Second Brigade: Royal Dragoons, Scots Greys, Inniskilling Dragoons, one battery Royal Horse Artillery.
Lines of Communication: 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion Somerset Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion Cornwall Light Infantry, 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment, 2nd Battalion Northamptons, 2nd K.O. Yorkshire Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry, 1st Battalion Gordons, Highland Light Infantry.
Until the arrival of these reinforcements we were holding on to our own frontiers with but 15,000 men in Natal, 10,000 in the Cape Colony, and some 1,500 in Rhodesia, inclusive of colonial forces. Opposed to us the Boers had at the least 53,000 men. Of these, it was estimated that 23,000 men were before White in Ladysmith, 7,500 had been despatched against Baden-Powell in Mafeking, a slightly larger force was enveloping Kekewich in Kimberley, and the remainder were being mobilized for the defence of the two Republics.
The original plan of campaign decided on before the departure of Sir Redvers Buller from England was to invade the Republics from the south with the army corps, the composition of which I have just given, whilst making such diversions as might be possible from Natal. On Buller's arrival all this had to be changed. The relief of Ladysmith was now the primary object of our Commander-in-Chief, all question of an invasion of the Republics being for the present out of the question. So soon as the reinforcements commenced to arrive, Methuen, with the Brigade of Guards, was pushed up to relieve Kimberley; the Second, Fifth, and Sixth Brigades were at once directed to Natal, where Buller quickly followed. To replace the Second Brigade in the First Division a Ninth Brigade, made up from regiments intended for the line of communications, was formed, and Wauchope's brigade of the Second Division advanced to the support of Methuen, and to strengthen our hold on the line of railway. Generals French and Gatacre were entrusted with the command of the railway running parallel with the frontiers of the Republics, and were stationed respectively at Nauwpoort and Stormberg, whilst Wauchope was posted at De Aar.
Buller expressed himself optimistic as to the relief of Kimberley, which was closely invested by the Boers, and by the middle of November Methuen commenced his advance. His force consisted of the Brigade of Guards, the Ninth Brigade (1st Loyal North Lancashire, 2nd King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 1st Northumberland Fusiliers, and 2nd Northamptons), the 9th Lancers, three squadrons of mounted infantry, three field batteries, a naval brigade 360 strong, with four long 12-pounder quick-firers, and the New South Wales Lancers. On October 23 he defeated the Boers at Belmont, his casualties being 3 officers and 51 men killed, 23 officers and 220 men wounded. On the 25th he fought a second successful action at Enslin, losing 3 officers and 15 men killed, 6 officers and 137 men wounded; and on October 28 he again defeated the Boers on the Riet River. The action, however, is officially known as that of the Modder River.
Modder River, November 28, 1899.
This battle honour is borne on the colours and appointments of the following regiments:
9th Lancers.
Grenadier Guards.
Coldstream Guards.
Scots Guards.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Northamptons.
K.O. Yorkshire L.I.
Highland Light Infantry
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
It commemorates the third of the three successful actions fought by Lord Methuen in the early stage of the South African War in his attempt to relieve Kimberley. A clasp, inscribed "Modder River," was given for this engagement, in which the casualties were as follows: