Marshall's Horse

Last updated

Marshall's Horse
Active1899 - 30 October 1902
CountryFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Branch British Army
TypeHorse Regiment
Nickname(s)de Lisle's Pets
Commanders
MajorGeorge Marshall
Lt ColRobert Edwin Corbett

Marshall's Horse was a South African cavalry unit formed in 1899 at the start of the Second Boer War to provide military support for the British campaign. The unit was created from the Uitenhage Rifles and 1st City (Grahamstown) Volunteers. They formed in Grahamstown, initially comprising 244 members before rising to 500 in late 1899. The unit's first commanding officer was Major George Marshall CMG. [1]

Contents

Chronology of Events: 1899

In 1899, William Philip Schreiner, Prime Minister of the Cape Colony, was engaged in a power struggle with its governor, Alfred Milner, regarding the extent to which South African colonial units should be deployed from their recruiting areas to support the wider British campaign. Consequently, Marshall's Horse were stationed in Grahamstown and patrolled the surrounding railway network until the last months of 1899 when Schreiner was forced to concede. [1] [2]

1900

In early 1900, under Ridley's 4th Mounted Infantry Brigade, the Unit joined the British advance from the Modder River to Bloemfontein. This march included the Battle of Poplar Grove on 7 March in which Lieutenant Freislich was killed. A few weeks later, the Unit participated in an action at Thaba Nchu under General Ian Hamilton an event related in Winston Churchill's Ian Hamilton's March. Churchill observed "...our loses in this smart action were about twenty killed and wounded, among whom were no less than 5 officers" of Marshall's Horse. [3] They also fought at Israel's Poort on 25 April 1900. Captain Gethin (pictured below) was killed that day. Marshall himself was wounded, to be replaced as Commanding Officer by Captain Corbett (Somersetshire Light Infantry). [4] Lord Roberts mentioned their performance in his dispatches.

In the march on Pretoria, "Marshall's Horse frequently took a prominent share of the work. On 5 June at Schippen's Farm, for example, they had 1 killed and 5 wounded. They were engaged at Doornkop, south-west of Johannesburg, on 29 May, and in the Battle of Diamond Hill, east of Pretoria, on 11th, 12th, and 13 June, and had slight casualties in both actions. In the latter part of August and during September Marshall's Horse was employed about Krugersdorp and in the Gatsrand, and frequently had fighting and rather heavy casualties." [5] On 5 September 1900, "around 5 kilometres north of Fochville" the Unit was engaged by Danie Theron. Four men were killed and three wounded while Theron is believed to have been killed by British artillery supporting Marshall's Horse. [6] From October to December they were with Barton in Frederickstad, and on 18 October a foraging party was attacked, 2 men being killed and 4 wounded. The Unit took part in fierce fighting under Barton from 20 to 25 October, resulting in the local defeat of the enemy. Marshall's Horse had Lieutenant Mullins and 2 men wounded. On 17 October 1900, as part of Major General Barton's column, six members of Marshall's Horse were cut off by Boers whilst collecting supplies near Frederickstad. For their campaigning in 1900 the men of Marshall's Horse gained the nickname "de Lisle's Pets". [4]

1901

In early 1901 Marshall's Horse returned to Cape Colony following renewed enemy attacks in that region. This included fighting in the Zuurberg Mountains during which Lieutenant Cliff Turpin was killed and six men wounded at Dorignspoort on 24 March. On 1 April 1901 The Melbourne Argus reported the incident as follows: "A disaster has befallen Marshall's Horse...a patrol of the corps was surrounded by an overwhelming Boer force...After the officer in charge had been killed and five men wounded, the others surrendered. The prisoners were deprived of their horses and arms by the Boers, and were released." [7] On 20 May 1901, Sergeant Claxton John Mason was killed in action in Steynsburg, Cape Colony. [8] Later in the year the Unit formed detachments in the Transvaal and Gatsrand respectively.

1902

In 1902 Marshall's Horse deployed to the west of Cape Colony. On 30 October 1902 the Unit was absorbed into the Cape Police.

Officers of Marshall's Horse, 1899. Back row of three: Lieut D G Tennant; Capt H B Capstick; Lieut F A Woodcock. Middle row, left: Lieut B L E Jay; Lieut J D Forbes. Middle row, right: Lieut S H Godwin; Lieut F H Nek; Capt H Gethin (killed in action). Front row of 6: Lieut G H Hull; Capt E G Booth; Hon Major H T Tamplin; Capt G Marshall (Officer Commanding); Capt & Adjt F A Saunders, Capt J R MacAndrew. Marshallshorseofficers.jpg
Officers of Marshall's Horse, 1899. Back row of three: Lieut D G Tennant; Capt H B Capstick; Lieut F A Woodcock. Middle row, left: Lieut B L E Jay; Lieut J D Forbes. Middle row, right: Lieut S H Godwin; Lieut F H Nek; Capt H Gethin (killed in action). Front row of 6: Lieut G H Hull; Capt E G Booth; Hon Major H T Tamplin; Capt G Marshall (Officer Commanding); Capt & Adjt F A Saunders, Capt J R MacAndrew.

Casualties

According to a memorial on the wall of St John the Baptist Church, Newport, Monmouthshire, 60 members of Marshall's Horse died during the Second Boer War. 30 in 1900, 14 in 1901 and 16 in 1902. [9]

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

Second Boer War British invasion of two Boer Republics between 1899–1902

The Second Boer War, also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics over the Empire's influence in Southern Africa from 1899 to 1902. Following the discovery of gold deposits in the Boer republics, there was a large influx of "foreigners", mostly British from the Cape Colony. They were not permitted to have a vote, and were regarded as "unwelcome visitors", invaders, and they protested to the British authorities in the Cape. Negotiations failed, and in the opening stages of the war the Boers launched successful attacks against British outposts, before being pushed back by imperial reinforcements. Though the British swiftly occupied the Boer republics, numerous Boers refused to accept defeat and engaged in guerrilla warfare. Eventually, British scorched earth policies, and the poor conditions suffered in concentration camps by Boer women and children who had been displaced by these policies, brought the remaining Boer guerillas to the negotiating table, ending the war.

James Rogers (Australian soldier) Recipient of the Victoria Cross

James Rogers, VC was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Rogers received his award for his actions at Thaba 'Nchu in Orange Free State on 15 June 1901 while serving in the South African Constabulary during the Second Boer War.

Walter Congreve British Army general and recipient of the Victoria Cross

General Sir Walter Norris Congreve,, was a British Army officer in the Second Boer War and the First World War, and Governor of Malta from 1924 to 1927. He received the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Frederic Brooks Dugdale Recipient of the Victoria Cross

Lieutenant Frederic Brooks Dugdale VC was an English British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Hampden Zane Churchill Cockburn Recipient of the Victoria Cross

Hampden Zane Churchill Cockburn was a Canadian soldier, and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Francis Aylmer Maxwell British Indian Army general and recipient of the Victoria Cross

Brigadier General Francis Aylmer Maxwell, was a British Army officer in the Second Boer War and First World War. He was also a recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Siege of Ladysmith Engagement in the Second Boer War (1899–1900)

The siege of Ladysmith was a protracted engagement in the Second Boer War, taking place between 2 November 1899 and 28 February 1900 at Ladysmith, Natal.

Imperial Yeomanry Military unit

The Imperial Yeomanry was a volunteer mounted force of the British Army that mainly saw action during the Second Boer War. Created on 2 January 1900, the force was initially recruited from the middle classes and traditional yeomanry sources, but subsequent contingents were more significantly working class in their composition. The existing yeomanry regiments contributed only a small proportion of the total Imperial Yeomanry establishment. In Ireland 120 men were recruited in February 1900. It was officially disbanded in 1908, with individual Yeomanry regiments incorporated into the new Territorial Force.

Johannesburg Light Horse Regiment Reserve unit of the South African Army

The Johannesburg Light Horse Regiment, is a reserve armoured car reconnaissance unit of the South African Army.

Charles Frederick Cox Australian politician

Major General Charles Frederick Cox, was an Australian Army officer and politician. He retired in 1923 as an honorary major general.

The Cape Colonial Forces (CCF) were the official defence organisation of the Cape Colony in South Africa. Established in 1855, they were taken over by the Union of South Africa in 1910, and disbanded when the Union Defence Forces were formed in 1912.

Edward Brabant

Major-General Sir Edward Yewd Brabant, was a British military commander in colonial South Africa. He served in the 9th Xhosa War (1877–1878), First Matabele War (1893–1894), and other campaigns. During the Second Boer War (1899–1902), he commanded the Colonial Division in 1900, and the Colonial Defence Force of Cape Colony in 1901.

Queens South Africa Medal Award

The Queen's South Africa Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to British and Colonial military personnel, and to civilians employed in an official capacity, who served in the Second Boer War in South Africa. Altogether twenty-six clasps were awarded, to indicate participation in particular actions and campaigns.

Andrew Marshall Porter was an Irish barrister who was killed in the Second Boer War while fighting for the Imperial Yeomanry. He was also a noted sportsman, representing Ireland at both cricket and field hockey.

Henry Jenner Scobell

Major-General Sir Henry Jenner "Harry" Scobell, KCVO, CB was a British military leader who served as the last officer in command of Cape Colony before the formation of the Union of South Africa.

Military history of Australia during the Second Boer War

The military history of Australia during the Boer War is complex, and includes a period of history in which the six formerly autonomous British Australian colonies federated to become the Commonwealth of Australia. At the outbreak of the Second Boer War, each of these separate colonies maintained their own, independent military forces, but by the cessation of hostilities, these six armies had come under a centralised command to form the Australian Army.

The Cape Mounted Police was the principal law enforcement agency of the Cape Colony during its last three decades. In addition to its ordinary policing duties, it was a para-military organisation, which saw active service in several campaigns and operations, including the Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902). The force was fully militarised in 1913 and transferred to the new South African Army as a mounted rifle regiment.

South Australian Mounted Rifles Military unit

The South Australian Mounted Rifles (SAMR) was a mounted infantry unit of the Colony of South Australia that served in the Second Boer War. The first contingent of South Australian Mounted Rifles was raised in 1899, followed by a second contingent in 1900.

The South Australian Bushmen was a mounted infantry squadron of the Colony of South Australia that served in the Second Boer War, the third contingent contributed by the colony.

Andries Gerhardus de Wet was a South African soldier and founder of the Vrykorps in German South West Africa which tried to overthrow the British-aligned government of the Union of South Africa to establish German rule.

References

  1. 1 2 J. Stirling (1907). The Colonials in South Africa: 1899-1902. Blackwood. p. 143.
  2. H. Shearing (2004). The Cape Rebel of the South African War, 1899-1902, PhD thesis, Stellenbosch, pp. 26–28.
  3. W. Churchill (2002). "The Boer War". London: Random House, p. 265.
  4. 1 2 The Sphere (1902). Marshall's Horse, London Illustrated Newspapers, p. 96.
  5. Stirling, pp. 145–146.
  6. C. Schoeman (2011). "Brothers in Arms". Cape Town: Zebra.
  7. The Melbourne Argus (1 April 1901), The Cape Raiders: A British Patrol Captured.
  8. See memorial in St Mary the Virgin Church, Beachamwell, England.
  9. V. Parkhouse (2015). "Memorializing the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902: Militarization of the Landscape: Monuments and Memorials in Britain". Croydon: Troubador, p. 20.