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Loch's Horse was raised in London in March 1900 by Lord Loch, a former Governor of Cape Colony.

It was unique in that it was the only privately raised and funded Regiment of the South African Mounted Irregular Forces.

Its approximately 220 members presenting a diverse mixture of society. The qualification for joining was the possession of either military or African experience and the Troopers ranged from retired Army Officers to former Foreign Legionnaires.


Lord Loch’s Contingent on Parade.

The contingent which owes so much to the munificence and public spirit of Lord Loch is composed of men who are Imperial Yeomen with a difference. They have been recruited mostly out of old campaigners who have had experience in South Africa, many of them with the Cape Mounted Rifles and the Cape Mounted Police, and better men for their work could not be found. Two contingents went out under command respectively of Captain Howard Brown, late of Lord Kitchener’s staff, and formerly Town Commandant at Buluwayo, and of Captain Hodson. a greatly experienced officer. The utmost public interest was attracted by the formation and despatch of this remarkable corps, and it will Illustrate the character of its members if we say that one gentleman came all the way from Klondyke to Join it. The riding and shooting tests for the men were exceptionally severe, and for the former the services of an experienced buck-jumper were called Into requisition, so that no doubt those who passed the test had attained a high standard of rough-and-ready horsemanship. Lord Loch’s yeomen are, Indeed, a very tough set, men who may be depended upon alike for courage and endurance, and whose qualities for South African warfare could not be surpassed. Altogether this Is a very remarkable contingent.

Source: Transvaal War Album

Tylden notes: Raised in February, 1900, for the S.A. War, with a strength of 220. Officially classed as a S.A. corps, but recruited largely in England. Served in the Transvaal and other areas.

The unit was disbanded in England in April 1901.

From DNW, December 1991

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (Capt., Loch's Horse);
KSA (2) (Capt., C.C. Forces).

Captain Robert Ramsay Kennedy was 30 years of age on enlistment and Scottish.

£190

Picture courtesy of DNW

DCM ED VII (Tpr: J. Blades. Loch’s Horse);
BSA CM reverse Mashonaland 1897 (436 Troopr M. J. Blades. B.S.A. Police.);
QSA (3) CC, OFS, Joh (196 Tpr: M. J. Blades, Loch’s Horse)

DCM LG 27 September 1901.

Matthew James Blades was a farmer by trade and a native of West Bank, Hawes, Yorkshire. He attested for the British South Africa Police, 28 April 1897, and served with the Mashonaland Division. Having left the British South Africa Police after a year’s service he attested for Loch’s Horse, aged 34, on 15 March 1900.

Over the course of the Regiment’s 12 months of active service it suffered eleven men lost to wounds and disease, and in each case the widow or next of kin was paid the sum of £50, the amount for which the life of each officer and man was insured by the Committee.

1 of 3 DCM’s gazetted for the Regiment, one of which was subsequently cancelled, another upgraded to a Commission and the award of a DSO, and the final one awarded to Trooper Blades. Therefore it is likely that this is the only DCM in existence to the Regiment.

Picture courtesy of DNW

CGHGSM (1) Transkei (Tpr. W. T. E. Wallace, Civ. Des. Mesr.);
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State (Lieut. W. T. E. Wallace, Loch’s Horse);
KSA (2) (Capt. W. T. E. Wallace, King’s L’pool. Rgt.)

William Thomas Ewart Wallace was educated privately and at St. George’s Cathedral College, Cape Town. Served with the Cape Government Postal and Telegraphic Service. Transferred to the British South Africa Company’s Administrative Service in 1894 but resigned after the Jameson Raid of 1896. Was appointed a Lieutenant in the Mashonaland Defence Force 1893. Served in the Second Boer War. Was a Lieutenant in “C” Troop, B Squadron, Loch’s Horse, June 1900-May 1901; Promoted Captain in January 1901. Served as Acting Provost Marshal, 6th Mounted infantry (De Lisles). Captain in the 4th Battalion Liverpool Regiment, June 1901. After the war he served as Superintendent in the Royal Engineers telegraph construction party in Nigeria, 1903-05. Seconded as Assistant Superintendent of Telegraphs in East Africa, December 1905; served as Assistant Telegraph Engineer and Assistant Postmaster General for Uganda in 1912; transferred to the department of the Postmaster General in the Gold Coast in 1913 and served as Acting Postmaster General on several occasions. On the outbreak of war he was appointed a Major in the 13th Battalion Liverpool Regiment. Served in the Gold Coast at Accra as Censor, December 1914-January 1916; was on special military service at Palime, Togoland, February 1916. During August 1916-January 1917 was on the headquarters supply staff of the Ministry of Munitions. After the war he returned to the Gold Coast as Acting Engineer-in-Chief of the Postal Telegraph Service, November 1923-May 1924. Wallace retired as Deputy Postmaster General of the Gold Coast in 1929.

September 2013 £850

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, South Africa 1901 (13 Tpr. E. B. Harford, Loch’s Horse). DNW September 2012 £150.

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (66 Corpl., Loch’s Horse);
KSA (2) (1937 Tpr., S.A.C.)

George Augustus Faddy, who was born in May 1865, enlisted in the S.A.C. in June 1901, stating prior service with the Canadian N.W.M.P., which body he had joined at Ottawa in June 1885. In April 1890, however, due to ‘urgent private affairs’ back in England, he sought his discharge. Afterwards travelling to South Africa, he served in the Natal Mounted Police, ‘A’ Squadron, Loch’s Horse and No. 2 Troop, ‘A’ Division, S.A.C. Faddy was finally discharged in June 1902. DNW September 2002 £190.

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (195 Tpr. E. A. Ford, Loch’s Horse). DNW December 2001 £120.

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (195 Tpr: E. A. Ford. Loch’s Horse). Spink July 2019.

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (7033 Corpl W Hearn Loch's Horse). Bonham's March 2004.

BSACM, reverse Rhodesia 1896 (Troopr M.M.P.);
QSA (2) CC OFS (Corpl. R L Hulse, Loch's Horse). Christie's July 1985

QSA (4) CC OFS Joh DH (7047 Serjt T B Neary, Loch's Horse). City Coins #35. Noble Numismatics July 2020.

Clasp entitlement confirmed on medal roll for Ross Gun Regiment. Note: Actually titled Ross Machine Gun Battery, this was a unit raised by Sir Charles Ross and it is recorded in official archives under Loch's Horse.

Orange River Scouts medal roll indicates entitlement to King's South Africa Medal 1902.

Thomas Bartholomew Neary, baker, age 36, born in New Zealand; Enl.06Apr1900 in Reserves Squadron; to Ross Guns (Loch's Horse) 25Apr1900 under serial number 7047; Disch.15Oct1900 as Gunner at expiration of service, wife's address recorded as Young St, City, Sydney, NSW; Enl.12Nov1900 at Cape Town in C.C.B.G. (Commander-in-Chief's Body Guard) under serial number 22260; Disch.25Sep1901 as Corporal on disbandment of regiment; address after discharge listed as Paddington Barracks, Sydney, NSW, Australia; to Peninsula Horse 29Oct1901 to 24Dec1901 under serial number 1159; to (Neylan's) Orange River Scouts 07Apr1902 to 31May1902 under serial number 190.

QSA (4) CC OFS Joh DH (Tpr J Skelly, Loch's Horse). City Coins August 1998.

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (Tpr. R. B. Cottrell, Loch's Horse.). Dixon's Medals Summer 1987.

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Wepener (Tpr. G. Carter, B Squad Loch's Horse).

Warwick and Warwick May 1988. Dixon's Medals Summer 1989.

Entitled to CC, OFS, Joh.