In 1888 a general amalgamation of the four then-existing coast mounted regiments of Natal took place. Those units were the Alexandra Mounted Rifles, based on Umzinto, the Umzimkulu Mounted Rifles, based on Port Shepstone, the Victoria Mounted Rifles, based on Verulam, and the Durban Mounted Rifles, based on Durban. The combination formed was given the name of Natal Mounted Rifles, with head' quarters in Durban, and was worked in two wings, the right wing being the two former regiments from and including Durban northwards, and the left wing from Durban southwards.
Difficulties in control and administration, resulting from unwieldiness due to the very large and mostly undeveloped area covered by the regiment, led, in 1894, to the division of the unit into two separate regimental One wing, the former Victoria and Durban Mounted Rifles, retained the name Natal Mounted Rifles, and the other wing adopted the name Border Mounted Rifles, with headquarters at Ixopo.
The regiment was organised in troops, each taking the name of the district in which it recruited. In 1898 the troops were formed into three squadrons, each of two troops, each squadron commanded by a Captain.
The recruiting area of the Border Mounted Rifles was the coast of Natal south of Isipingo, the western border marching with Pondoland, East Griqualand and Pietermaritzburg County.
The first commanding officer was Major H. T. Bru deWold, of Port Shepstone, formerly second-in-command of the Natal Mounted Rifles. He was succeeded by Major J. F. Rethman, who was followed by Lieut.-Colonel William Arnott, who afterwards commanded the 3rd Mounted Rifles (N.M.R.) and was later Brigadier-General.
When the Border Mounted Rifles hived off from the Natal Mounted Rifles they retained the uniform of the latter—blue doth with white facing, blue cloth helmet with white metal chain-on-leather chin-strap, mushroom and spike on top and monogram device of B.M.R. in front. The unit had no badge or shoulder letters, and had no service uniform until the adoption, in 1897, by all the Natal mounted regiments of the universal khaki and smasher hat, with left brim turned up and carrying the monogram device, above referred to, backed by a square of green doth, not then styled a flash, the colour adopted by the unit for its facings. Brown field boots were worn by officers and black by other ranks. A khaki doth kepi cap, edged with green was worn in evening dress, together with overalls likewise faced with green. The mess dress for officers was navy doth with green facings and white metal buttons and badges. On the field service dress green piping ran down the outer seam of the breeches and overalls, also adorned the collar and cuffs of the jacket, green shoulder straps carrying the block letters B.M.R. in white metal, completed the outfit.
The unit adopted no war cry, and up to the early part of 1899 had adopted no badge. But, during the general training encampment of that year the Natal Volunteer Force was visited by the Governor of Natal, Sir Walter Hcly-Hutchinson, who, of course, called upon the several officers' messes. Noting the absence of display in the B.M.R. mess—some empty bottles serving as plate—as compared with the ether messes, the Governor remarked upon it, exclaiming, " Ah, this is Spartan, Rethman, and what I like to see; rough and ready." The regimental Medical Officer, Captain H. T. Platt, thereupon picked up a top boot with spur attached and firmly setting it on the bare table amongst the empty bottles, said, " This is the only plate we have, sir." This incident led, with the sanction of the Governor, to the adoption of the Top Boot and Spur as the crest of the regiment with the motto "Rough but Ready." The identical boot and spur are still pre-served in the regimental museum of the Natal Mounted Rifles in Durban, and they are a treasured relic of the regiment. This device formed the crest of the regiment with scrolls bearing the name and motto of the unit and worn on the aides of the collar, the monogram device being worn on the hat. Buttons were distinctive and bore the monogram in raised letters. In common with the other mounted regiments of Natal, their monogram, badge, shoulder letters and buttons were of white metal, denoting their volunteer status and origin.
Members provided their own horse, saddlery, clothing and articles of personal use at their own expense, receiving an annual grant for the upkeep of the horse. The regiment received an annual capitation grant for running expenses. Members received no pay except when attending training encampments and on active service. Government provided arms, ammunition and field equipment. The usual colonial pattern saddlery was used and, up to about 1896, the brown leather cross-belt and ammunition pouch. But the latter was withdrawn shortly prior to the Anglo-Boer War, and the Royston webb rifle sling and bandolier combined was issued. This did not last long, however; it was a clumsy, awkward contraption, gave the wearer a sore shoulder and in die act of mounting and dismounting it brought the muzzle of the rifle in contact with the ground. Moreover, if thrown from his hone, the wearer was likely to receive a blow on die head by the rifle swinging over. After the first year of the Anglo-Boer War the equipment, known as the Royston Entanglement, was gladly discarded by the mounted regiments in favour of the leather rifle bucket, swung to the right side of the saddle, and leather bandolier.
From 1875, before which year the Terry and Snider Carbine was used by the Natal Volunteer Force, to 1894, the Natal mounted units used the .450 bore Martini-Henry carbine, firing a lead bullet from a brass-foil case, with a heavy punch backwards as well as forwards. The carbine was carried slung across the back on a leather sling. Ammunition was carried in a pouch or cartouche box, hung to a brown leather cross-belt. In 1894 the . 450 carbine was changed for the . 303 bore carbine, firing a nickel-sheathed lead bullet, but in 1899 the carbine was replaced by the Martini-Henry rifle and .450 Webley revolver. After the S.A. War the magazine rifle with bayonet replaced the fast, officers, warrant officers and certain other ranks carrying revolvers only. Up to this date officers carried swords but these were then discarded except for ceremonial dress. The Sam Browne belt was used. For several years before the Anglo-Boer War the regiment had a machine-gun troop, Maxims, but these were withdrawn shortly afterwards. Up to 1899 the B.M.R. had their own Medical, Veterinary and Signalling officers with their detachments, but in that year these were discontinued and the officers and other personnel were attached from those corps in war time and at annual training encampments.
In 1903 the Natal Volunteer Force was changed in status to a militia force of which recruits could be obtained compulsorily. But compulsion was rarely needed as no difficulty was experienced by units in keeping up their strength by voluntary enlistment. Under the Natal Militia Act the establishments of units were filed, likewise the period of the command and of the adjutancy. Other salutary changes were also brought about, notably as to promotion of officers and periods of service of members.
On 4th October, 1904, the regiment was honoured by the award of Kings Colours by H.M. King Edward VII, presented at Pietermaritzburg by H.R.H. Princess Christian, sister of the King, for services in the Anglo-Boer War. During the First Great War of 1914—1918. shortly after the amalgamation of the B.M.R. with the Natal Mounted Rifles, the Colours of the former, which had been left in the regimental headquarters at Ixopo when the regiment left for active service, disappeared and, despite every effort during many years to trace them, could not be found, to the profound regret of the former regiment to which they were given by the King as a regimental honour.
From its formation to the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War the life of the B.M.R. was uneventful enough, the only events of real interest being the ten days' annual training encampment, quarterly musters for drill and musketry and periodical dances and sports meetings. The regiment attained an outstanding standard in military sports and skill-at-arms, tent pegging and field firing being excelled in for years. Many are the trophies won by the regiment and by individuals for such skill.
On 29th September, 1899, the Border Mounted Rifles were called up for active service against the Boers and, although many lived in remote parts of their districts, the bulk of the personnel had, within two days, arrived at Ladysmith as a unit of the Natal Volunteer Brigade under their breezy, bluff and resourceful Commander, Major J. F. Rethman, of Harding, assembled there and were operating thence during the following five months. The regiment immediately got down to the serious duties of patrolling far afield, feeling for and getting contact with the Boer forces who were soon across the Natal borders and pushing on to Ladysmith and further down country. Fighting soon occurred and the regiment was in the thick of it and took an active share in the general engagements at Tintanyoni, Bestcr's Farm and Lombard's Kop, besides several minor and local affairs of outposts and patrols leading Up to the final surrounding and complete investment of Ladysmith. They took a leading part in the night attack upon and destruction of the Boer big guns on Gun Hill on 9th November, 1899, suffering casualties in all the fighting. Then on 6th January, 1900, came the attack by the Boers on the British posts on Wagon Hill and Caesar's Camp in the defence of which the B.M.R. took a strenuous role, suffering a number of casualties in killed and wounded. During the historic siege the regiment was reduced to half its strength by disease, privation, hardship from bad weather and the effect of continuous and arduous duties. A large number of their horses were slaughtered and eaten, these being mostly the mounts of noneffectives which could not be looked after and kept alive by any means or attention at all. During the siege their Adjutant, Captain William Arnott, was severely wounded and their Q.M. Lieut. W. D. Smith, died of disease.
After the Relief of Ladysmith and following a six weeks' period of rest, feeding and recuperation down country and the recruitment of the unit up to normal strength, the B.M.R. formed a unit of the reconstituted Natal Volunteer Brigade under Major General John G. Dartnell, which was attached to the Imperial forces which advanced north and finally drove the Boers out of Natal. On reaching Volksrust the Brigade was sent back to Dundee district charged with the duty of defending the upper part of Natal from the inroads of raiding parties of the enemy which were of frequent though largely ineffective occurrence. At the end of October, 1900, the Brigade was temporarily demobilised and returned home, leaving a composite regiment to which the B.M.R. contributed about fifty officers and men, who volunteered to serve on for the duration of the war. This unit waa the Natal Volunteer Composite Regiment which saw a good deal of fighting till peace came on 31st May, 1901, and in which the B.M.R. personnel suffered a number of casualties.
In the latter part of 1901 the Natal Volunteer Brigade was again in the field in the Greytown district holding the border against the threatened serious second invasion of Natal by the Boers via western Zululand. This enterprise by the enemy did not eventuate, however, as he was stopped and signally repulsed at the severe action at Itala by the Imperial force holding that sector of the war theatre. The Brigade was in the field for a month when it was again demobilised, this time for good so far as that war was concerned.
The casualties sustained by the B.M.R. during the war were 1 officer died, 12 other ranks killed or died of disease and about 18 officers and other ranks wounded.
In 1906 came the Zululand and Natal native rebellion in the suppression of which the B.M.R. took a full share and participated in most of the fighting which took place in Natal including the actions of Hlonono Hill and Umvoti Valley. The force was in the field for about six months. The casualties were very light.
In December, 1907, the regiment was out again as part of the expeditionary force which was suddenly called up and proceeded to Zululand to arrest Chief Dinuzulu who had been fomenting further trouble. His removal from the country settled the trouble and the force was out for about a month. No fighting occurred.
After 1907 the life of the regiment was peaceful until the outbreak of the First Great War in August, 1914, by which time the B.M.R. had become amalgamated with the N.M.R. as the 3rd Mounted Rifles (N.M.R.). This brought the life of the regiment as a separate entity to a close, but shortly before this — January, 1914 — the regiment, still as B.M.R., was called up for duty for three weeks guarding the railways of Natal during the General Strike upheaval. This was really police work.
Honours awarded to individuals of the regiment during all the field service the unit took part in were one C.M.G., two D.S.O. s to officers while temporarily serving with other units, and eight Mentions-in-Despatches, all while serving in their own regiment.
Source: Short History Of The Volunteer Regiments Of Natal And East Griqualand, Past and Present. Compiled by Colonel Godfrey T Hurst, DSO OBE VD, Honorary Colonel of the Natal Mounted Rifles.
