When the second invasion of Cape Colony took place in December 1900 several new bodies of volunteers or irregulars were raised at Cape Town, among others this corps. They reached a strength of over 500. As soon as a squadron was ready it took the field, because the enemy in the first week of January 1901 had reached within a day's ride of Cape Town. During January and February the corps was constantly in action. In a telegram from Clanwilliam, dated 31st January, the Press Association correspondent remarked that a detachment under Lieutenant Hellawell had driven 150 Boers from the Pakhuis Pass.
Throughout 1901 and 1902 the corps did an immense amount of arduous work in the extreme south-west of the Colony. They were often far from support and in a district much favoured by the enemy, and one almost impossible for regular troops. The corps had endless little engagements, frequently involving sharp casualties, and if they had a good many patrols captured this may be attributed to their being more than usually split up into little detachments at the request of the officer who commanded the district. A part of the corps were for a time in Colonel Capper's column. A patrol on 4th August 1901 made a smart capture of 7 prisoners, 70 horses, and 1000 rounds of ammunition.
The corps were for a time commanded by Major R C Master of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, and afterwards by Captain C H Rankin, 7th Hussars.
One of the most notable things done in the western district was the successful defence of Tontelbosch Kolk, the Boer force in the neighbourhood being stated by Lord Kitchener to be about 1000 strong. The garrison, which was partly composed of men of this corps, made use of their cover most expertly, and during the siege the WPMR only lost 2 killed and 3 wounded.
The Mentions gained were—
Despatch of 8th March 1902.—Captain R M Bertram, for his very gallant defence of Tontelbosch Kolk, Cape Colony, from November 25 to December 3. Sergeant W G Somerset, Lance Corporal S van Breda (killed), Sergeant T Bromley, particularly distinguished themselves in same defence. Corporal W Paton, promoted Sergeant, in defence of Piquetberg, November 7, commanded an exposed blockhouse and held it for twenty-four hours under continuous heavy fire; of his 7 men 3 were wounded.
Despatch of 23rd June 1902.—Captain C Kirkwood.
