Marshall's Horse
| Marshall's Horse | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1899 - 30 October 1902 |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Horse Regiment |
| Commanders | |
| Major | George Marshall |
Marshall's Horse was a South African cavalry unit formed in 1899 at the start of the Second Boer War to provide military support for the British campaign. The Unit was created from the Uitenhage and Grahamstown Volunteers. They formed in Grahamstown, initially comprising 244 members before rising to 500 in late 1899. The unit's commanding officer was Major George Marshall.[1]
Chronology of Events: 1899
Following formation, Marshall's Horse were stationed in Grahamstown and patrolled the surrounding railway network.[2]
1900
In early 1900, under Ridley's 4th Mounted Infantry Brigade, the Unit joined the British advance from the Modder River to Bloemfontein. This march included the Battle of Poplar Grove on 7th March in which Lieutenant Freislich was killed. A few weeks later, the Unit participated in an action at Thaba Nchu under General Ian Hamilton an event related in Winston Churchill's Ian Hamilton's March. They also fought at Israel's Poort on 25 April 1900. Captain Gethin (pictured below) was killed that day. Marshall himself was wounded. Lord Roberts mentioned their performance in his dispatches.
In the march on Pretoria "Marshall's Horse frequently took a prominent share of the work. On 5th June at Schippen's Farm, for example, they had 1 killed and 5 wounded. They were engaged at Doornkop, south-west of Johannesburg, on 29th May, and in the Battle of Diamond Hill, east of Pretoria, on 11th, 12th, and 13th June, and had slight casualties in both actions. In the latter part of August and during September Marshall's Horse was employed about Krugersdorp and in the Gatsrand, and frequently had fighting and rather heavy casualties." [3] On 5th September 1900, "around 5 kilometres north of Fochville" the Unit was engaged by Danie Theron. Four men were killed and three wounded while Theron is believed to have been killed by British artillery supporting Marshall's Horse.[4] From October to December they were with Barton in Frederickstad, and on 18th October a foraging party was attacked, 2 men being killed and 4 wounded. The Unit took part in fierce fighting under Barton from 20th to 25th October, resulting in the local defeat of the enemy. Marshall's Horse had Lieutenant Mullins and 2 men wounded. On 17 October 1900, as part of Major General Barton's column, six members of Marshall's Horse were cut off by Boers whilst collecting supplies near Frederickstad.
1901
In early 1901 Marshall's Horse returned to Cape Colony following renewed enemy attacks in that region. This included fighting in the Zuurberg Mountains during which Lieutenant Cliff Turpin was killed and six men wounded on 24th March. Later in the year the Unit formed detachments in the Transvaal and Gatsrand respectively.
1902
In 1902 Marshall's Horse deployed to the west of Cape Colony. On 30 October 1902 the Unit was absorbed into the Cape Police.
Casualties
According to a memorial on the wall of St John the Baptist Church, Newport, Monmouthshire, 60 members of Marshall's Horse died during the Second Boer War. 30 in 1900, 14 in 1901 and 16 in 1902.
Bibliography
- Churchill, Sir Winston (1989). Ian Hamilton's March, London: Cooper.
- Conan Doyle, Arthur (1902). The Great Boer War, London: Smith, Elder and Co.
- Stirling, John (1907). The Colonials in South Africa: 1899-1902, Edinburgh, Blackwood.
- Schoeman, Chris (2011). Brothers in Arms, Cape Town, Zebra.