The Three Battalions Meet In Ladysmith

It is worthy of remark that the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions met in the streets of Ladysmith on 3rd March, 1900, when Sir Redvers Buller entered the town at the head of his army.

After the relief of Ladysmith the 3rd Battalion, still part of the Light Infantry Brigade of the 2nd Division, took part in the advance through Northern Natal, in the passage of the Biggarsberg, and in the attacks on Botha Pass and Alleman's Nek, 8th to 11th June. It entered Heidelberg at the end of June, 1900, and from that date until the end of October it was engaged in the neighbourhood of Standerton and Greylingstad protecting the railway. In November, 1900, Lieutenant-Colonel Bewicke-Copley was selected for command of a mobile column which, until 19th November, included his own 3rd Battalion. The Battalion subsequently occupied a line of blockhouses between Machadodorp and Dalmanutha, Eastern Transvaal, until the end of the war.

4th Battalion

The 4th Battalion was at Cork during the earlier phases of the war, engaged in training and sending out reinforcements, to a large extent of Mounted Infantry. It was not until December, 1901, that the Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel E. W. Herbert, sailed to Africa. Landing at Durban, it proceeded to Harrismith, Orange River Colony, where it constructed and occupied a line of blockhouses running west, and remained there until the conclusion of peace in June, 1902.

Rifle Reserve Battalion

The Reserve Battalion, under the command of Major The Hon E. J. Montagu-Stuart Wortley, was organized at Pietermaritzburg, and composed of officers and reservists of The King's Royal Rifle Corps and of The Rifle Brigade who were intended to reinforce the battalions shut up in Ladysmith. It joined the 11th Brigade at Chieveley, Natal, in January, 1900, and took part in the operations of 13th to 27th February. After the relief of Ladysmith the officers and men of the Regiment were distributed between the 1st and 2nd Battalions.

9th Battalion, North Cork Militia

This Militia Battalion of the Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel William Cooke-Collis, volunteered for active service, and embarked for the seat of war in January, 1900. Landing at Capetown on 1st February, it proceeded to Naauwpoort, and took part in the operations 'round Colesburg. Leaving Naauwpoort in March, the Battalion was employed protecting the main line of communication and the reconstruction of the railway through the Free State in rear of Lord Roberts's army. It eventually took charge of the line between Vereeniging and Honing Spruit, where it remained for a year. The Battalion returned home in August, 1901, and was disbanded later.