The regiment sailed on the Ismore, which came to grief in St Helena Bay, the men being saved, and also on the Columbian, and arrived at the Cape about the beginning of December 1899. They lost no time in commencing active operations under General French in the Colesberg district, where they were kept very busy till the end of January. In that general's despatch of 2nd February 1900 he mentions that a squadron seized and held Maider's Farm on 30th December preparatory to the Berkshire Regiment attacking another hill which formed part of the Colesberg defences. Next day Colonel Fisher's men were directed to seize other positions; "this work was well done". On the 4th January the enemy was found to have occupied certain hills. "The cavalry on the left should not have allowed him to do this unseen, but in turning him out they rendered signal service ... In a most gallant style Colonel Fisher dismounted his men and led them on foot against this position, which they carried with great boldness and intrepidity. In this daring operation, I regret to say, Major Harvey was killed and Major Alexander severely wounded". Two men were killed and 2 other officers and 8 men wounded.
During the remainder of the month the regiment was constantly at work, and was then sent to Modder River to join the big force which Lord Roberts was gathering. In the beginning of February, when Macdonald with the Highland Brigade went out west to Koodosberg Drift, the regiment was part of the cavalry under Major General Babington (see Household Cavalry). As soon as the force returned a start for Kimberley was made. The regiment, along with the Household Cavalry and 12th Lancers, formed the 2nd Brigade under Broadwood, and their subsequent doings up to October have already been sketched under the Household Cavalry. At Diamond Hill, 11th and 12th June 1900 (see 1st Sussex Regiment), the charge by a part of Broadwood's brigade saved Q Battery.
In Lord Roberts' despatch of 31st March 1900, Colonel Fisher and 5 non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned for good work up to the occupation of Bloemfontein. Lieutenant Sir John P Milbanke gained the VC for, on 5th January 1900, near Colesberg, after being severely wounded in the thigh, riding back and rescuing a man whose horse was done up; and Sergeant Engleheart also got the Cross for, when out with a party of Engineers blowing up the railway within the enemy's lines north of Bloemfontein, 13th March 1900, going back to the rescue of a comrade. Her late Majesty personally conferred these decorations in December 1900.
Eight officers and 9 non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned in Lord Roberts' despatches of 2nd April and 4th September 1901.
In the first seven months of 1901 the regiment, along with their old comrades the 12th Lancers, were in a brigade under Colonel E C Knox which operated in the Eastern Transvaal, taking part in French's great sweep to the south-east corner, and they also operated in the north-east of the Orange River Colony; and both regiments were afterwards taken to Cape Colony, where, under the direction of General French, they did endless chasing after Kritzinger and Scheepers and their followers during the remainder of the campaign. On 11th October 1901 the notorious Scheepers was taken by a patrol of the 10th Hussars under Captain Shearman.
Four officers and 6 non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned by Lord Kitchener in despatches during the last phase of the war, and in the final despatch the names of 3 officers, 2 non-commissioned officers, and a private were added.
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