DIARY OF THE 9TH (Q.R.) LANCERS DURING THE SOUTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN 1899 TO 1902

The 9th Lancers were stationed in Muttra, India, in September 1899 when they were warned for service in S Africa where war with the Boers was imminent. The Regiment sailed from Bombay on 24/25 September in three ships, one of which encountered a fierce storm between Durban and Cape Town resulting in 83 horses and nine mules being killed or washed overboard. This storm is vividly described, the carnage among the animals on deck was appalling as they were flung about among the wreckage of the wooden stables. The contents are set out in diary form with dates in the margin against the narrative which covers all matters affecting the Regiment – actions, casualties, reinforcements, extracts from Army, divisional etc orders and other correspondence, strength states, awards, all are duly noted. The first entry is for 8 Sep 1899 when the Regiment was ordered to mobilize and prepare for active service and the final entry is for 9 April 1902 when the Regiment arrived back in India after some two and a half years on active service. It saw plenty of action – at Kimberley, in the Transvaal and Orange Free State and River Colony; clasps to the Queen’s South Africa Medal gained by the Regiment as a whole were: Belmont, Modder River, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill and Witterbergen. Casualty details are given at the end of the book, 225 in all of whom 45 died in action and 26 of disease or from accident. There is also a complete list of officers who served with the Regiment during the campaign, a list Awards and Mentions in Despatches, and finally a record of distances covered – a total of 8,530 miles.