The corps was formed in Natal by J S Marwick.
Peter Warwick in 'Black People and the South African War 1899-1902' refers to the NLC:
At the beginning of December [1899] it was decided that a Native Labour Corps should be created and administered by the Public Works Department, but with the important difference that that the labour employed would be - nominally at least - voluntary... Within a short period Marwick had recruited over 1000 men, supplied largely by chief Ncwadi and indirectly by the magistrates in Weenen and Estcourt. The men were usually engaged for three months and paid 40s a month, double the rate for isibalo labour. A small number of Indians were also enlisted, some of whom acted as overseers and were paid 60s a month. As the war progressed the corps gradually became dispersed throughout Northern Natal, the Orange River Colony and the south eastern Transvaal'.
The QSA rolls (within the ASC portfolio) show some claims for the OFS clasp but no clasp medals were issued to the NLC.
