TOPIC:

Routine Orders by Lt. Col. Steele
Commanding "Strathcona's Horse"

Zwickerbosch Spruit
July 27th, 1900

No. 1 Outposts

Officers commanding advance guards are directed to place outposts and as soon as they are placed to report the fact to the commanding officer, showing the number of posts and where they are. This should be done with as little delay as possible, as it is always necessary when coming into camp to report each action to the General Commanding.

No. 2 Parade State

A parade state of the efficient strength of squadrons is to be rendered to the O.C. every morning before marching. It is no use sending parade states at night, the morning is the time when the regt. is on the point of marching. A parade state of the regt. will be rendered once a week to the C. O., showing where every member of the regt. is, whether struck off or sick, also showing fully the casualties. Complaint has been made to the C. O. that parade states are not rendered as they should be. Squadrons on outposts or detachment duty will send in a state once a week together with their weekly report. This is necessary for the information of the G.O.C. and also for the information of the gentleman who raised this regiment, Lord Strathcona.

No. 3 Horses

The F.Q.M.Sgt and the F. Sgts. will inspect the horses once a day, and all horses inefficient, sick or unfitted for the work will be reported to the C.O. so as to enable him to take steps to obtain remounts. The greatest care must be taken to discover and report any contagious diseases in the horses. Suspected animals should be isolated at once.

No. 4 Provisional Police Force

With regard to the order asking for applications for temporary appointments in the Police force being raised in the Pretoria District. The C.O. wishes to state that he has taken steps through Lord Strathcona to enable members of the regiment to obtain positions in the permanent police force which is to be organized in about 3 months time. At the present time the C.O. and members of the regt. are in honour bound to serve the full time stipulated in the agreement unless Lord Strathcona himself wishes officers and men to take advantage of this opportunity. Large numbers of men in Canada who would not have desired to join any police force or to remain in South Africa were refused appointments in this regiment and the members now in the corps taken instead by the present C. O. consequently everyone should feel in duty bound to serve the corps if required until the term of engagement is completed. If at the conclusion of the war or when the regiment is no longer required there are vacancies in the permanent police force, the C.O. will do his utmost to obtain for them for members of the corps who have given satisfaction by their soldierly conduct during the campaign. No man can expect to be recommended who are in the habit of giving trouble to their officers.

No. 5 Detail

Field Officer: Major Jarvis
Orderly Officer: Lieut. Strange
Next for Duty: Lieut. Laidlaw

No. 6 Horses

The following horses having been transferred to the remount depot, Standerton, are hereby struck off the strength of the regiment: Nos. 924, 71, 762, 906, 517, 902, 96, 16, 820, XXXc, 125, 890, H.S., 616, 70113, 714, 334,801,68603,727,826,69, B97, 441, 224, 569, C., 757, 209, 398, 5096, 479, 12, NEMO, 842, 701, 744, Z200, 831, 273, 898, 635, 87, 896, 685, 472, 233, 704, 683, 180, NEMO, NEMO. Squadron Officers will note and act accordingly.

No. 7 Return Home

Squadron commanders will take steps to find out how many Officers, N.C.O.s and Men are desirous of returning home via England and send the names to the Orderly room at once.

No. 8 Transfer

Lieut. Kyle, A.L.H. is transferred from "B" to "A" Squadron from to-day.

No. 9 Moves

"B" Squadron under Major Jarvis will march in accordance with Brigade orders at 8.15 to-morrow.

No. 10 Reveille

Reveille will be at 6.00am to-morrow.

3rd Mounted Brigade
Routine Orders

Zwickerbosch Spruit,
July 27th, 1900

The Brigade will halt to-morrow. One Squadron S.H. will march to-morrow with Maj. Genl. Cooper's Force to Heidelburg. They will parade at 8.15 and join Maj. Genl. Cooper west of the Spruit.