APPENDIX XI
LUMSDEN’S HORSE TRANSPORT
The following article is by Sergeant Stephens, of the Indian Commissariat and Transport Department, attached to Lumsden’s Horse:
The Government of India at the last moment not sanctioning native drivers for the corps, fifty Europeans had to be enlisted under the same terms as those of trackers, receiving kit, equipment, &c. As there was no time to pick and choose, the men were taken, if physically fit, more by personal appearances than recommendations. With the exception of a few, they worked remarkably well and never complained of the hardships they had to endure while we were in South Africa.
When each member joined the corps he was handed over a pair of ponies or mules, also harness for same, with cart complete. The majority of them had never driven or ridden a horse in their lives, so that the breaking-in of horses and men was not an easy task. Of fifty pairs of animals received for draught purposes not a pair was broken to harness, and when the heavy breechen was placed on their backs they did their best to kick it off, but the girths supplied by Government were strong enough to keep that in place. Our next difficulty was to put them together in carts. Immediately the curricle bar or iron support rested on their backs they wanted to be off for their lives, and in some instances got away and did a lot of mischief before they came to grief, cart and all. Privates Hyde and Braine once trying to stop a pair got severely hurt; Hyde putting his shoulder out, while Braine got his head badly cut. Both were sent to the General Hospital for treatment, but recovered in time to join B Company.
The Transport men were very willing, took a delight in their duty, and worked hard from 7 A.M. to 6 P.M. daily, and at that rate we were able to have the worst of the animals broken to harness before we left Calcutta. At the same time, the men were improving daily in the care and treatment of animals, and when the General Officer Commanding held his inspection, every one of them was able to drive, or seemed to think he could, so we had A Company’s Transport out for inspection. After inspecting carts, animals, and drivers, the General expressed himself pleased with the very ready way in which they had been got in order, and stated that he thought we should get on well in Africa.
The men had not the slightest idea of what a muleteer was until they got on board ship. Then the work started, and dirty work it was for about two hours every morning. Even then there were no complaints. The officer commanding the corps and the captain of the ship gave great praise to the Transport men every day for having the cleanest deck. The captain afterwards said that with Regular troops he had never seen it better kept. They had to perform the same duties as the troopers, the only difference being that they had extra work daily from 2 P.M. to 4 P.M. dubbing and cleaning harness.
While on board ship the Transport of A Company was divided into four sections, consequently four non-commissioned officers had to be made. This was the first promotion in the Transport, and was given to those who seemed to take most interest in their work. The names of men promoted were Power, Palmer, Cullen, and Estabrooke. Power afterwards worked up to sergeant, was a very good non-commissioned officer throughout, and quite deserved the rank he held. Work on board ship was the same daily, nothing fresh occurring till we landed at Cape Town. That night carts had to be got ready, and the following morning we had to take our own baggage to Maitland Camp. That was about the worst day we had while in Africa. It was impossible to look to our front—animals would not face the sand-storms—it was not sand, but small stones beating against our faces, and our eyes were sore for weeks after our first day at the Cape. It was very hard to harness the Transport animals in carts; but after being about twenty-six days on board ship, they had not much mind for bolting that first day. The camp, when we got there, was knee-deep in sand. Maitland at that time was a dirty hole, and we were pleased when we got our orders to shift. But a few things happened during our stay there which we cannot forget. The Government came on us, thinking we had too many carts, and they had to be reduced by ten. So we handed our ten carts and ten pairs of ponies to the Transport Officer, Cape Town, and, instead of them, got thirty-eight pairs of mules, with leader harness complete, to act as leaders for our remaining carts. That meant instead of two ponies to a cart, as we left India, we had to put four ponies or mules. This complicated matters a long time, for some of the drivers could never manage four-in-hand, so had to be left with a pair only. They said that two ‘donkeys’ (which they would insist upon calling their chargers) were quite enough for them to look after. In the end, everything turned out very well. We kept those animals spare, and whenever any in the teams showed signs of fatigue, got lame, or otherwise unfit, we had others to take their places.
The Transport Officer at the Cape did not think much of his bargain. He could not get the Cape boys to make head or tail of our Indian carts and harness. It was harder for them to put a pair of our ponies in their cart than their own span of ten, which they could use as they liked.
After receiving orders for the front with a light heart, every man thought the minutes too long until he got an opportunity of distinguishing himself. We were ordered to Bloemfontein, and everybody was on the war-path at once. We railed to that station, which did not do the animals any good, and on arrival there were ordered to join a brigade at Deel’s Farm, about three miles beyond the town. Having to draw our stores from Bloemfontein station prepared our transport and drivers for the work which lay before them, and during our stay there they got in excellent order.
The first day our Transport carts went out with spare ammunition for the corps, nothing unusual occurred, and, in fact, all returned disappointed, but this showed the ammunition drivers what they must expect when going out again. All in charge of these carts were picked men, being the best drivers with the best animals. They had to canter and trot over rough country with eight boxes of ammunition, to keep in touch with their corps, over hills or otherwise, and be always where they were wanted; our carts were very handy, and could go where others failed.