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Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Old Contemptable on April 05, 2024, 09:51:20 AM

Title: British units in South Africa 1898-1899
Post by: Old Contemptable on April 05, 2024, 09:51:20 AM

Trying to find out what British units were in South Africa just before the commencement of hostilities in 1899.  Before reinforcements arrived. All my sources say that it was between 10,000 and 14,000 troops but I can't find out what battalions and/or regiments they were. Does anyone have a good source for this?

Title: Re: British units in South Africa 1898-1899
Post by: Cubs on April 05, 2024, 11:56:24 AM

Okay, this is from Donald Featherstone's 'Victorian Colonial Warfare: Africa'.

September 1899

Cavalry (2 Regts)

5th Lancers (Natal)
18th Hussars (Natal)

Artillery (4 Batteries = 24 guns)

13th, 67th & 69th Field Batteries (Natal)
10th (Mountain) Battery (Natal)

Infantry (71/2 Battalions)

1st Royal Irish Fusiliers (Natal)
1st Leicestershire (Natal)
1st King's Royal Rifles (Natal)
2nd Dublin Fusiliers (Natal)
1st King's Liverpool (Natal)
2nd King's Royal Rifles (Natal)
1st Loyal North Lancashire (Cape Colony)
2nd Yorkshire Light Infantry (1/2 batt) (Cape Colony)

So this is what he says were in South Africa before any reinforcements arrived, but there were also some sent out just before or just after hostilities began. You want those too?

Title: Re: British units in South Africa 1898-1899
Post by: Old Contemptable on April 06, 2024, 07:14:23 AM

That's it!

Thanks!

Title: Re: British units in South Africa 1898-1899
Post by: JBaumal on April 09, 2024, 04:15:18 PM

And that’s what this site is all about, sharing the vast knowledge of the hive!

Title: Re: British units in South Africa 1898-1899
Post by: marco55 on April 12, 2024, 03:09:20 AM

Also Nafziger.
Mark