Note 308 — Chapter XV · THE FIRST BATTALION. 1900-1902. SOUTH AFRICA (continued). SLABBERT’S NEK: THE BRANDWATER BASIN: BERGENDAL: MONUMENT HILL: LYDENBURG: THE MOUNTED INFANTRY OF THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT.

In Hamilton’s Force were soldiers from all parts of the British Empire. The Divisional troops were Brabant’s Horse (South African volunteers); two batteries of Royal Field artillery; four guns of a Canadian volunteer battery; the “Elswick battery,” manned by artisans, volunteers from the north of England; two 5-in. guns, and a section of pom-poms.

Mahon’s Force was composed of a battery of Royal Horse artillery; a section of pom-poms; the Imperial Light Horse (South African volunteers); Lumsden’s Horse (volunteers from India, largely recruited from planters in Behar); a battalion of Imperial Yeomanry (volunteers from the Old Country); a squadron of Hussars, and mounted volunteers from Queensland and New Zealand.

Infantry brigades—Smith-Dorrien’s: the first battalions of the Royal Scots, Royal Irish, and Gordon Highlanders, and the mounted infantry of the City Imperial volunteers; Cunningham’s: 1st battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 2nd battalion Royal Berkshire regiment, 1st battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

The Engineers, Ammunition and Supply Park, Hospitals, and Bearer Companies were all supplied by the regular army.

The strength of Smith-Dorrien’s Infantry units was as follows:—

Fit for duty.

At headquarters.On detachment.Sick at headquarters or on detachment.Total.

1st Royal Scots1206 611211388

1st Royal Irish 8682391991306

1st Gordon Highlanders 7412361531130