TOPIC:

The Scottish Horse were one of those Boer War anomalies (of which there were many). Designated as a Colonial Unit it was in actual fact raised primarily in the United Kingdom and was part and parcel of the Imperial Yeomanry. They saw plenty of action and were highly thought among the highest echelons of the British Military Establishment.

James Johnstone

Trooper, Scottish Horse – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 & 1902 to 37153 Tpr. J. Johnstone, Scottish Horse

James Johnstone was born in the Parish of Portobello in Midlothian, Scotland in 1881 the son of Mary Allardice Johnstone. He would appear to have been born out of wedlock as there is nary a trace or mention of his father. His unmarried mother, 42 years old, was according to the 1881 Scotland census living at 29 Wellington Street, Portobello along with her widowed mother Margaret who ran a Boarding Establishment.

Our first glimpse of James comes courtesy of the 1891 Scotland census where, at the age of 11 he was a pupil at the United Industrial School in Blackfriars Street, Canongate, Edinburgh. Having completed whatever education came his way he took up the trade of Joiner and it was in this capacity that he next comes to our attention.

Great Britain and her Dominions had enjoyed an unparalleled period of prosperity for many a year sweeping any and all military opposition to her Colonial expansions before her. Victorian England was thus confident that the latest threat to her aspirations would succumb likewise. In this she was sadly mistaken – two obscure and little known Boer Republics populated by a rustic Dutch people were about to spoil the party. War had been brewing between the two protagonists for many months but this spilled over into open war on 11 October 1899.

The regular troops deployed in South Africa were found to be woefully inadequate in number and reinforcements from Home and other corners of the Empire were hastily assembled and shipped in to bolster the numbers. Even this, given the Boer propensity for hit and run tactics proved insufficient and the call went out to raise Yeomanry regiments which could assist the cause. The Scottish Horse was one of these.

Major the Marquis of Tullibardine, MVO, DSO, in the written statement furnished by him to the War Commission and in his evidence gives an admirably clear yet modest account of the organisation, composition, and work of the two regiments of the Scottish Horse, each of which earned great distinction by exceptionally fine work.

In November 1900 Lord Kitchener sanctioned the raising of a regiment to be known as the Scottish Horse. Lord Tullibardine soon started recruiting from Scotsmen, or men of Scottish descent, in South Africa, chiefly in Natal; and on 4th February 1901 he took the field with three squadrons. To these other squadrons were soon added. The Volunteer Service Companies of Scottish regiments furnished no less than 200 men. To these their leader gave the highest possible praise. "One hundred of them were the best body of men in every way that I saw in South Africa. This particular squadron had a reputation which extended far beyond the column with which it was trekking".

Recruiting was not confined to South Africa. Great Britain and the other Colonies were appealed to, and the Caledonian Societies in London and overseas did grand work. The Highland Society of London sent out 386 officers and men, who sailed in February and March 1901; and the Marquis's father, the Duke of Atholl, personally raised 831 men before the war was over. Later on more men joined from Australia, recruiting having been attended with success. The first regiment was soon six squadrons strong, and a second of five squadrons also took the field. In no way did Lord Tullibardine show his organising power to greater advantage than in the setting up of depots for his force for both men and horses. A central headquarters depot for both regiments, with a convalescent camp for sick men and overworked horses, was at Johannesburg, and there were advance depots for each regiment near the railway in the district in which each might be trekking. At these advance depots were remount establishments. Thus sick men could go to the regimental camp, and so not get lost in the great army hospitals. Horses needing a rest could be sent in to the rest-camp at the depot, and come out as well as ever. In selecting his officers his lordship showed the same wisdom, and in that all-important respect no corps was more fortunately situated. What follows is almost entirely taken from Lord Tullibardine's evidence and the official despatches.

1st Regiment
This regiment was commanded at first by Lord Tullibardine, then by Major Blair, King's Own Scottish Borderers, after him by Lieutenant Colonel C E Duff, 8th Hussars, and finally by Lieutenant Colonel H P Leader, 6th Dragoon Guards. It served in the Western Transvaal in a column commanded (1) by Colonel Flint, (2) by Colonel Shekleton, (3) by Brigadier General Cunningham, (4) by Brigadier General Dixon, and (5) by Colonel Kekewich (of the Defence of Kimberley fame).

Completing the Attestation papers for Short Service (One Year with the Colours) at Edinburgh on 4 November 1901 Johnstone missed out on the first phase of the war. Stating that he was 20 years and 9 months old he was 5 feet 8 ½ inches in height, weighed 141 pounds and had a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. Having been passed as Fit by the Doctor he was assigned no. 37153 and the rank of Trooper with the 1st Battalion. Arriving in South Africa on 30 November he was immediately thrown into the action.

In the early months of 1902 the regiment was constantly on the trek and fighting. At Gruisfontein, on February 5th, 1902, the whole of Sarel Albert's commando was captured. As to this action, Lord Kitchener, in his despatch of 8th February, said: "During Major Leader's advance he came upon and captured a Boer picket, from which he ascertained that General Delarey had already moved his camp, but that Commandant Sarel Albert's laager was for that night at Gruisfontein, which he reached just before daybreak. Our men charged the enemy's laager with great dash, the Scottish Horse taking the main share of the attack, and as most of the Boer horses had been stampeded by the fire of Major Leader's pompom, the gallantry of the attacking force was rewarded by an unusually large measure of success; 7 Boers were killed, 132 prisoners taken, 11 of whom were wounded, together with 130 rifles, 2800 rounds of ammunition, and a large number of horses, mules, cattle, and waggons were taken. Our casualties were 2 officers (Captain Ian R M'Kenzie and Lieutenant W Tanner) and 6 men wounded, all belonging to the Scottish Horse". In his telegram of 5th February Lord Kitchener said: "Leader reports that the Scottish Horse behaved with great gallantry".

The regiment was in the column of Colonel Kekewich and the brigade of General Walter Kitchener in the last great drives in the Western Transvaal. In the drive which started from the Klerksdorp blockhouse line on 23rd March, and came back to that line on the 24th, the troops covered 80 miles in twenty-four hours. To the 1st Scottish Horse chiefly belonged the credit for the capture of three 15-pounder guns and two pom-poms.

The regiment bore an honourable part in another big fight at Rooival on 11th April 1902. Lord Tullibardine claimed for the Scottish Horse, apparently with good ground, the capture of some guns in the pursuit after a gallop of 20 miles. The official telegram certainly said that Kekewich had captured 2 guns, 1 pom-pom, 1 ammunition-cart, and 10 waggons. The regiment had 1 killed and 8 wounded in this engagement.

As can be seen from the above account the Scottish Horse acquitted themselves well. After 271 days under the hot African sun Johnstone was repatriated to England arriving home on 28 August 1902 and being discharged at Aldershot on 3 September of that year. His intended place of residence was 8 Wellington Street, Portobello, Edinburgh and his Military Conduct was rated as Very Good.

For his efforts he was awarded the Queens Medal with clasps.

What became of him after this is unknown.

A very enjoyable read this morning Rory, thank you.