Hello Brett,
The regiment spent around three weeks or so in Pietermaritzburg at Fort Napier, Captain Robert Bridgford would have certainly been very busy indeed putting together his MI Company, when George White landed in Durban on the 7th of October, the "rush" would have ceased and matters would have become rather more clear, the bulk of the force ordered down from India had arrived in the Colony.
Yet, he had decided to abandon everything north of the Biggarsberg, but, Natal is so vast, he had little choice really, the Manchester's left for Ladysmith on the 9th of October, they marched to Howick, interestingly, the NGR provided a special for their baggage and tents, but, the men had to march.
The following day they left Howick for Dargle Road, but, Colonel Curran received orders that he was needed urgently in Ladysmith, so he was to wait until the NGR could provide trains!
On the 11th of October they did manage to find two specials and I dare say that journey must have been quite unpleasant, the lads in open cattle trucks at such a high altitude too, but, certainly better than marching!
Interestingly, poor old Robert Bridgford had to march all the way with his MI Company, he did not arrive in Ladysmith until the 17th of October, I should imagine he was bloody livid with the NGR!
You mention Elandslaagte on the 21st of October, that was the next time the regiment was to ride with the NGR, in the vanguard was D Company, conveyed in an armoured train, but, C,F and G companies followed in specials formed with the usual cattle trucks, certainly a far cry from the standards maintained by the GWR and LMS back at home!
Kind regards Frank
