1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles in the Boer War

A Public Lecture by Robin Droogleever

War in Southern Africa between the British Empire and two small Boer Republics of Transvaal and Orange Free State broke out on 11 October 1899. The Colony of New South Wales offered modest assistance which the British accepted. Five squadrons constituting the 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles Regiment were sent in two separate contingents: the first arrived in Cape Town in December 1899, the second in February 1900.

The first contingent consisted of an infantry company and a mounted rifles company. The enemy’s soldiers were all mounted so the mounted rifles company was used immediately. The infantry company wished it could be more actively involved. With the arrival of Lord Roberts as commander, the structure of the British Army changed. Roberts introduced more mounted infantry to counter Boer mobility. Colonial infantry companies from Australia now became mounted. In the meantime, the call had gone out to British colonies for more mounted men, so the second contingent of February 1900 were selected for their riding skills. At this time the companies (now known as squadrons) were separated from each other.

Not until April 1900 were the five squadrons placed under a single commander, Colonel Henry de Beauvoir De Lisle, rated as one of the finest leaders of mounted troops in this war. Once made ready for the field, the history of 1NSWMR was one of constant action. By February 1900 the infantry company was mounted and deployed around Colesberg on the Central Front. The others joined Lord Roberts’ ‘Grand Army’ in its march on the Boer capitals. When guerrilla war broke out the New South Welshmen played an active role, scoring many successes against a clever and elusive enemy.

Lord Roberts was so pleased with their conduct that he sent praise and thanks to the unit commander on a number of occasions: at Driefontein, Vet River, Zand River, the fall of Johannesburg and surrender of Pretoria and at the battle of Diamond Hill. De Lisle was proud to declare that: “Australia has proved itself the home of the finest mounted infantry material in the world, and I have no hesitation in asserting my belief that the New South Wales Mounted Rifles have done more hard work, and done it better than any troops which have come to South Africa.” These men were the inspiration behind creation of Light Horse Regiments of mounted infantry which performed so effectively in the Great War.

Sydney Book Launch – Five Good Squadrons

The lecture will include the Sydney launch of Robin’s newly published book Five Good Squadrons: A Regimental History of the 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles in the Boer War (1899-1902), a ground-breaking contribution to the historical record of NSW forces in that war. This comprehensive volume, running to 873 pages, is extensively footnoted and illustrated with a broad collection of maps and images appearing on virtually each page, and includes a biography of every man who served in the unit.