TOPIC:

Orders by Lt. Col. Steele
Commanding "Strathcona's Horse"
Green Point Camp, Capetown, South Africa

11th April 1900

R.O. 305 – 11-04-1900

The horses are to be arranged as soon as possible.

R.O. 306 – 11-04-1900

Ten day forage to be retained by the Q-Master, the balance to be handed to the Army Service Corps and a reciept taken therefore.

R.O. 307 – 11-04-1900

No Officer will leave camp until after supper except when on duty or when special permission is obtained from the Commanding Officer, Second-in- Command or Senior Officer in Camp.

R.O. 308 – 11-04-1900

The well being of the horses and men of their troops must be the first thought of the Officers.

R.O. 309 – 11-04-1900

Major Belcher will go over the S.S. Monterey with the Disembarking Officer after the fatigue party has cleaned up the ship.

R.O. 310 – 11-04-1900

A fatigue party consisting of one troop accompanied by their Officer will be on duty untill all stores are taken from the wharf.

R.O. 311 – 11-04-1900

The practice of detailing of complete troops or sections for duty must nearly as possible be adhered to. When four men are required for duty, the four men of one section will be detailed.

When two men are required they will be taken from the same section.

It is impressed on all ranks that sections must work together as much as possible and no deviation from this rule will be allowed.

R.O. 312 – 11-04-1900

The R.S.M. must be at the Orderly Tent all day except when on parade, at meals, or on pass.

R.O. 313 – 11-04-1900

An Orderly Bugler will be at the Orderly Tent and when necessary to summon and Orderly Sergeant the call will be sounded for that purpose.

R.O. 314 – 11-04-1900

The practice of running about, looking for people will noy be permitted, an orderly will be detailed for the Orderly Tent whos duty will be to carry out the Adjutant's and R.S.Major's orders with regard to such matters. He will parade with the rear guard.

R.O. 315 – 11-04-1900

Orders will be given to the effect that no civilians will be permitted within the precincts of the Camp, unless past in by the N. C. Officer of one of the guards.

R.O. 317 – 11-04-1900

The quarter guard will consist of one N.C.O. and nine men. The rear guard will consist of one N.C.O. and three men.

R.O. 318 – 11-04-1900

Officers must impress on the men of the sections that although in some cases they are not Non-Commissioned Officers, that the same soldierly spirit must prevail throughout, as it is the Commanding Officer's desire (which he intends to carry out) to have his men perform important duties regardless of their rank. Men who are charged with misconduct and neglect of duty are not included in this category.

R.O. 319 – 11-04-1900

The batmen of each squadron are to be in one tent by themselves on the flank nearest to the Officer's Tent.

R.O. 320 – 11-04-1900

Everything required in camp must be gotten today.

R.O. 321 – 11-04-1900

Officers Commanding Squadrons will detail daily and Officer whose duty will be to remain in camp. He can be relieved by another Officer when necessary, but he must not be in performance of any other regimental duty at the time.

R.O. 322 – 11-04-1900

As soon as all baggage, stores, forage &c has been brought to Camp and the Horses are placed, the N.C.O.'s and men will parade infront of tents which they are to occupy, and be inspected by the Squadron Commanders accompanied by the Squadron Sergeant Major, this statement must be final.

R.O. 323 – 11-04-1900

Squadron Commanders will make the necessary arrangement about cooking, the Q-Master Sgt. being responsible to them that everything necessary is provided and that the cooks do their wook properly. No excuse for being late for meals will be accepted.

R.O. 324 – 11-04-1900

A picquet consisting of an N.C.O., and 2 sections per squadron will mount immediately after evening stables are dismissed. The relief will be arranged so that two men will not be required to be on more than once during the night. A tent for each squadron picquet will be pitched in line with the rear guard. The C.O. wishes to impress on all ranks the importance of rigid attention to picquest duties.

R.O. 325 – 11-04-1900

Until further orders the following routine will be observed:-

Reveille - 5.30 am
Stables - 5.45 to 6.45 am
Breakfast - 7.00 am
Stables - 11.00 am to 12.00 am
Dinner - 12.00 noon
Evening Stables - 4.00 pm to 4.45 pm
Supper - 5.00 pm

R.O. 326 – 11-04-1900

The Vety. Surgeon will cause the Farriers and Shoeing-Smiths to begin work to-morrow. The forage waggons are to be brought up today.

R.O. 327 – 11-04-1900

Lieut. Magee will get the detachment of men for machine guns together and cause the machine guns to be brought to camp as soon as they arrive and drill is commence. In fact everything necessary in regard to these guns will be carried out. As there is only notice of two guns having been provided so far, Lieutenants Magee and Benyon will have charge of them. (Cancelled). Lieut. Magee for the present acting as instructor.

R.O. 328 – 11-04-1900

The regiment is only likely to remain in Camp about 10 days, it is therefore necessary that before that time it should be in a first class state of organization. In the event of men having to be left behind those who misconduct themselves, absent themselves from duty &c will be the ones selected to stay at home. Such men are not worthy of sending to perform the honourable duties for which the regiment has been ordered to South Africa.

R.O. 329 – 11-04-1900

All orders must be read on stable parade, those relating to the men such as the above must be read on three successive parades, all employed men not actually required at the moment and not required for stable duties will parade for the purpose of hearing them, the regimental staff to the squadron that they are attached for pay &c. The Officers Commanding "A" Squadron will see that the Regimental Staff are on the roll of his squadron, as previously ordered the Orderly Sergeants and Sergeant-Major of "A" Squadron are to look after the personnel of the N.C.O.'s and Men of the Regimental Staff and see that they perform the duties for which they are told off, except in cases where the N.C.O.'s of the Regimental Staff are senior.

R.O. 330 – 11-04-1900

During fine weather the men will not wear jackets for stables or fatigue duty. They will parade and work in their shirt sleeves, the regiment is reminded although a very liberal kit has been provided, unless care is taken of it, it will be worn out before its time. In fine weather and not under arms the men will not wear their jackets at meals and when parading without jackets the shirt sleeves to be rolled up.

R.O. 331 – 11-04-1900

All rations and forage returns must be at the brigade supply store by 9.00 am. It is therefore necessary that the returns must leave camp at 8.30 am. No excuse will be accepted for any negligence as regards to this. The Commanding Officer is determined that the Regiment will never be accused of any irregularity of looseness in regards to brigade orders.

R.O. 332 – 11-04-1900

Horses are to be picketed with their heads towards the mens tents, saddles to be arranged in accordance with instructions contained in "Drills for Mounted Troops". All stable duties will be carried out as nearly as possible in accordance with these regulantions.

R.O. 333 – 11-04-1900

At 10.00 am on the sound of the bugle call "Rise", the walls of the tents will be lifted and neatly rolled, no folds are to be seen. The N.C.O.'s will be responsible as to this.

R.O. 334 – 11-04-1900

There will be three (3) sections of men to a tent, including N.C. Officers, to be detailed as soon as the horses have been arranged and exclusive of the Troop Sergeants who will be in addition to the above number.

R.O. 335 – 11-04-1900

Detail for Friday 13 April, 1900

Captain of the Day, Captain Cartwright, F.L. of "C" Squadron, next for duty, Captain Howard, D.M. of "A" Squadron

Subaltern of the Day, Lieutenant Strange, A.W., of "B" Squadron, next for duty, Lieutenant Fall, P., of "A" Squadron

R.O. 336 – 11-04-1900

A board of Officers of the following detail, President Captain Cameron. Members Lieutenants Courtney and Leckie will assemble to-morrow to report on the loss of the following horses, Regt. No. 519, 316, 180. Vety Surgeon Stevenson and F.Q.M. Sergeant McMillan will give evidence of the same.

R.O. 337 – 11-04-1900

The regiment is cautioned against the waste of water by leaving the stand pipes on.