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From: "Vaughan Holmes" <>
Subject: Re: Cape Mounted Rifles
Date: Sun, 14 May 2000 07:31:58 +0200


Hi,

You are probably correct. I was under the impression they had no shelter
and were not permitted to wear shoes - to discourage escaping. However, I
was merely speculating as my interest in the CMR does not extend much
beyond their activities on the Cape Frontier. It would be great if
everyone with a link to the CMR, or any of the old frontier units for that
matter, would leave that information on the rootsweb as a reference to
those of us who are trying to piece it all together. By other frontier
units I mean regulars and irregulars including the Tembuland Light Horse,
Transkeian Mounted Rifles, the FAMP, Fingo Levies, Umtata Mounted
Volunteers, etc. Photographs are an added bonus! There are other groups
within those groups that bear researching, such as the mounted rifle clubs
that were formed by officers and men in the various villages from which the
CMR enlistments were drawn, and then there are associations and clubs too.


Regards,

Vaughan

----------
> From: Doug & Pat Frykberg <>
> To:
> Subject: Re: Cape Mounted Rifles
> Date: 13 May 2000 08:59
>
> Would those CMR POWs not have been liberated by other South African
Forces
> when the Germans under Col V Francke surrendered to Gen Botha at Korab
in
> 1915?
> The German troops where then made POWs at a camp at Aus. My father was on
> the garrison there and the conditions weren't too bad. Escape was pretty
> near impossible owing not to strict guarding and barbed wire but to the
> almost waterless surroundings. I have maps of this camp and photos of the
> garrison.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vaughan Holmes <>
> To: <>
> Date: Sunday, 14 May 2000 02:24 AM
> Subject: Re: Cape Mounted Rifles
>
>
> >Hi,
> >
> >The role of the CMR in the First World War was so brief that I cannot
see
> >how they had time to ride camels in SWA. As far as I know, they were
> >mustered in King William's Town in early August 1914 to go to SWA and on
> >Saturday, 26 September 1914 they were defeated at the Battle of
> >Sandfontein. They spent the rest of the war as POWs in the most
atrocious
> >conditions in what is Ovamboland today.
> >
> >Regards,
> >
> >Vaughan
> >
> >
> >----------
> >> From: Sidney Allinson <>
> >> To:
> >> Subject: Re: Cape Mounted Rifles
> >> Date: 12 May 2000 11:58
> >>
> >> This is similar to the British Somaliland Camel Corps.
> >> I think one of their officers was awarded the VC.
> >> -- Sidney.
> >>
> >> At 06:13 AM 5/13/00 +1200, you wrote:
> >> >Well I dont know about the CMR on camels, but the German troops used
> >them
> >> >and so quite definitely did the South West Africa Police. My father
was
> >in
> >> >that Police Force from 1919 and I have several photos of his 'camel
> >corps'
> >> >going out on patrol.
> >> >
> >> > >I would like to know more about
> >> > >them, as I believe that some of them actually rode on camels. Is
that
> >so,
> >> >or
> >> > >have I been told
> >> > >a lot of stories?
> >> > >Regards
> >> > >Elize
> >> > >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
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