With reference to my original question, I may have found the answer. After further research into the Mounted Infantry of the 2nd KSLI I have found out some extra detail. There is an excellent tome by C.R.B Barrett titled the 85th Kings Light Infantry. The information below has been gleaned and adapted from that publication.
Towards the end of January 1900, when the second battalion KSLI was at Orange River, orders were received to form a new mounted company of 120 non-commissioned officers and men. It had at last been realised that to meet the Boers on equal terms more mounted men be raised. A rough and ready plan was evolved by which every serving regiment in South Africa would raise one new Mounted Infantry company; four companies, each with its own staff, would form a Mounted Infantry regiment. It was originally intended to brigade the regiments together to form a Mounted Infantry corps, but because of the lack of time this was not done until later on in the campaign.
The command of the 85th Company raised from the men of 2-KSLI was given to Captain J.J. White.
The company left Orange River for De Aar, where horses and equipment were to be drawn, on January 23rd 1900. It was here that the 85th Company was joined by other new companies from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Yorkshire Regiment and the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. This amalgamation of regiments went through the war as an element of the 4th Regiment of Mounted Infantry. Lt. Colonel St. G.C. Henry of the Northumberland Fusiliers was appointed Commanding Officer.
The first men selected were naturally those who had already been trained in Mounted Infantry duties but these men were barely ten percent per company. The remainder of the men were picked out as being of the right size or build or because they had been used to horses when in civil employment. But the great majority of men had never ridden a horse in their lives and knew absolutely nothing as regards to feeding, grooming or saddling. Eight days was therefore a short time to mould into shape a mounted force of such material and success could only be achieved by every officer and man putting his heart and soul into their work. Nevertheless, on February 11th, only 17 days after first having taken over the horses, the 85th company was fighting the Boers in the Orange Free State. It transpires that the 85th were active for most of their time in South Africa with support for the infantry regiments and endeavouring to prevent the Boers making raids on and blowing up railway lines and strategic crossings.
On June 7th Colonel Park’s column marched into Middelburg and was finally broken up on the 20th June. The Mounted Regiment, however, was left intact. The reservists only were at once returned to their line battalions to be sent home as early as possible, but the nucleus of the regiment remained.
A long period of peace and quiet now followed, but on August 7th 1902 orders were received for the 85th company to re-join the 2nd K.S.L.I at Middelburg on route for Newcastle after a period of 2 years and 8 months with the 4th Mounted Infantry the company left on August 9th 1902.
The K.S.L.I Mounted Infantry (4th MI Reg) were present at and received clasps for the following engagements: -
Relief of Kimberley, Paardberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, (all on the Queens South Africa medal) and South Africa, 1901, South Africa, 1902 on the Kings medal.
