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From: "John Wilson" <>
Subject: [BOER-WAR] Re: Imperial Light Horse etc
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2004 19:21:07 +1200
References: <20040325023836.73002.qmail@web80207.mail.yahoo.com> <623738EF-7E0A-11D8-9FF1-000A95ED33AE@earthlink.net>


The Imperial Light Horse (ILH) was one of the Corps raised in South
Africa. Many but not all were Mounted Infantry, Mounted Rifles (MI or MR),
Carbineers or Scouts. Therev were also Infantry (Imperial Light Infantry)
and Cyclists (Cape Colony Cyclists Corps) and Artillery.

Many New Zealanders travelled to South Africa and joined a local Corps
there, as they were not selected for the (ten) New Zealand Contingents.
Likewise Australians, Canadians etc. Perhaps British too, though they
could join the Imperial Yeomanry. The Scottish Horse (1st & 2nd) was
raised in Australia, Britain & South Africa.

"The Times History of the War in South Africa"; Appendix II of
Volume V has about 88 names of South African Corps
(Appendix I was Colonial units).
They were classified (by a symbol) as:
Corps raised at the beginning of the war
Corps raised in Lord Kitchener's period
Permanent Regular Corps
Permanent Volunteer Corps

The Imperial Hight Horse was raised at the beginning of the war:
1st Imperial Light Horse, Raised Oct 1899 (500)
2nd Imperial Light Horse, Raised End of 1900 (500)

Brabant's Horse, 1st & 2nd: 600 each regiment, with Colonial Division
(they sent a recruiter to New Zealand, Lieut. F B Hughes, in April 1901)

Kitchener's Horse: 600 Jan. 1900. 428, March 1900.
(Corps raised at the beginning of the war)

Kitchener's Fighting Scouts: Raised Dec. 1900 by Colenbrander.
2 corps of about 400 each.
1st Corps (Col. J. W. Colenbrander)
2nd Corps (Col A. E. Wilson)
(* = Corps raised in Lord Kitchener's period)

Robert's Horse: 600 Jan 1900, 120 June 1901

The Commander-in-Chief's Bodyguard was:
"Formed Jan.-Feb. 1900, 100 strong. Reorganised to 570 strong. 1,000
Apr. 1901". It is described both as a "Corps raised at the beginning of the
war" and a "Corps raised in Lord Kitchener's period".

Other Corps mentioned are Loch's Horse, raised Feb. 1900, largely in
England; and the two Regiments of Scottish Horse, which Stirling said in
"Our Regiments .... " was "a brilliant example of what could be done by
training and a careful selection of officers". Also in the list: Raised from
"Boers", the National Scouts and the Orange River Colony Volunteers.
Raised from mainly "half-castes", the Border Scouts (Stirling called them
the Bushmanland Borderers) and the Namaqaland Border Scouts.
Raised from Uitlanders, Bethune's M.I. & from Rand refugees the
Imperial Light Infantry. The Times History list is not complete, as Doyles
(Australian) Scouts is not mentioned.

As well as the Medal Rolls the Public Record Office Kew apparently has
Records of Irregular forces in classes WO126 and WO127 (Enrolment
forms and nominal roles of the local armed forces, 1899-1902).

See also: Tracing Ancestors who fought:
http://www.mil.za/Magazines/SALUT/9how_to_trace_an_ancestor.htm

PS: Stirling's books "Our Regiments in South Africa 1899-1902" and
"The Colonials in South Africa" were published 1903 & 1904 Edinburgh,
and reprinted by the Naval & Military Press, 2001 & 2002). See:
http://www.naval-military-press.com

Yours, John Wilson (New Zealand)


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