Mounted Infantry Of The 4th Battalion

The 4th Battalion contributed a section to "The Rifles' Company" under Captain J. D which, together with the section of the 3rd Battalion, and three sections from the 3rd and 4th Battalions of The Rifle Brigade, one of the four companies composing the celebrated 1st Mob Infantry, organized and trained at Aldershot before the war, Rifles' Company" was temporarily detached, and, landing at Port Elizabeth in November, 1899, joined the force under Major-Gen. Sir William Gatacre which was defeated at Stormberg on I December, where it was mentioned for its gallant conduct in covering the retreat. The Company then rejoined the 1st Mounted Infantry attached to French's Cavalry Division, and was at the Battle of Paardeberg, where Captain Dewar was killed. It was also present at the surrender of Cronje to Lord Roberts on 27th February, Maju Day, and took part in the Battles of Poplar Grove and Driefonte and the entry into Bloemfontein on 10th March. At the surprise Broadwood's Cavalry Brigade at Sannah's Post on 31st March I Company behaved with conspicuous gallantry; and it was also at the relief of Wepener, and in the fighting near Thabanchu.

The 1st Mounted Infantry were then allotted to Alderson's Brigs with Hutton's Mounted Troops, and took part in Lord Robert advance upon Pretoria in May. "The Rifles' Company," therefo was present in the actions of Brandfort, Vet River, Sand Riv Kroonstadt, the Vaal River (27th May), the Battle of Doornkop, of Johannesburg (28th and 29th May), the actions at Kalkhoevel Dei and Six Mile Spruit (4th June) and the entry into Pretoria (5th Jun It was similarly engaged at the Battle of Diamond Hill (11th Jun in the fighting south-east of Pretoria and at the action of Rietvlei (lt July); in the advance to and operations round Middelburg; in 1 Battle of Belfast (24th August); and in the march east from Daln nutha, including the assault on Kaapsche Hoop during the night 12th / 13th September, 1900.

From this time until the end of the war this Company, still a part of the 1st Mounted Infantry, was continually marching and fighting in the Orange River Colony and Cape Colony, pursuing De Wet, a famous Boer leader, back again in the Transvaal in countless fork and skirmishes, in the saddle night and day. When peace was declared it was at Vereeniging, whence it marched to Harrismith, and the portion belonging to the Regiment was absorbed into the 25th Rifle Battalion of Mounted Infantry.

The 4th Battalion also sent out from Cork early in 1901 two complete Mounted Infantry companies, which were employed in the Transvaal and subsequently joined the 25th Mounted Infantry in October of that year (see below).

The King's Royal Rifle Corps Mounted Infantry Battalion

On 18th October, 1901, a complete battalion of Mounted Infantry was formed from the Regiment-a unique distinction-and consisted of one company of the 1st Battalion, one of the 3rd Battalion and two of the 4th Battalion.