MOBILISATION SECTION, ARMY HEADQUARTERS
DATED FORT WILLIAM, JANUARY 1900
Scheme for the despatch of Two Companies Mounted Volunteers to South Africa
Her Majesty’s Government having accepted the offer of the Government of
India to provide a force of Mounted Volunteers for service in South
Africa, two companies of Mounted Infantry, to be called ‘The Indian
Mounted Infantry Corps (Lumsden’s Horse),’ will be raised immediately at
Calcutta under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel D. McT. Lumsden, of the
Volunteer Force of India, Supernumerary List, Assam Valley Light Horse.
Terms of Enlistment.—The term of enlistment for officers and men will
be for one year, or for not less than the period of the war.
All members of the force will be entitled to free passages to India on
discharge or completion of engagement.
Preference will be given to Volunteers from Mounted Volunteer corps, but
Volunteers belonging to Infantry corps who may possess the requisite
qualifications will also be eligible.
Qualifications.—Candidates must be from twenty to forty years of age
and of good character. Infantry Volunteers must show that they are good
riders.
All candidates must obtain a medical certificate of fitness for active
service. Civil surgeons will be asked to examine free of charge all
candidates applying for enlistment.
Pay.—The pay and allowances for officers and men will be at British
Cavalry rates from date of enlistment.
Allowances.—Particulars regarding wound pensions, gratuities, and
family pensions will be given later.
Rations.—All ranks will receive rations as for British soldiers from
date of joining.
Organisation.—Establishment.—The corps will be organised in two
companies as under:
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Officers Sergeants Artificers Buglers R.&F. Total
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Staff—
Lieutenant-Colonel 1 — — — — 1
Second in Command 1 — — — — 1
Adjutant and 1[B] — — — — 1
Quartermaster
Medical Officer 1 — — — — 1
Quartermaster- — 1[B] — — — 1
Sergeant
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total 4 1 — — — 5
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Detail of one
Company—
Major (or Captain) 1[B] — — — — 1
Captain or 4 — — — — 4
Subalterns
Company — 1[B] — — — 1
Sergeant-Major
Company
Quartermaster-
Sergeant — 1[B] — — — 1
Sergeants — 4 — — — 4
Farrier-Sergeant — 1[B] — — — 1
Shoeing-Smiths — — 2[C] — — 2
Saddlers — — 1 — — 1
Signallers — 1 — — 1 2
Buglers — — — 2[C] — 2
Rank and File — — — — 104 104
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total of one Company 5 8 3 2 105 123
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total of two 10 16 6 4 210 246
Companies
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total of Staff 4 1 — — — 5
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
GRAND TOTAL OF UNIT 14 17 6 4 210 251
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Horses Ponies Private
or Mules Followers
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Staff—
Lieutenant-Colonel 2 3
Second in Command 2 3
Adjutant and 2 3
Quartermaster
Medical Officer 2 3
Quartermaster- 1 —
Sergeant
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Total 9 12
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Detail of one
Company—
Major (or Captain) 2 3
Captain or 8 12
Subalterns
Company 1 —
Sergeant-Major
Company
Quartermaster-
Sergeant 1 —
Sergeants 4 —
Farrier-Sergeant 1 —
Shoeing-Smiths 2 —
Saddlers 1 —
Signallers 2 —
Buglers 2 —
Rank and File 104 —
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Total of one Company 128 15
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Total of two 256 30
Companies
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Total of Staff 9 12
───────────────────────────────────────────────
GRAND TOTAL OF UNIT 265 42
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Footnote B:
From Regular Army.
Footnote C:
One from Regular Army, the other a Volunteer.
The following officers, non-commissioned officers, and men will be drawn
from the Regular Army:
Adjutant and Quartermaster 1
Company Commanders (Majors or Captains) 2
Total Officers 3
Quartermaster-Sergeant 1
Company Sergeant-Majors 2
Company Quartermaster-Sergeants 2
Farrier-Sergeants 2
Shoeing-Smiths 2
Saddlers 2
Signallers 4
Buglers 2
—
Total 17
The force will be equipped and trained as Mounted Infantry.
Officers will be equipped and armed as far as possible like the men.
Officers and men will provide their own horses.
Officers’ Servants.—Officers will be allowed one personal native servant
each and one syce for each charger. Total, three native servants per
officer.
Ordnance Department.—Arms, ammunition, accoutrements, and equipment
will be issued free by the Ordnance Department according to the scales
given.
Officers and men will be armed with ·303 rifles and bayonets.
All members of Volunteer corps of Light Horse or Mounted Rifles joining
the corps may, if they so wish it, bring with them the saddlery and
equipment issued to them in their present corps.
Saddlery and camp equipment, according to the scales given, will be
supplied under regimental arrangements. If required the Ordnance
Department will supply saddlery and camp equipment on payment.
The Ordnance Department will supply free transport saddlery and
draught harness according to scale given.
Line gear including one knee halter per horse will be provided free by
the Ordnance Department.
Two horse loads of entrenching tools as for a British Cavalry regiment,
together with complete equipment of saddlery, bridles, and entrenching
tool bags for two horses, will be provided free by Ordnance
Department.
Artificers’ tools and stores and miscellaneous stores, including two
light forges for pack saddles, will be issued free by Ordnance
Department.
Signalling.—Signalling equipment will be issued free on the field
service scale for a British Cavalry regiment.
Ammunition.—Small-arm ammunition will be issued at the rate of 650
rounds per rifle, calculated according to the following scale:
On soldier 100 rounds per rifles
1st Reserve (34 boxes) 132 ” ”
2nd ” (Ammunition Column and 268 ” ”
Park)
Practice ammunition 150 ” ”
Mark II. ·303 ammunition only will be taken for use in South Africa. The
practice ammunition may be black powder ammunition.
Revolver ammunition will be issued at the rate of 150 rounds per
officer’s revolver calculated as under:
On person 24 rounds per revolver
1st Reserve 26 ” ”
2nd ” (Ammunition Column and 50 ” ”
Park)
Practice ammunition 50 ” ”
Total 150
Two boxes of revolver ammunition will be carried with the 1st reserve
rifle ammunition. All the above ammunition will be issued at Calcutta.
The 2nd reserve of rifle and revolver ammunition will on arrival of the
corps in South Africa be handed over to the Ordnance Department as may
be directed by the local military authorities.
Cooking Utensils.—Cooking utensils will be provided free by the
Commissariat Department if required—viz., five sets of three oval camp
kettles (with one gridiron, chopper, and ladle for each kettle) per
company; one set weighs 39½ lb.
Transport.—Transport mules or ponies will be provided by the corps for
1st reserve ammunition, medical equipment and signalling equipment.
These animals should be trained to draught or pack work. Army transport
carts as required will be provided free by the Commissariat
Department.
Clothing.—Sea kit, as prescribed for the Cape Route in Army
Regulations, India, Volume V., Article 2166 (but without mattresses),
will be issued free to all non-commissioned officers and men by the
Commissariat Transport Department.
Clothing will be provided under regimental arrangements, but field
service and other clothing as required will be issued on payment indent
by the Commissariat Transport Department.
Supplies.—(a) Thirty days’ sea rations for men and animals will be
placed on the transport by the Commissariat Department.
(b) In addition to the above sea rations, three months’ rations for
men and one month’s crushed gram and compressed hay for animals will be
provided and shipped by the Commissariat Department.
(c) Supplies will be packed in one-maund packages and in waterproof
bags where necessary.
Veterinary.—The Principal Veterinary Officer in India will arrange for
the veterinary inspection of horses before embarkation and for the
necessary veterinary arrangements for the voyage. The corps will be
provided free with two field veterinary chests and two veterinary
wallets.
Medical.—The Principal Medical Officer of her Majesty’s Forces in
India will issue orders for the necessary medical arrangements for the
voyage. The corps will be provided free with medical equipment as for
a British Cavalry regiment on field service, except that two field
stretchers and four blanket stretchers will be provided.
Office Stationery.—The Superintendent Government Stationery will issue
free such stationery as may be required for use in the regimental
office.
The Superintendent Government Printing will supply free such books and
forms as may be required for use in the regimental office.
The officers in charge Mathematical Instrument Office will issue free
such instruments as may be required on a scale not exceeding that of a
British Cavalry regiment on field service.
Embarkation.—The force will be embarked at Calcutta. The Director of
the Royal Indian Marine will arrange for the necessary sea transport for
conveyance of the force, informing the General Officer Commanding
Presidency District of the vessel or vessels he proposes to charter. The
vessels will then be surveyed in accordance with Army Regulations,
India, Volume X., and as soon as the date of sailing is known the
General Officer Commanding the Presidency District will arrange for the
embarkation of the force. Details regarding the transports engaged, date
of sailing, and probable date of arrival at Durban should be sent to
Army Headquarters and to the Bengal Command.
Stores, Rest Camps.—The General Officer Commanding the Presidency
District will make such arrangements as may be needed to facilitate the
raising of the force, the provision of such storage accommodation as may
be necessary, and for rest camps. He will be responsible for receiving
stores for the force and for loading the transport.
Telegrams.—The Lieutenant-General Commanding the Forces, Bengal, will
authorise the despatch of telegrams on the ‘debit note’ system from such
offices as may be concerned with the raising, equipment, and despatch of
the force. He will communicate to the Director-General of Telegraphs the
designations and head-quarters of officers whom he authorises to use the
‘debit note’ system, and any other offices from which such telegrams are
likely to be despatched. ‘Debit note’ telegrams cannot be despatched
from railway offices.
All telegrams will be endorsed, ‘Lumsden’s Horse. Debit cost to Military
Department.’
Report and Maps of Transvaal.—Copies of ‘A Short Military Report on
the Transvaal,’ together with maps, will be supplied by the Intelligence
Branch, Quartermaster-General’s Department, Simla.
Press Correspondents.—No member of the corps will be permitted to act
as a Press correspondent except with the special permission of the
military authorities in South Africa.
Expenditure Accounts.—The various departments of the Army are
authorised to issue on ‘payment indents’ such supplies, stores,
equipment, and clothing as may be required, in addition to the free
issues referred to above. All such payment indents will be clearly
marked ‘Lumsden’s Horse. On payment.’
All supplies, stores, equipment, and clothing issued from stock to the
force should be replaced as soon as possible, and all charges connected
with the raising, equipping, and despatching of the force other than
those borne by the corps itself should be debited to the Government of
India under the heading ‘Lumsden’s Horse.’
FORT WILLIAM: January 1900.
FIELD-SERVICE KIT
┌──────────────────────────────────────────┬────────────┬────────────┐
│ —— │ Officers │ N.C.O. and │
│ │ │ Men │
├──────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────┼────────────┤
│ │ │ │
│ On Person │ │ │
│Helmet with khaki cover, pagri, and chin │ 1 │ 1 │
│strap (or felt hat) │ │ │
│Khaki serge coat │ 1 │ 1 │
│Pantaloons, Bedford cord │ 1 │ 1 │
│Khaki putties or leather gaiters │ 1 │ 1 │
│Walking boots │ 1 │ 1 │
│Spurs, jack │ 1 │ 1 │
│Drawers │ 1 │ 1 │
│Flannel shirt │ 1 │ 1 │
│Socks, woollen pairs │ 1 │ 1 │
│Vest │ 1 │ 1 │
│Flannel belt │ 1 │ 1 │
│Braces │ 1 │ 1 │
│Pocket handkerchief │ 1 │ — │
│Sword │ 1 │ 1 │
│Revolver (and ammunition) │ 1 │ — │
│Belts set │ 1 │ 1 │
│Bandolier │ 1 │ 1 │
│Field glasses (if not on saddle) │ 1 │ 1 (N.C.O. │
│ │ │ only) │
│Compass │ 1 │1 (ditto)│
│Watch │ 1 │1 (ditto)│
│Note-book │ 1 │1 (ditto)│
│Water-bottle │ 1 │ 1 │
│Haversack, with knife, fork, and cup │ 1 │ 1 │
│Map, linen (if available) │ 1 │ 1 (N.C.O. │
│ │ │ only) │
│First field dressing (in special pocket) │ 1 │ 1 │
│Descriptive card (ditto) │ — │ 1 │
│Emergency ration (if available) │ 1 │ 1 │
│Pocket dressing-case │ 1 (Medical │ — │
│ │ Officer │ │
│ │ only) │ │
│ │ │ │
│ Carried in Kit │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│Khaki helmet cover, spare │ 1 │ 1 │
│Khaki drill coat │ 1 │ 1 │
│Khaki serge coat │ 1 │ 1 │
│Khaki trousers, serge │ 1 │ 1 │
│ ” ” drill │ 1 │ 1 │
│Pantaloons, Bedford cord │ 1 │ 1 │
│Field service cap │ 1 │ 1 │
│Walking boots (and spare laces) │ 1 │ 1 │
│Putties, khaki pair │ 1 │ 1 │
│Drawers │ 2 │ 1 │
│Flannel shirts │ 2 │ 1 │
│Socks, woollen pairs │ 3 │ 1 │
│Vests │ 2 │ 1 │
│Flannel belt │ 1 │ 1 │
│Pocket-handkerchiefs │ 5 │ 2 │
│Housewife │ 1 │ 1 │
│Holdall │ 1 │ 1 │
│Towels │ 2 │ 2 │
│Blankets │ 2 │ 2 │
│Wolseley valise │ 1 │ — │
│Waterproof sheet │ 1 │ 1 │
│Basin, canvas │ 1 │ — │
│Dubbing tin │ 1 │ 1 │
│Small book │ — │ 1 │
│Diary │ 1 │ — │
│Field Service Departmental Code, Medical │ 1 (Medical │ │
│ │ Officer │ │
│ │ only) │ │
│Writing-case │ 1 │ — │
│Lantern │ 1 │ — │
│Cardigan jacket │ 1 │ 1 │
│Warm coat │ 1 │ 1 │
│Mittens pair │ 1 │ 1 │
│Balaclava cap │ 1 │ 1 │
│Cooking utensils set │ 1 │ — │
│Enamelled tin plates, cups, &c. set │ 1 │ 1 │
│Logline for packing, 15 feet │ — │ 1 │
└──────────────────────────────────────────┴────────────┴────────────┘
Artificers’ Tools and Stores (to be supplied free by
Government)
Armourer’s tools and stores 80 lb.
Saddler’s tools and stores 160 ”
Materials for repairs of accoutrements, saddlery, 160 ”
and line gear
Shoeing iron and charcoal 160 ”
Reserve of shoes with nails 160 ”
Miscellaneous Stores (to be supplied free by Government)
Handcuffs 2 pairs
Steelyards, with weights, complete 1 set
Scales, weights, with small stores, &c. 1
Light forges, Mark IV., pack saddle, I.P. 2
Veterinary Stores (to be supplied free by Government)
Universal field veterinary chests 2
Veterinary wallets 2
Medical Stores (to be supplied free by Government)
Medical field panniers 1 pair
Field medical companion 1
” surgical haversack 1
” ” Cavalry bag 1
” stretchers 2
Blanket stretchers 4
Quartermaster’s Stores (to be supplied on payment by
Government if required).
Drawers, cotton 25 pairs
Coats, khaki serge 25
Trousers, serge, khaki 25 pairs
” drill ” 25 ”
Boots, ankle 25 ”
Socks, woollen 25 ”
Shirts, flannel 25
Caps, forage 10
Buttons, coat, small 6 doz.
” iron, trousers 2 gross
Cloth, serge, khaki 20 yds.
Chin, strapers, helmet, leather 10
Thread, black and coloured 5 lb.
” khaki 4 ”
Dubbing
Soap, washing 30 ”
Scissors, tailor’s, 9” 1 pair
Oil, Rangoon (1 gallon per company) 2 cans
Shoemakers’ Tools and Stores (to be supplied free by
Government)
Soles, half pairs 50
Lifts ” ” 50
Tips ” ” 50
Nails, tip 1 lb.
Rivets 7 ”
Feet, iron, 9” 2
Leather, spare
Hemp balls, 24-lb. 1
Tools, shoemakers’ 10
Entrenching Tools (to be supplied free by Government)
Shovels, light 20
Pickaxes, ” 20
Felling axes 8
Bill-hooks 16
Hooks, reaping 32
Bags, entrenching tool 2 pairs
Carried on one horse per company.
Maxim Equipment
One Maxim gun. One tripod mounting, &c.
Camp Equipment (to be supplied under regimental
arrangements)
Officers, 80-lb. tent each. Non-commissioned officers and men,
8 per 80-lb. G.S. tent. Office, 80-lb. tent. Surgery, 80-lb.
tent. Quarter-guard, 80-lb. tent. Rearguard, 240-lb. tent.
Baggage.
Officers, 80 lb. each. Non-commissioned officers and men, 40
lb. each.
Saddlery and Line Gear (to be supplied free by Government)
For each Horse
One hay-net. │One set head and heel ropes.
One nosebag, canvas. │One set heel-pegs.
One watering-bridle. │One jhool.
One horse-brush. │One blanket.
One curry-comb. │One set spare shoes with nails.
One knee-halter. │One horse rubber.
One canvas water-bucket. │One waterproof harness wrapper.
One numnah. │Water buckets, one to four horses.
One eye-fringe. │Sponges, one to ten horses.
One chagul. │Clipping machines, one to ten horses.
One headstall. │Hoof-pickers, one to five horses.
Miscellaneous
Cooking utensils, five sets per company 10 sets
Tables, office, 14 lb. each 2
Chairs ” 4 lb. each 2
Yakdans, office. Weight full 80 lb. each 1 pair
Reserve Saddlery (to be supplied free by Government)
Saddle. │Horse brush. │Headstall.
Numnah. │Curry-comb. │Head-ropes.
Bridle. │Knee-halter. │Heel-pegs.
Reins. │Canvas water-bucket.│Jhool.
Bit, complete. │Eye-fringe. │Blanket.
Nosebags, canvas. │Chaguls. │
Watering bridle. │ │
Pay as for British Cavalry of the Line (vide Article 780, Royal
Warrant for Pay and Promotion):
┌────────────────────────────────────┬─────────────────┐
│Rank │ Per day │
│ │ £. s. d.│
│Lieutenant-Colonel │ 1 1 6│
│Major │ 15 0│
│Captain │ 13 0│
│Lieutenant │ 7 8│
│Second-Lieutenant │ 6 8│
│Adjutant (and Quartermaster) │ 5 0[D]│
│Quartermaster-Sergeant │ 4 4│
│Company Sergeant-Major │ 4 4│
│Company Quartermaster-Sergeant │ 3 4│
│Sergeant │ 2 8│
│Farrier Sergeant │ 2 10│
│Shoeing Smith │ 1 8│
│Saddler │ 1 9½│
│Bugler │ 1 4│
│Corporal (if paid as Lance-Sergeant)│ 2 4│
│Corporal │ 2 0│
│Private (appointed Lance-Corporal) │ 1 6│
│Private │ 1 2│
└────────────────────────────────────┴─────────────────┘
Footnote D:
In addition to pay of rank.