This corps, called at first District Mounted Rifles, 3 squadrons strong, were commanded by Lieutenant Colonel E O Hutchinson. They operated in Cape Colony during the second phase of the war, and were in numerous little engagements and many pursuits, and frequently suffered casualties, as in the Maraisburg district in August and September 1901, at Wilgekloof in February 1902—Lieutenant F Legard being wounded on the 1st of that month,—and about Somerset East and Jamestown districts in March and April.
The Mentions gained were:-
LORD KITCHENER'S DESPATCH: 1st June 1902.—Lieutenants G Brabant and L Francis, "on March 11th, at Libertas, Cape Colony, led a small body of men in rear of a position held by 250 of enemy, and getting close up unperceived killed Commandant Odendaal and two Boers, wounded two others, and forced enemy to retire with loss of 21 horses". Quartermaster Sergeant J Welch; Sergeants G Metcalfe and C R Roberts for gallantry on same occasion.
22nd June 1902.—Lieutenant Colonel E O Hutchinson.
