APPENDICES

APPENDIX I
ROLL OF LUMSDEN’S HORSE, INCLUDING TRANSPORT

RankNameOccupation and Address
OFFICERS
Lieut.-ColonelDugald Mactavish Lumsden (Commandant)Gentleman, Oriental Club, Hanover Square, London
MajorEden C. ShowersTea Planter, Surma Valley
CaptainNeville C. Taylor (Adjutant)14th Bengal Lancers, Allahabad
James Hugh Brownlow Beresford3rd Sikhs
John Brownley RutherfoordIndigo Planter, Behar
Louis Hemington NoblettRoyal Irish Rifles, Calcutta
Henry Chamney[[A]]Tea Planter, Surma Valley
Frank CliffordCoffee Planter, Mysore
Samuel Arthur PowellMedical Officer, Cachar
Bernard Willoughby HolmesMedical Officer, E.I. Railway
Veterinary CaptainWilliam StevensonVeterinary Surgeon, Rangoon
LieutenantGeorge Augustus NevilleTea Planter, Assam
Charles Edward CraneIndigo Planter, Behar
Charles Lyon Sidey[[A]]Tea Planter, Assam
Herbert Owain PughJute Broker, Calcutta
A COMPANY
No. 1 Section
Company Quartermaster-
Sergeant
James Brennan[[A]]York and Lancaster Regiment, Agra
Farrier-SergeantWilliam Marshall54th Battery, R.F.A., Meerut
SergeantHerbert James FoxAssistant Manager, Dumraon Raj, Shahabad District
CorporalPercy JonesIndigo Planter, Benipore Concern, Sakri, Durbunga
Herbert Wheeler MarshamIndigo Planter, Motihari Concern, Motihari, Chumparan
Lance-CorporalHugh F. BlairIndigo Planter, Lalouria Concern, Bettiah, Chumparan
TrooperJohn Alexander IrwinIndigo Planter, Dhroomra Concern, Mozufferpore, Tirhoot District
Arthur John Hampton NicholsonIndigo Planter, Thurma Concern, Sitamari, Tirhoot District
Hector Rupert KellyIndigo Planter, Bhagulpore
Leonard Kars ZorabIndigo Planter, Bhagulpore
John Stewart CampbellIndigo Planter, Sunyat Concern, Mozufferpore, Tirhoot District
Claud Leonard BellIndigo Planter, Sunyat Concern, Mozufferpore, Tirhoot District
John Alexander BrownIndigo Planter, Jeetwarpore Concern, Durbunga
George Maxwell SmithIndigo Planter, Begum Sarai Concern, Durbunga
Charles Reginald MacdonaldIndigo Planter, Dowlutpore Concern, Durbunga[Durbunga]
George Patrick Osborn SpringfieldIndigo Planter, Singhea Concern, Hajipore, Tirhoot
John Alexander FraserIndigo Planter, Mozufferpore, Tirhoot
D.C. Percy SmithAssistant Superintendent of Police, Dinapore
E. Harry GoughIndigo Planter, Suddowat Concern, Sewan, Saran
Robert G. CollinsIndigo Planter, Singhea Concern, Hajipore, Tirhoot
Bruce Macgregor AllanIndigo Planter, Begum Sarai Concern, Durbunga
John HenryIndigo Planter, Turcouleah Concern, Chumparan
Osborne AldisIndigo Planter, Dulsing Sarai[Sarai], Durbunga
Henry George NewtonIndigo Planter, Jaintpore Concern, Mozufferpore
Robert Pheydell HainesIndigo Planter, Mortipore Concern, Mozufferpore
Frederick William Charles LawrieIndigo Planter, Kahunia Concern, Gorukhpore
Allan Henry BuskinIndigo Planter, Dooriah Concern, Mozufferpore
No. 2 Section
Regimental Sergt.-MajorCyril Montagu Charles MarshamIndigo Planter, Serryah Concern, Mozufferpore
SergeantFrancis Stewart McNamara[[A]]Indigo Planter, Burhoulie Concern, Sewan, Saran
CorporalGeorge Elliott Pollnitz LlewhellinIndigo Planter, Burhoga Concern, Saran
Signr. Lance-CorporalWilliam LeeYork and Lancaster Regiment, Agra
Lance-CorporalArthur Helme FirthIndigo Planter, Kanti Cour Concern, Mozufferpore, Tirhoot
Angus MacgillivrayIndigo Planter, Sohazra Concern, Sewan, Saran
SaddlerRichard James Lance3rd (K.O.) Hussars, Lucknow
TrooperR.J. Clayton DaubneyIndigo Planter, Belsund Concern, Durbunga
Selwyn Long-InnesIndigo Planter, Peeprah Concern, Motihari, Chumparan
Howard Herbert Julian Hickley[[A]]Indigo Planter, Bhicanpore Concern, Mozufferpore, Tirhoot
Leslie Gwatkin WilliamsIndigo Planter, Rajkund Concern, Mozufferpore, Tirhoot
Burton Disney Rutherfoord[[A]]Indigo Planter, Peeprah Concern, Motihari, Chumparan
Charles Bertram H. MansfieldIndigo Planter, Ramcollah Concern, Saran
Philip StanleyIndigo Planter, Bhamoo Concern, Saran, Chupra
Harry C. LumsdenIndigo Planter, Chuckhea Concern, Sewan, Saran
Norman James Vaughan ReidIndigo Planter, Moniarah Concern, Gopalgunje, Saran
Spencer Cochrane GordonIndigo Planter, Matihari Concern, Motihari, Chumparan
Christie West FletcherIndigo Planter, Dholi Concern, Mozufferpore, Tirhoot
William Gordon WatsonIndigo Planter, Mozufferpore, Tirhoot
George Innes WatsonIndigo Planter, Chitwarrah Concern, Mozufferpore, Tirhoot
Reginald N. MacdonaldIndigo Planter, Jogapore Concern, Sewan, Saran
Percy StrahanIndigo Planter, Dulsing Sarai Concern, Durbunga
John Pringle KennedyIndigo Planter, Munjoul Concern, Monghyr
Gilbert Denis NicolayIndigo Planter, Durbunga
Cecil W. JohnIndigo Planter, Peeprah Concern, Motihari, Chumparan
Cyril Darcy Vivian Cary-BarnardIndigo Planter, Mozufferpore, Tirhoot
R. Upton CaseIndigo Planter, Chumparan
Julian Victor JamesonIndigo Planter, Ottur Concern, Mozufferpore, Tirhoot
Knyvett BoileauIndigo Planter, Chitwarrah Concern, Mozufferpore, Tirhoot
No. 3 Section
SergeantWalter Larkins WalkerTea Planter, Doom Dooma T.E., Assam
Vety. Lance-SergeantJames Lee StewartCoffee Planter, Thollol Coffee Estate, Beber, Mysore
Paymaster-SergeantDavid Stewart FraserAssistant, Bank of Bengal, Agra
Lance-SergeantJames Stemhurst ElliottTea Planter, Assam Company, Towkok Nazira, Assam
Lance-CorporalArthur Collier WalkerTea Planter, Doom Dooma T.E., Assam
Denis J. KeatingAssistant, Calcutta Port Trust
SignallerArthur Thomas Hayward3rd Hussars, Lucknow
TrooperGeorge E. KennyTea Planter, Doom Dooma T.E., Assam
Arthur Leigh Godden[[A]]Assistant, Messrs. Kilburn & Co., Calcutta
Edward Nugent BankesTea Planter, Majuli Tea Co., Ltd., Behali, Darrang, Assam
Henry Cecil Charleton BennettTea Planter, Darjeeling
Arnold Daniell RadfordGentleman, Rose Cottage, Sonada, Darjeeling
Arthur Noel WoodsTea Planter, Surmah Valley T.E., South Sylhet
Lionel Hugh BellTea Planter, Badlipar, Sibsagar
Arthur Henry Luard[[A]]Tea Planter, Kingsley Golaghat Tea Co., Jorhat, Assam
Clarence A. WaltonTea Planter, Badlipar, Golaghat, Assam
Hugh Stanley CheshireEngineer, Assam-Bengal Railway, Hathikhola
Bertie Edward JonesTea Planter, Singh Tea Co., Jaboka, Sibsagar
Herbert Pearce BrownTea Planter, Khonjea T.E., Rajmai, Sibsagar
Charles Edward StuartTea Planter, Assam
John W.A. SkeltonTea Planter, Salonah Tea Co., Ltd., Nowgong, Assam
Rupert Henry MackenzieTea Planter, Hattigor T.E., Mungledai, Assam
Edward Bayley Hadden ParkesTea Planter, Doolapudung, Assam
Johan Gottfried PetersenAssistant, R.S.N. Co., Ltd., Garden Reach, Calcutta
John Stratford SaundersTea Planter, Jorhat Tea Co., Ltd., Nimaligarh, Sibsagar
John Francis HughesTea Planter, Amalgamated Tea Estate, Dibrugarh, Assam
Frank TancredGentleman, Lahore
Bertie Rhys Lloyd JonesSurvey Department, Lahore
No. 4 Section
Company Sergeant-MajorEdgar Hall MansfieldAssistant Examiner, Milty. Accts. Dept., Punjab Command, Lahore
SergeantRobert Septimus StowellBrewer, Messrs. Meakin & Co., Kirkee
CorporalGeorge LawriePhotographer, Lucknow
Lance-CorporalWilliam Solomon LemonTravelling Agent, Calcutta
Edward James BallardPlanter, Peshawar
TrooperCharles Frederick HayesClerk, Calcutta
Ernest Phillip SandersTravelling Agent, Calcutta
Ernest Stanley CliffordGentleman, Delhi
John David William Holmes
Harry Warren PuckridgeBangalore
Arthur Edward ConsterdineInspector of Police
Donald Robert Graham GlascockPlanter, Palumpur
Frederick Charles Warren Mercer
John Haviland Sperrin Richardson
Isambard Clarke Webbe
Frederick Maurice CliffordExtra Assist. Commissioner, Delhi
James Sydney CowenAgent to the Amir of Afghanistan, Peshawar
Hubert Noel ShawPlanter, Palumpur
Wilfred Herbert HolmePlanter, Palumpur
Arthur Patrick CourtenayGentleman, Umballa
Charles Henry Mortimer JohnstoneGentleman, Kalka
Charles Hilliard DonaldAssistant, Messrs. Spedding & Co., Kashmir
Hugh Stopford Northcote WrightPlague Department, Secunderabad, Deccan
Frank Graham BatemanPlanter, Mysore
Frederick Wilford WrightAssistant, N.G.S. Railway, Secunderabad
Alexander AtkinsonGentleman, Lahore
John Daly Lecky ArathoonAssistant, Alliance Bank of Simla, Calcutta
MAXIM-GUN DETACHMENT
SergeantEphraim Robert DaleContractor, Jubbulpore, C.P.
TrooperPatrick Terence CorbettLoco. Dept., E.I. Railway, Jamalpore
Ivan Victor G. DowdLoco. Dept., E.I. Railway, Jamalpore
Noel Jocelyn BolstLoco. Dept., E.I. Railway, Asansol
Charles Vivian Scott DickensLoco. Dept., E.I. Railway Jamalpore
John Joseph Booth[[A]]Traffic Dept., E.I. Railway, Howrah (formerly Royal Artillery)
B COMPANY
No. 1 Section
SergeantGerald Edward Pierson ThesigerTea Planter, Tarapore Tea Co., Cachar
CorporalWilliam Townsend SmithTea Planter, Tarapore Tea Co., Cachar
Edward A. ChartresDoctor, Ballacherra T.E., Cachar
Lance-CorporalJohn MaclaineTea Planter, Hatticherra T.E., Cachar
BuglerHugh Kirkwood F.A.H. DawsonCustom House Officer, Calcutta
TrooperCharles Alexander ForbesTea Planter, Vernerpore T.E., Hailakandi, Cachar
Cecil Wilfred SpicerTea Planter, Alyne T.E., Lukipore, Cachar
William ReidTea Planter, Chargola T.E., Sylhet
William Edward Clifford JohnsonTea Planter, Pathemara T.E., Cachar
Ian George SinclairTea Planter, Kalline T.E., Cachar
Walter Reginald WinderTea Planter, Bhuberighat T.E., Sylhet
Archibald William HarrisonTea Planter, Coombirgram T.E., Cachar
James Henry Archibald Burn-MurdochTea Planter, Dullabcherra T.E., Sylhet
Ernest Adair ThelwallTea Planter, Lungla Tea Co., Sylhet
Stanley DucatTea Planter, Chargola Tea Co., Sylhet
James Whyte Stevenson[[A]]Tea Planter, Hattikhira T.E.,Sylhet
Arthur Philip WoollrightMedical Officer, Assam Bengal Railway
Frederick Vivian ClerkEngineer, Assam-Bengal Railway
Richard Tait InnesTea Planter, Chandypore T.E., Hailakandi, Cachar
Arthur Ruthven ThorntonJournalist, Calcutta
Malcolm Hunter LoganEngineer, Assam-Bengal Railway
Robert Brooke LungleyTea Planter, Deundi T.E., South Sylhet
Herbert Wallace ThelwallTea Planter, Dooars
Edmond Stewart ChapmanTea Planter, Rema T.E., South Sylhet
Rawdon Graham HunterTea Planter, Ballacherra T.E., Cachar
Alexander LytleTea Planter, Alyne T.E., Cachar
Edward B. Moir-ByresTea Planter, Tarrapore Tea Co., Cachar
Bernard Charles AlbertTea Planter, Silcaorie T.E., Cachar
Philip PartridgeTea Planter, Silcaorie T.E., Cachar
William TurnbullTea Planter, Pathecherra, T.E., Cachar
Oliver Charles John Stevenson-HamiltonTea Planter, Jalinga T.E., Cachar
Harvey DaviesTea Planter, South Sylhet
No. 2 Section
Company Sergeant-MajorWilliam Burrell Hewitt[[A]]Royal Irish Rifles, Calcutta
SergeantWalter Arnold ConduitAssistant Engineer, B.N. Railway
Lance-SergeantPhilip Bunbury WarburtonAssistant, Bank of Bengal, Calcutta
Farrier-SergeantFrederick Edwards15th Hussars, Meerut
CorporalFrancis Stuart Montagu BatesMerchant, Rangoon
Lance-CorporalCharles Maclean JackAssistant, Messrs. Shaw, Wallace, & Co., Calcutta
Graham Peddie[[A]]Assistant District Traffic Superintendent, E.I. Railway
SaddlerHenry Briggs15th Hussars, Meerut
TrooperHarry HowesSuperintendent, Rangoon Boat Club
TrooperLewis Hills CubittBroker, Calcutta
Herbert Nicholson BettsJute Broker, Calcutta
Walter Douglas JonesMerchant, Calcutta
William Burton ElwesIndo-European Telegraphs, Madras
Charles Edward TurnerAssistant, Messrs. Bullock Brothers, Rangoon
Thomas Brinsley NicholsonCoffee Planter, Yercand
Phillip Chamberlayne PrestonIndigo Planter, Purneah
Harry Bright OldhamTea Planter
George Alfred GowenlockTea Planter, Darjeeling
Eian Ingram LockhartIndigo Planter, Behar
Reginald William Royds BirchIndigo Planter, Purneah
Alfred Frederick FranksAssistant Engineer, B.-N. Railway
Morris William CliffordP.W.D. Accounts, Lahore
Cecil Grant HuddlestonMining Engineer, Hyderabad State
John Graves[[A]]Assistant, Bank of Bengal, Hyderabad
Alfred Holberton FrancisAssistant, Messrs. Thos. Cook & Sons, Rangoon
Charles Henry McMinnN.W.P. Police
William Harold NicolayN.W.P. Police
Harry Baden PowisTutor, Simla
Harold CooperAssistant Engineer, East Coast Railway
Henry Dawson WereGentleman, Broadclyst, S. Devon
No. 3 Section
SergeantHarry Alexander CampbellCoffee Planter, Natroeull Estate, Koppa, Kadur Dist.
CorporalLionel Edward KirwanCoffee Planter, Santaweri Estate, Birur, Kadur Dist.
Lance-CorporalGeorge HorneCoffee Planter, Bykarhully Estate, Sakluspur, Hassan Dist.
Talbot CoxCoffee Planter, Santi Kappa Estate, North Coorg
TrooperBernard CayleyCoffee Planter, Honpet Estate, Santaweri, Birur, Kadur Dist.
Lionel KingchurchCoffee Planter, Balihonur Estate, Kadur Dist.
Francis Bere FollettCoffee Planter, Bynekhan Estate, Chickamagloor, Kadur Dist.
Henry Percy CobbCoffee Planter, Arabedicool Estate, Chickamagloor, Kadur Dist.
James Charles Dent BewsherCoffee Planter, Bynekhan Estate, Chickamagloor, Kadur Dist.
Arthur Ernest NortonCoffee Planter, Santaweri Estate, Birur, Kadur Dist.
Thomas Edward Marmaduke LawsonIndigo Broker, Madras
Montagu Beadon FollettCoffee Planter, Nungangode Estate, Mysore
Crosbie Charles HarveyCoffee Planter, Davekhan Estate, Koppa, Kadur Dist.
TrooperHugh AllardiceCoffee Planter, Burgode Estate, Chickamagloor, Kadur Dist.
Melville Seymour BiscoeCoffee Planter, Chickolly Estate, Chickamagloor, Kadur Dist.
Herbert Cecil WoodCoffee Planter, Mercara, North Coorg
Thomas Lawrence DaltonCoffee Planter, Huntrey Estate, Shanwara Santi, Mungerabad
John Arthur GrahamCoffee Planter, Halari Estate, Mercara, North Coorg
Claude Kennedy MartinCoffee Planter, Palamado Estate, Mercara, North Coorg
Lewis Collingwood BearneCoffee Planter, Pollibetta Estate, South Coorg
Rex Johnston SmithCoffee Planter, Pollibetta Estate, South Coorg
Herbert EvettsCoffee Planter, Murguddi, Sullibile, Kadur Dist.
Claude Francis WaltonPolice Inspector, Mysore Service, Mudigiri, Kadur Dist.
David Onslow AllardiceCoffee Planter, Gubcull Estate, Mudigiri, Kadur Dist.
Seymour SladdenCoffee Planter, Badni Estate, Sudaspore, Hassan Dist.
Ernest Alfred Sydenham ClarkeCoffee Planter, Hitherhulli Estate, Shanwara Santi, Mungerabad
Charles ElseeCoffee Planter, Shanwara Santi, Mungerabad, Hassan Dist.
Divie RobertsonCoffee Planter, Kerke Coondah Estate, Sullibile, Kadur Dist.
Francis Hannay CunninghamCoffee Planter, Could Hilton Estate, Koppa, Kadur Dist.
No. 4 Section
SergeantErnest DawsonUncovenanted Civil Service, Pagan, Burmah
Vety.-SergeantLewis Joseph Orland OakleySuperintendent of Stables, Maharajah of Cooch-Behar
Frank Deccan Sheriff MitchellTea Planter, Eastern Assam Co., Balijan
Sig.-SergeantAlbert John LongmanSergeant Signaller, 3rd Hussars, Lucknow
CorporalAlick Cyril Pratt[[A]]D.I.S., B. & N.W. Railway, Somastipore
Lance-CorporalArthur D. ButlerAssistant, Messrs. Oakes & Co., Madras
Albert Hedley Jackman[[A]]Traveller, Messrs. Wrenn, Bennett & Co., Madras
SignallerWilliam Lowe3rd Hussars, Lucknow
Shoeing-SmithOsborne Reginald CuthbertShoeing Smith, 15th Hussars, Meerut
TrooperWilliam Kilner BrownAssistant, Audit Office, E.I. Railway, Calcutta
Herbert James MoorhouseP.O. Department, Bangalore
John Boyd JohnstonAssistant, Planters’ Stores and Agency Co., Ltd., Calcutta
Charles W. MaxwellAssistant, Messrs. William Watson & Co., Calcutta
Hugh James RennyTea Planter, Jalpaiguri
George Augustus Phillips[[A]]Secretary, Rampur Raj, Rampur, N.W.P.
David Liddell Livingstone2nd Officer, B.I.S.N. Co., Calcutta
James MooreCawnpore Woollen Mills, Cawnpore, N.W.P.
William Walter HightCoffee Planter, Valakadai Peak Estate[Estate],Yercand, Salem
Edward John BurgessAssistant to the Secretary, Government of India, Home Dept.
Robert Pennington WilliamsChief Officer, B.I.S.N. Co., Calcutta
Richard Grant DaggeCaptain, B.I.S.N. Co., Calcutta
Arthur King MearesGentleman, Ranchi, Chota Nagpur
Willie King MearesGentleman, Ranchi, Chota Nagpur
Walter Ernest DexterChief Officer, Hajee Cassim Line of Steamers, Bombay
Sydney Ward Circuitt LucasJute Merchant, Pubna, Lower Bengal
Harry Rufus ParksAsiatic Steam Navigation Co., Calcutta
Robert Charles NolanMounted Police, Calcutta
Joseph Seymour BiscoeSalt Revenue Dept., Northern Frontier, Singum
John Lewis BehanJournalist, Calcutta
Douglas MorisonTea Planter, Assam
Harry McGregorEngineer, B.I.S.N. Co., Calcutta
A COMPANY TRANSPORT
SergeantFred. StephensIndian Commissariat Transport Department, Howrah
DriverGeorge Edward WilkinsonClerk, Medical College Hospital, Calcutta
Sydney Graham NightingaleClerk, B.I.S.N. Company
Leo. DavisTea Planter, Darjeeling
Herbert Gregory PhillipsClerk, B.I.S.N. Company
Douglas DalyFoot Police, Calcutta
Richard Arthur GrenvilleFoot Police, Calcutta
Percy William PryceAssistant, Messrs. Peliti & Co., Calcutta
Percy Harrington PaxtonCustom House Officer, Calcutta
Frederick Charles ManvilleCustom House Officer, Calcutta
Richard Parker EstabrookeAssistant, Grand Hotel, Darjeeling
George Johnston ShawGuard, E.I. Railway, Jamalpore
Edmond John PowerTravelling Agent, Messrs. Phelps & Co., Calcutta
John Charles[[A]]Rice Broker, Rangoon
Trewren Hare ScottRawalpindi
George William HarrisonGuard, E.I. Railway, Calcutta
John Canute DoyleReporter, ‘Englishman,’ Calcutta
DriverGeorge William PalmerGentleman, Calcutta
William G. ArthurtonAssistant, Messrs. Whiteaway, Laidlaw, & Co., Calcutta
Lionel WillisTheatrical Agent, Calcutta
John Frederick RicheyAudit Department, E.I. Railway, Jamalpore
Patrick W. AndersonAssistant, Great Eastern Hotel, Calcutta
William Edward HarrisClerk, E.I. Railway, Calcutta
Charles William LovegroveAssistant, Messrs. Whiteaway, Laidlaw, & Co., Calcutta
Leo Horatio BradfordAssistant, Messrs. Ball, Mudie, & Co., Lahore
Sherbrook William CullenAssistant, Messrs. Harman & Co., Calcutta
William BurnandClerk, E.I. Railway, Jamalpore
B COMPANY TRANSPORT
DriverJohn James CampbellAssistant Tea Planter, Dibrugarh, Assam
Alfred MorrisAssistant, Adelphi Hotel, Calcutta
William B. BrownEngineer, B.I.S.N. Co.
John Francis E. MorleyAssistant Tea Planter, Kandie, Ceylon
Francis Campbell ThompsonClerk, E.I. Railway, Calcutta
Walter Henry WheelerManager, Charing Cross Hotel, Lahore
Harry Archibald CampbellAssistant, Messrs. Davis, Leech, & Co., Calcutta
Albert MartinCustom House Officer, Calcutta
Ernest Henry WallerCoffee Planter
Henry Tomlinson SmithTravelling Agent, Great Eastern Hotel, Calcutta
Harry Richard RiceClerk, Custom House, Calcutta
George GoodliffeVeterinary Surgeon, Messrs. Brown & Co., Calcutta
Richard Millett CruxMilitary Accounts Office, Lahore
Sydney Herbert BradfordAssistant, Messrs. Ball, Mudie, & Co., Lahore
Stephen Harry KearseyMilitary Accounts Office, Lahore
Edward AdlamRailway Coolie Contractor, Lahore
Ormond Edward FitzgeraldTea Planter, Kangra Valley
Henry William FullerCoffee Planter
William RustAgent for the Maharajah of Nepal, Calcutta
John BraineTea Planter, Gauhati, Assam
Robert Wallace HydeAssistant, Bristol Hotel, Calcutta
Harry MacgregorEngineer, B.I.S.N. Co., Wellington, New Zealand
Richard PringleClerk, Custom House, Calcutta
Fred Leslie LowtherClerk, Custom House, Calcutta
Patrick William BanksGuard, E.I. Railway, Jamalpore
Robert Henry BaldwinCustom House Officer, Calcutta

[A]. Subsequently promoted.

APPENDIX II
MOBILISATION SECTION, ARMY HEADQUARTERS

Dated Fort William, January 1900

Scheme for the despatch of Two Companies Mounted Volunteers

to South Africa

Her Majesty’s Government having accepted the offer of the Government of India to provide a force of Mounted Volunteers for service in South Africa, two companies of Mounted Infantry, to be called ‘The Indian Mounted Infantry Corps (Lumsden’s Horse),’ will be raised immediately at Calcutta under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel D. McT. Lumsden, of the Volunteer Force of India, Supernumerary List, Assam Valley Light Horse.

Terms of Enlistment.—The term of enlistment for officers and men will be for one year, or for not less than the period of the war.

All members of the force will be entitled to free passages to India on discharge or completion of engagement.

Preference will be given to Volunteers from Mounted Volunteer corps, but Volunteers belonging to Infantry corps who may possess the requisite qualifications will also be eligible.

Qualifications.—Candidates must be from twenty to forty years of age and of good character. Infantry Volunteers must show that they are good riders.

All candidates must obtain a medical certificate of fitness for active service. Civil surgeons will be asked to examine free of charge all candidates applying for enlistment.

Pay.—The pay and allowances for officers and men will be at British Cavalry rates from date of enlistment.

Allowances.—Particulars regarding wound pensions, gratuities, and family pensions will be given later.

Rations.—All ranks will receive rations as for British soldiers from date of joining.

Organisation.Establishment.—The corps will be organised in two companies as under:

OfficersSergeantsArtificersBuglersR.&F.Total
Staff—
Lieutenant-Colonel1 1
Second in Command1 1
Adjutant and Quartermaster1[[B]]1
Medical Officer1 1
Quartermaster- Sergeant1[[B]]1
Total4 1 5
Detail of one Company—
Major (or Captain)1[[B]]1
Captain or Subalterns4 4
Company Sergeant-Major1[[B]]1
Company Quartermaster-
Sergeant1[[B]]1
Sergeants4 4
Farrier-Sergeant1[[B]]1
Shoeing-Smiths2[[C]]2
Saddlers1 1
Signallers1 12
Buglers2[[C]]2
Rank and File104104
Total of one Company5 8 3 2 105123
Total of two Companies10 16 6 4 210246
Total of Staff4 1 5
Grand Total of Unit14 17 6 4210251
HorsesPonies or MulesPrivate Followers
Staff—
Lieutenant-Colonel2 3
Second in Command2 3
Adjutant and Quartermaster2 3
Medical Officer2 3
Quartermaster- Sergeant1
Total9 12
Detail of one Company—
Major (or Captain)2 3
Captain or Subalterns8 12
Company Sergeant-Major1
Company Quartermaster-
Sergeant1
Sergeants4
Farrier-Sergeant1
Shoeing-Smiths2
Saddlers1
Signallers2
Buglers2
Rank and File104
Total of one Company128 15
Total of two Companies256 30
Total of Staff9 12
Grand Total of Unit265 42

[B]. From Regular Army.

[C]. One from Regular Army, the other a Volunteer.

The following officers, non-commissioned officers, and men will be drawn from the Regular Army:

Adjutant and Quartermaster1
Company Commanders (Majors or Captains)2
Total Officers3
Quartermaster-Sergeant1
Company Sergeant-Majors2
Company Quartermaster-Sergeants2
Farrier-Sergeants2
Shoeing-Smiths2
Saddlers2
Signallers4
Buglers2
Total17

The force will be equipped and trained as Mounted Infantry.

Officers will be equipped and armed as far as possible like the men.

Officers and men will provide their own horses.

Officers’ Servants.—Officers will be allowed one personal native servant each and one syce for each charger. Total, three native servants per officer.

Ordnance Department.—Arms, ammunition, accoutrements, and equipment will be issued free by the Ordnance Department according to the scales given.

Officers and men will be armed with ·303 rifles and bayonets.

All members of Volunteer corps of Light Horse or Mounted Rifles joining the corps may, if they so wish it, bring with them the saddlery and equipment issued to them in their present corps.

Saddlery and camp equipment, according to the scales given, will be supplied under regimental arrangements. If required the Ordnance Department will supply saddlery and camp equipment on payment.

The Ordnance Department will supply free transport saddlery and draught harness according to scale given.

Line gear including one knee halter per horse will be provided free by the Ordnance Department.

Two horse loads of entrenching tools as for a British Cavalry regiment, together with complete equipment of saddlery, bridles, and entrenching tool bags for two horses, will be provided free by Ordnance Department.

Artificers’ tools and stores and miscellaneous stores, including two light forges for pack saddles, will be issued free by Ordnance Department.

Signalling.—Signalling equipment will be issued free on the field service scale for a British Cavalry regiment.

Ammunition.—Small-arm ammunition will be issued at the rate of 650 rounds per rifle, calculated according to the following scale:

On soldier100roundsper rifles
1st Reserve (34 boxes)132
2nd ” (Ammunition Column and Park)268
Practice ammunition150

Mark II. ·303 ammunition only will be taken for use in South Africa. The practice ammunition may be black powder ammunition.

Revolver ammunition will be issued at the rate of 150 rounds per officer’s revolver calculated as under:

On person24roundsper revolver
1st Reserve26
2nd ” (Ammunition Column and Park)50
Practice ammunition50
Total150

Two boxes of revolver ammunition will be carried with the 1st reserve rifle ammunition. All the above ammunition will be issued at Calcutta.

The 2nd reserve of rifle and revolver ammunition will on arrival of the corps in South Africa be handed over to the Ordnance Department as may be directed by the local military authorities.

Cooking Utensils.—Cooking utensils will be provided free by the Commissariat Department if required—viz., five sets of three oval camp kettles (with one gridiron, chopper, and ladle for each kettle) per company; one set weighs 39½ lb.

Transport.—Transport mules or ponies will be provided by the corps for 1st reserve ammunition, medical equipment and signalling equipment. These animals should be trained to draught or pack work. Army transport carts as required will be provided free by the Commissariat Department.

Clothing.—Sea kit, as prescribed for the Cape Route in Army Regulations, India, Volume V., Article 2166 (but without mattresses), will be issued free to all non-commissioned officers and men by the Commissariat Transport Department.

Clothing will be provided under regimental arrangements, but field service and other clothing as required will be issued on payment indent by the Commissariat Transport Department.

Supplies.—(a) Thirty days’ sea rations for men and animals will be placed on the transport by the Commissariat Department.

(b) In addition to the above sea rations, three months’ rations for men and one month’s crushed gram and compressed hay for animals will be provided and shipped by the Commissariat Department.

(c) Supplies will be packed in one-maund packages and in waterproof bags where necessary.

Veterinary.—The Principal Veterinary Officer in India will arrange for the veterinary inspection of horses before embarkation and for the necessary veterinary arrangements for the voyage. The corps will be provided free with two field veterinary chests and two veterinary wallets.

Medical.—The Principal Medical Officer of her Majesty’s Forces in India will issue orders for the necessary medical arrangements for the voyage. The corps will be provided free with medical equipment as for a British Cavalry regiment on field service, except that two field stretchers and four blanket stretchers will be provided.

Office Stationery.—The Superintendent Government Stationery will issue free such stationery as may be required for use in the regimental office.

The Superintendent Government Printing will supply free such books and forms as may be required for use in the regimental office.

The officers in charge Mathematical Instrument Office will issue free such instruments as may be required on a scale not exceeding that of a British Cavalry regiment on field service.

Embarkation.—The force will be embarked at Calcutta. The Director of the Royal Indian Marine will arrange for the necessary sea transport for conveyance of the force, informing the General Officer Commanding Presidency District of the vessel or vessels he proposes to charter. The vessels will then be surveyed in accordance with Army Regulations, India, Volume X., and as soon as the date of sailing is known the General Officer Commanding the Presidency District will arrange for the embarkation of the force. Details regarding the transports engaged, date of sailing, and probable date of arrival at Durban should be sent to Army Headquarters and to the Bengal Command.

Stores, Rest Camps.—The General Officer Commanding the Presidency District will make such arrangements as may be needed to facilitate the raising of the force, the provision of such storage accommodation as may be necessary, and for rest camps. He will be responsible for receiving stores for the force and for loading the transport.

Telegrams.—The Lieutenant-General Commanding the Forces, Bengal, will authorise the despatch of telegrams on the ‘debit note’ system from such offices as may be concerned with the raising, equipment, and despatch of the force. He will communicate to the Director-General of Telegraphs the designations and head-quarters of officers whom he authorises to use the ‘debit note’ system, and any other offices from which such telegrams are likely to be despatched. ‘Debit note’ telegrams cannot be despatched from railway offices.

All telegrams will be endorsed, ‘Lumsden’s Horse. Debit cost to Military Department.’

Report and Maps of Transvaal.—Copies of ‘A Short Military Report on the Transvaal,’ together with maps, will be supplied by the Intelligence Branch, Quartermaster-General’s Department, Simla.

Press Correspondents.—No member of the corps will be permitted to act as a Press correspondent except with the special permission of the military authorities in South Africa.

Expenditure Accounts.—The various departments of the Army are authorised to issue on ‘payment indents’ such supplies, stores, equipment, and clothing as may be required, in addition to the free issues referred to above. All such payment indents will be clearly marked ‘Lumsden’s Horse. On payment.’

All supplies, stores, equipment, and clothing issued from stock to the force should be replaced as soon as possible, and all charges connected with the raising, equipping, and despatching of the force other than those borne by the corps itself should be debited to the Government of India under the heading ‘Lumsden’s Horse.’

Fort William: January 1900.

Field-Service Kit

——OfficersN.C.O. and Men
On Person
Helmet with khaki cover, pagri, and chin strap (or felt hat)11
Khaki serge coat11
Pantaloons, Bedford cord11
Khaki putties or leather gaiters11
Walking boots11
Spurs, jack11
Drawers11
Flannel shirt11
Socks, woollenpairs11
Vest11
Flannel belt11
Braces11
Pocket handkerchief1
Sword11
Revolver (and ammunition)1
Beltsset11
Bandolier11
Field glasses (if not on saddle)11 (N.C.O. only)
Compass11 (ditto)
Watch11 (ditto)
Note-book11 (ditto)
Water-bottle11
Haversack, with knife, fork, and cup11
Map, linen (if available)11 (N.C.O. only)
First field dressing (in special pocket)11
Descriptive card (ditto)1
Emergency ration (if available)11
Pocket dressing-case1 (Medical
Officer only)
Carried in Kit
Khaki helmet cover, spare11
Khaki drill coat11
Khaki serge coat11
Khaki trousers, serge11
” ” drill11
Pantaloons, Bedford cord11
Field service cap11
Walking boots (and spare laces)11
Putties, khakipair11
Drawers21
Flannel shirts21
Socks, woollenpairs31
Vests21
Flannel belt11
Pocket-handkerchiefs52
Housewife11
Holdall11
Towels22
Blankets22
Wolseley valise1
Waterproof sheet11
Basin, canvas1
Dubbingtin11
Small book1
Diary1
Field Service Departmental Code, Medical1 (Medical Officer only)
Writing-case1
Lantern1
Cardigan jacket11
Warm coat11
Mittenspair11
Balaclava cap11
Cooking utensilsset1
Enamelled tin plates, cups, &c.set11
Logline for packing, 15 feet1
Artificers’ Tools and Stores (to be supplied free by Government)
Armourer’s tools and stores80lb.
Saddler’s tools and stores160
Materials for repairs of accoutrements, saddlery, and line gear160
Shoeing iron and charcoal160
Reserve of shoes with nails160
Miscellaneous Stores (to be supplied free by Government)
Handcuffs2pairs
Steelyards, with weights, complete1set
Scales, weights, with small stores, &c.1
Light forges, Mark IV., pack saddle, I.P.2
Veterinary Stores (to be supplied free by Government)
Universal field veterinary chests2
Veterinary wallets2
Medical Stores (to be supplied free by Government)
Medical field panniers1pair
Field medical companion1
” surgical haversack1
” ” Cavalry bag1
” stretchers2
Blanket stretchers4
Quartermaster’s Stores (to be supplied on payment by Government if required).
Drawers, cotton25pairs
Coats, khaki serge25
Trousers, serge, khaki25pairs
” drill ”25
Boots, ankle25
Socks, woollen25
Shirts, flannel25
Caps, forage10
Buttons, coat, small6doz.
” iron, trousers2gross
Cloth, serge, khaki20yds.
Chin, strapers[strapers], helmet, leather10
Thread, black and coloured5lb.
” khaki4
Dubbing
Soap, washing30
Scissors, tailor’s, 9”1pair
Oil, Rangoon (1 gallon per company)2cans
Shoemakers’ Tools and Stores (to be supplied free by Government)
Soles, half pairs50
Lifts ” ”50
Tips ” ”50
Nails, tip1lb.
Rivets7
Feet, iron, 9”2
Leather, spare
Hemp balls, 24-lb.1
Tools, shoemakers’10
Entrenching Tools (to be supplied free by Government)
Shovels, light20
Pickaxes, ”20
Felling axes8
Bill-hooks16
Hooks, reaping32
Bags, entrenching tool2pairs
Carried on one horse per company.
Maxim Equipment
One Maxim gun. One tripod mounting, &c.
Camp Equipment (to be supplied under regimental arrangements)
Officers, 80-lb. tent each. Non-commissioned officers and men, 8 per 80-lb. G.S. tent. Office, 80-lb. tent. Surgery, 80-lb. tent. Quarter-guard, 80-lb. tent. Rearguard, 240-lb. tent.
Baggage.
Officers, 80 lb. each. Non-commissioned officers and men, 40 lb. each.

Saddlery and Line Gear (to be supplied free by Government)

For each Horse

One hay-net.One set head and heel ropes.
One nosebag, canvas.One set heel-pegs.
One watering-bridle.One jhool.
One horse-brush.One blanket.
One curry-comb.One set spare shoes with nails.
One knee-halter.One horse rubber.
One canvas water-bucket.One waterproof harness wrapper.
One numnah.Water buckets, one to four horses.
One eye-fringe.Sponges, one to ten horses.
One chagul.Clipping machines, one to ten horses.
One headstall.Hoof-pickers, one to five horses.

Miscellaneous

Cooking utensils, five sets per company10sets
Tables, office, 14 lb. each2
Chairs ” 4 lb. each2
Yakdans, office. Weight full 80 lb. each1pair

Reserve Saddlery (to be supplied free by Government)

Saddle.Horse brush.Headstall.
Numnah.Curry-comb.Head-ropes.
Bridle.Knee-halter.Heel-pegs.
Reins.Canvas water-bucket.Jhool.
Bit, complete.Eye-fringe.Blanket.
Nosebags, canvas.Chaguls.
Watering bridle.

Pay as for British Cavalry of the Line (vide Article 780, Royal Warrant for Pay and Promotion):

RankPer day
£.s.d.
Lieutenant-Colonel116
Major 150
Captain 130
Lieutenant 78
Second-Lieutenant 68
Adjutant (and Quartermaster) 50[[D]]
Quartermaster-Sergeant 44
Company Sergeant-Major 44
Company Quartermaster-Sergeant 34
Sergeant 28
Farrier Sergeant 210
Shoeing Smith 18
Saddler 1
Bugler 14
Corporal (if paid as Lance-Sergeant) 24
Corporal 20
Private (appointed Lance-Corporal) 16
Private 12

[D]. In addition to pay of rank.

APPENDIX III
THE ADJUTANT’S NOTE-BOOK

Captain and Adjutant Taylor contributes the following notes and suggestions for consideration:

There were a certain number of points which struck me very forcibly during the campaign, and I should like to give them for what they are worth. There may be certain conditions to be considered, the importance of which outweighs all others, so that the following notes must be regarded only as an attempt to carry out the duty which every man owes to his profession, by showing things in the light in which he saw them. Higher authorities, busy about big affairs, fail sometimes to notice the important details with which juniors are brought in daily contact.

Spare Horses.—The corps started from India with one horse per man and the necessary complement of transport animals. There were a few casualties on the journey, which were replaced at Cape Town, and the corps began work in good condition, but with no spare animals. The supposition apparently is that men fall out just as fast as the horses. This did not prove correct in South Africa, and it is hard to believe that it would be so elsewhere provided the work required was of an active mounted kind. Therefore true economy would seem to dictate the provision of spare horses. Very soon with us a few horses got slight sore backs, but as every mounted man available was required it was found impossible to ease these horses; the inevitable result being that after a few days they were unfit for work. Consequently a similar number of men had to be taken from the fighting strength and their saddles put into the carts. As the work continued, more horses gave out, and more loads were put into the carts. Hence, while the transport animals grew weaker their loads grew heavier. To take figures. The nominal strength of the mounted portion of the corps was 250 men; actually the largest number we ever had in action was 185. The average in the fighting line was under 150; of the remainder, fifty were short on account of sickness and casualties, and fifty on account of horses short. Had we had fifty spare horses, every available man could have been mounted. As a matter of fact, thirty spare horses would probably have sufficed, as, on the principle of ‘a stitch in time,’ the timely ‘easing’ of trivial cases—such as a slight sore back or temporary indisposition—would have saved many a horse’s usefulness or life. The further you go, the more necessary such reliefs become. The exact number of spare horses depends upon the class of work required. To my mind, this is one of the lessons we should learn from the Boers, who generally had two horses per man, and often five. These spare horses can conveniently march with the veterinary hospital and be taken care of by a small ‘native’ staff. Working on this principle, Lumsden’s Horse kept every man mounted during two months’ ceaseless trek, and the horses were practically all fit and well at the end of it. On the other system each man used up seven horses in as many months. To put it in brief. A corps of 250 men and 250 horses, with their baggage, would, at the end of a week’s hard marching and fighting, be less efficient than a corps of 200 men with 250 horses, in that they would have no more mounted men in the field, while their transport would have to carry food and kit for the extra fifty men, in addition to the fifty saddles of the dismounted men, weighing some five stones each, and also probably the fifty dismounted men themselves.

The same principles affect the question of the number of baggage animals.

Method of Carrying Ammunition.—Our equipment for ammunition to be carried by the man took the shape of a belt with two cross braces. On the former were leather pouches to hold packets of cartridges, and on the latter bandolier attachments to take single cartridges. The disadvantages were many. (1) It necessitated the man carrying a heavy weight constantly on his body or else hiding packets of ammunition in his holsters, whence they were difficult to extract and where he often left them in the hurry of a dismount. (2) The pouches were a great discomfort to the men when lying down to snatch much-needed rest in the many short intervals at their disposal. (3) The whole weight of the ammunition came on to the saddle when the man was mounted, and went some way towards causing sore backs. (4) Marching on foot with this load of ammunition was so irksome that it soon tired the soldier and made him urge and take every possible excuse for remaining mounted.

The proposed remedy is to give every man two bandoliers holding fifty rounds each and a bayonet-belt to take fifty rounds. The bandoliers to be habitually buckled round the horse’s neck, like collars. When going into action the man can transfer one or both bandoliers to his own shoulders even without dismounting. Should he have under-estimated the amount of ammunition required, and have left one or both of these bandoliers on his horse, they can be sent for and found with no difficulty, the distribution being also very simple. Taking the weight of this ammunition off the saddle helps to save sore back. The man will walk unencumbered, and consequently will walk more readily, and can do so for longer distances, besides being in a better state for duties when he gets to camp. On a similar principle the rifle should not be carried by the soldier when marching dismounted, as it is better to keep his weight, say eleven stone, off the horse’s back as long as possible, and it will be longer if you put the rifle-weight, seven pounds, on to the horse and not on to the man.

Spare Ammunition.—Anything in excess of this 150 rounds per man should be, and was, carried on a led mule or horse, who could keep up with the mounted men.

Picketing Gear caused us much trouble, as every kind of ground entailed a different stamp of peg—e.g., a small iron peg did not hold in sandy soil, wooden ones broke in rocky ground, while the bundle of rope and pegs was an extra weight on the horse, and caused the saddle to roll besides making the man less handy at getting on and off his horse. The remedy was to have no heel-ropes or pegs carried on the saddle horse, and to substitute three big iron pegs with fifty yards of ‘line rope’ and a heavy mallet to every fifty men, carried on a pack-animal with the ammunition mules. On arrival in camp these pegs were driven in, the line rope stretched between them, and the horses tied to each side of it by their head-ropes: heel-ropes were not found necessary. This worked perfectly except on detached duties, when perhaps ten men were separated for some ‘post,’ when they had to ‘ring’ their horses—i.e., tie them together by their head-ropes in a circle, heads inwards. They are unable to lie down in comfort, which is of course a weak point, but it does not often happen.

Marching.—When the object to be attained was to cover as much ground as possible it was found best to trot long stages, with walking intervals between, when the men were made to dismount and lead. The man should never be on his horse except when going faster than a walk. It was found better to trot a good deal than to walk and lead even, because the time saved by the faster pace gave the men and horses time for an appreciable rest and for food while they were ‘off-saddled,’ which should always be done when the enemy’s movements in any way admit of it.

Shoeing.—Each horse, in marching order, is supposed to carry one complete set of shoes. If every man were trained to see constantly that his horse’s shoes were on firm, a shoe ought seldom to be lost. If a farrier is present, and the man has the necessary nails, a doubtful or loose nail can be drawn and replaced, hence we made the rule that the men should not carry spare shoes, but should carry nails, and we had the farriers with us. Occasionally a horse lost a shoe when on detached duty, but only then; and, after all, if the rider is careful, no serious damage should result. In any case, it is not worth while for every horse to carry a complete set of shoes always, on the chance of one horse requiring one shoe occasionally.

The Usefulness of Followers may be gathered to a certain extent from the fact that none of the officers had chargers killed by anything but bullets. Every officer had an Indian syce, and when a horse had had a hard time it was found that one day marching with the syce restored him. The follower has nothing to think about except to feed the horse when he can, and it is wonderful what good one hour in a field of green wheat or on a good bit of grass does for a tired and underfed animal; besides, the follower often chances on a bundle or two of oat-straw or some such luxury, and in any case the horse has plenty of time for grazing during the delays of the march. The men latterly employed Kaffir boys to a considerable extent, paying them wages out of their own pockets. These Kaffirs received no rations, living on their masters’ leavings and occasional steaks out of dead horses. Taking all considerations together, it would appear to be a saving to use the soldier as much as possible for fighting purposes only, and to use native followers for all work that does not entail fighting. Cooks and syces, even in small numbers, would to a great extent ease the fighting man of arduous labour which the follower could do just as well. We should have fewer cases of sickness from want of rest and lack of time to cook properly if a few native cooks accompanied each regiment. And a few syces might save the lives of many horses that have to be neglected by the men when, after a long march and perhaps a fight, they are ordered out on picket directly they arrive in camp. The native is cheaper to feed and more docile to manage, not minding things which Tommy hates—such as cutting grass, for instance. His food is simple, and he can eat it very comfortably going along the road, so that when he gets into camp he is quite fit to go to work. I was told by an officer of the Indian Transport train, who was with General Buller’s force in Natal, that he had taken his corps with his native followers right through to Belfast, and landed his animals there without a single casualty, and not only well, but fat. He attributed it solely to the fact that the servants understood their work and would unload without a murmur a dozen times a day, and cut a heap of grass for every animal when they got to camp. Why not employ the cheaper labourer, and save the dearer for work that suits him better and which the follower cannot do? The answer, I am aware, is that an armed transport man can help to defend the convoy. This is of course true to a limited extent. Our transport men never had a chance of firing a shot, and I think few had. All the ox-waggons and mule-waggons were driven by Kaffirs, on the same grounds as advocated, so why not apply the reasoning to other cases? The argument in favour of the armed transport reminds one of the sportsman who goes out armed with a gun, rifle, and pig-spear, ready for all emergencies, but never has the right weapon in his hand when the game springs up. The spare horse-shoes are another case of the same thing, and there are many others. It is impossible to provide for every contingency.

Rations.—In a general way the men’s rations were very good, but one or two improvements suggest themselves. First, everyone who has tried it knows that when spirits are not available the body acquires a great craving for sugar, which is no doubt recognised, and hence the jam issue. Chocolate is cheap, by which I mean light to carry, and is enormously appreciated; but more important than anything appear to be the tea, coffee, or cocoa rations, because, in a great measure, on the plentifulness of these depends the amount or otherwise of many diseases, notably enteric. No man will boil water and let it cool simply because he knows it’s a healthy thing to do, but he will boil it to have a good drink of hot tea. If you give him enough, he will have his drink before he goes to bed, another in the morning, and he will also fill his water-bottle with it. Half an ounce per man will accomplish this. I believe the amount allowed per man in South Africa was ⅟16 oz. By the time this had been distributed in the dark, the ration became so small that half-a-dozen men used to toss for the lot, in the hope that one at least would get a good drink. Tea, moreover, is very light. An ox-waggon load is 4,000 lbs., which is 128,000 rations of ½ oz. each; which means that 4,000 men could be given ½ oz. of tea daily for a month, at the cost of one ox-waggon added to the convoy. On our trek from Machadodorp to Pretoria, we carried supplies for about 4,000 men for about a month, and the convoy was many miles long, and I do not think that one ox-waggon added thereto would have given any trouble.

Firing off Horseback.—The value of this practice on occasions is another of the lessons we might learn from the Boers. I do not pretend that the shooting is accurate, yet it has a great moral advantage in certain circumstances. Imagine yourself on a big rolling veldt doing rearguard. The slopes are easy, and the ridges about 1,000 yards from crest to crest. You hold one and the enemy the next. In order to keep your horses out of fire they must be 200 yards or so away. All is well till you begin to retire, but on rising you at once become visible to the Boer, who first of all shoots at you, and then follows you up at a gallop to have a shot at you before you can gain the next ridge. You retire in a hurry, run the risk of being shot, and have the demoralising feeling that the enemy is gaining rapidly on you and will ‘get at you’ before you gain the next ridge. But leave near the ridge a few mounted men, place them back so far that while they can see the Boer’s ridge, the enemy can only possibly see their heads and shoulders, and order your dismounted men to retire, crawling at first, then stooping, and finally rising. They do this leisurely, as they can see the mounted sentinels watching and they are reassured. These sentinels have no fear, for they can at any time retire at a gallop, while the enemy, hearing the firing, do not like advancing on an unknown number. During the march from Machadodorp to Pretoria, this practice enabled us to do in perfect comfort a rearguard duty which was considered by all other corps very ‘nasty.’

Suggestions with regard to raising Mounted Volunteer Corps in the future.—Besides the actual experiences of the fighting in South Africa, there were one or two points in connection with the raising of the corps itself, which came to my special notice in the course of my duties as Adjutant and Quartermaster, the knowledge of which would, I think, facilitate matters in the event of anyone raising another Volunteer corps in India for active service.

In my opinion the most important point of all is to make certain that secrecy is maintained. Before any steps are taken for enrolling men, the Adjutant and other officers from the Regular Army should be selected and apportioned their work in connection with the raising of the corps. The ‘Regular’ N.C.O.s should be chosen, and the official scheme drawn up. The first duty falls on the ‘office,’ and it should be properly organised in every detail. Three or four rooms, Quartermaster’s store accommodation, a shorthand writer, at least three or four competent clerks, as well as mounted orderlies, are necessary. A camp pitched complete in every detail should be ready to receive the men, especial attention being paid to the provision of a temporary mess for the men as well as ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ canteens, and of a native food-shop for followers. This can all be done ‘confidentially.’ When the arrangements are complete, the intention to raise the corps and the terms may be made public.

If the fact of the raising of the corps had not leaked out, Government would of course have made all the above suggested arrangements, and things would have gone smoothly from the outset. As it was, every Government official assisted Colonel Lumsden to his utmost power. As a sample of this I may mention that, at their own request, the one squadron of the 14th Bengal Lancers at Alipur supplied eight mounted orderlies daily for six weeks, rendering invaluable assistance in carrying letters. This same squadron marked out the camp for us, and lent their bunniahs’ (grain-sellers’) shops for the use of the swarm of servants who came in attendance on the Volunteers. Another difficulty which it would be good to avoid, if possible, was that under existing regulations it was found to be impossible to attest the men until the day before embarkation, so that for some weeks they were in camp and being trained without being under military law. Their good feeling alone preserved discipline.

Regulars.—A certain number of men who were specialists in various lines, such as saddlers, farriers, signallers, and shoeing-smiths, together with a sprinkling of non-commissioned officers, were lent to the corps from the Regular Army, and they were of the greatest use to us. It is essential that the selection of these be made with great care. There is little doubt that the gentleman Volunteer is not always easy to get on with, so that the Regular should be a man of character and tact. When called upon for men, Commanding Officers send fully qualified men, but have a tendency to ‘give a man a chance’ in novel circumstances. Unless a Regular is a tactful, good fellow, he is unlikely to be of much use with Volunteers.

Selection of Horses.—As far as we could learn from our experience in South Africa, the three main points in the selection of a horse are: (1) hardiness, (2) true action, (3) ‘good doing’; while for convenience in mounting and dismounting he should not be over fifteen hands high. Comparative slowness, light legs, and slight unsteadiness do not seem to matter, but he must be hardy, he must be clear of any suspicion whatever of brushing, and he must be the sort likely to ‘live on sticks and stones.’ The work is all very slow, but it is continuous. There were practically no cases of lameness from sprains, or indeed of anything except ‘brushing,’ and after a month’s work, the horse which could go the furthest and fastest was the one that kept the best condition. One of the horses that did the best work in the corps was a little Boer pony of Private Graham’s, which was only about twelve hands high. As transport animals, our little ‘Bhootia’ ponies did most excellently, and were better than mules, in that while they were quite as hardy, they were heavier and more game.

Shipping Horses.—At Calcutta the quays are only a few feet above the water-level, and as the horses all have to be put on the upper and main decks, the custom is to ‘sling’ them on board by means of cranes and tackle attached to belly-bands. I saw a whole ship being laden with horses in this way. The operation took one entire day and cost five rupees per horse. One horse at least was dropped and had to be destroyed, a large proportion suffered injuries, and all were terrified. On meeting the officer in charge afterwards, I learnt that hardly any of the horses would feed at all for a day at least. For us the authorities erected a zigzag gangway by the aid of which 200 horses were put on board without accident in one hour and a half. Moreover, the gangway could not have cost 100l. Communication gangways between the decks were also fitted up, thus enabling us to transfer horses from one deck to another, and these proved very valuable in dealing with sick cases during the voyage.

Horse Standings.—Once on the ship each horse had a stall in a row, each stall being just big enough for a horse to stand in, and surrounded by a four-foot rail. On the floor-boards were fixed four strong battens, two inches square in cross section, at intervals of eighteen inches. The horse’s fore feet fell naturally on to the first batten and his hind feet on to the last. He was thus forced to stand always in a constrained position. For my own horses I had the battens otherwise distributed, putting one six inches from either end and one in the middle. The fore feet came naturally behind the first batten and the hind feet before the rear one, while the middle one did not interfere with the horse’s position, and was only used by the horse when necessitated by bad weather. It was, I think, a great improvement. This was not my idea, but was what the Australian horse ‘shippers’ recommend and use.

Shoes.—The orders in the Service are that all horses go on board shod, which is contrary to the custom of the big Australian shipping firms, who say that shod horses slip up when it is rough. We had no rough weather, and so could not prove this, but owing to the shoe keeping the foot off the constantly damp boards, the feet of our horses were, on arrival, in infinitely better condition than those of the horses brought over by Australian ‘shippers’ to India.

Exercising Horses on Board Ship.—This is, I learn, never done, but we gave the idea a trial, and it turned out to be quite practicable. Our ship was a very small one, and we had some difficulty about space for exercise ground. However, we found three places in different parts of the ship where we could get a small circle. Matting was put down, to prevent slipping, and it was found that on each of these ten horses could be led at a time, one behind the other. In this manner we managed to give every horse half an hour a day of walking exercise. While these ten horses were out, the next ten had twice as much room to stand in, which enabled the men to give them half-an-hour’s grooming. It was very noticeable how the legs ‘fined’ with the exercise, and it must have been a great relief to the horse. Our horses landed in very good condition, and, except for being soft, they were fit to go to work at once. It is obviously only possible to exercise horses like this when you have a large number of hands as we had.