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Archiver > BOER-WAR > 2004-03 > 1080229461


From: Joan Lyons <>
Subject: Re: [BOER-WAR] Re: Imperial Light Horse etc
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2004 10:44:21 -0500
References: <20040325023836.73002.qmail@web80207.mail.yahoo.com> <623738EF-7E0A-11D8-9FF1-000A95ED33AE@earthlink.net> <008701c41239$e9b97da0$e5829aca@5336>
In-Reply-To: <008701c41239$e9b97da0$e5829aca@5336>


Dear John,
How can I ever thank you enough for the wealth of information you have
sent to me! You have truly enlightened me.
With the information on the "ILH" it sounds more possible all the time
that this might be his regiment. Reason being, he spent many years in
Africa as a "Shaft Master" in the gold mines. He could have easily
joined up in Africa. Now, just to find him!! Another interesting
thing about this most elusive grandfather was, he received the DCM yet
he appears on no list as ever having received it! Amazing!! When he
was killed in a ship collision in 1935, in his obit in the Liverpool
papers, and also on his headstone appears the letters, "DCM".
Newspaper states, "recipient of DCM". Strange, and I can't learn a
thing about his war record, regiment, or receiving this medal.

Thanks again John for such complete information. You have been most
helpful, and it is deeply appreciated.
Fondly,
Joan Stewart Lyons in the USA
On Mar 25, 2004, at 2:21 AM, John Wilson wrote:

> 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. There 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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