[290] ‘Official History of the War in South Africa,’ vol. ii. p. 250.
| Officers. | Other ranks. | |
| 3rd battalion Royal Irish regiment | ||
| (formerly Wexford militia), | 2 | 136 |
| 4th ” ” ” | ||
| (formerly North Tipperary militia), | 1 | 127 |
| 5th ” ” ” | ||
| (formerly Kilkenny militia), | — | 160 |
[292] According to the Official History, one part of this detachment marched 45 miles in 36 hours; the other covered 73 miles in 52 hours.
[293] A large party of the Royal Irish mounted infantry served in Hamilton’s column.
[294] Official History, vol. iii. p. 105. This part of the Orange Free State had been the scene of a long series of wars with the Basutos, whom the original Vortrekers (the pioneers of the Dutch emigration from Cape Colony) had gradually driven back into the mountains of Basutoland.
[295] Composition of Clements’ column on June 28, 1900 (from Clements’ Staff Diary):—
| 2nd Bedford regiment | 854 |
| 2nd Worcester ” | 846 |
| 1st Royal Irish ” | 892 |
| 2nd Wiltshire ” | 908 |
| 8th Battery R.F.A. | 136 |
| 2 guns 5-in. 6th Co. R.G.A. | 63 |
| 1 section ammunition column | 17 |
| 1 section 38th Co. R.E. | 32 |
| 2nd Brabant’s Horse and 2 companies Yeomanry | 696 |
| 16th Imperial Yeomanry | 237 |
| Malta M.I. | 133 |
| Royal Scots M.I. | 67 |
| 12th brigade Field Hospital | 38 |
| 12th brigade Bearer Company | 33 |
| 12th brigade Supply Depôt | 9 |
| —— | |
| 4961 |
[296] See [Appendix 2 (Q)].
[297] See [Appendix 2 (Q)].