object being to intercept De WET before he crossed the river which he succeeded in doing at Zand Drift although many of his men drowned and they lost all his baggage.