Cape Mounted Yeomanry
Encyclopedia
The Cape Mounted Yeomanry was a military force created on a militia
basis by Act 5 of 1878 in the Cape Colony
, with a strength of 3,000 in three regiments, to act in conjunction with the Cape Mounted Riflemen
on the eastern frontier. About 600 men were put into the field for the Basuto Rebellion in 1880.
Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Southey commanded the Cape Mounted Yeomanry during the Basuto Gun War.
26 year old Surgeon John Frederick McCrea
was a Surgeon
in the 1st Cape Mounted Yeomanry during the Basuto Gun War. He was awarded the Victoria Cross
for his actions on 14 January 1881, at Tweefontein, Basutoland
.
In this action, the burghers had been forced to retire under a most determined enemy attack, with a loss of 16 killed and 21 wounded. Surgeon McCrea was the only doctor present and notwithstanding a serious wound on the breast bone, which he dressed himself, he most gallantly took the casualties into shelter and continued to attend to the wounded throughout the day. Had it not been for this devotion to duty on the part of Surgeon McCrea, there would undoubtedly have been much greater suffering and loss of life.
Eleven members of the 3rd Cape Mounted Yeomanry died as a result of enemy action at Morosi's Stronghold
on 29 May 1879. Sixteen members of the 1st Cape Mounted Yeomanry were killed in action at Morosi's Stronghold 5 June 1879 along with seven members of the 2nd regiment.
Three hundred and six members of the unit received the Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal
. Captain AL Chiapini and Trooper
E McGuire received the medal with all three clasps i.e. Transkei
, Basutoland
and Bechuanaland.
The Cape Mounted Yeomanry was disbanded in 1881.
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
basis by Act 5 of 1878 in the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
, with a strength of 3,000 in three regiments, to act in conjunction with the Cape Mounted Riflemen
Cape Mounted Riflemen
The Cape Mounted Riflemen were South African military units. There were two separate successive regiments of that name. Some military historians distinguish between them by labelling the first as "imperial" and the second as "colonial"....
on the eastern frontier. About 600 men were put into the field for the Basuto Rebellion in 1880.
Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Southey commanded the Cape Mounted Yeomanry during the Basuto Gun War.
26 year old Surgeon John Frederick McCrea
John Frederick McCrea
John Frederick McCrea VC was a South African recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Early life:...
was a Surgeon
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
in the 1st Cape Mounted Yeomanry during the Basuto Gun War. He was awarded the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for his actions on 14 January 1881, at Tweefontein, Basutoland
Basutoland
Basutoland or officially the Territory of Basutoland, was a British Crown colony established in 1884 after the Cape Colony's inability to control the territory...
.
In this action, the burghers had been forced to retire under a most determined enemy attack, with a loss of 16 killed and 21 wounded. Surgeon McCrea was the only doctor present and notwithstanding a serious wound on the breast bone, which he dressed himself, he most gallantly took the casualties into shelter and continued to attend to the wounded throughout the day. Had it not been for this devotion to duty on the part of Surgeon McCrea, there would undoubtedly have been much greater suffering and loss of life.
Eleven members of the 3rd Cape Mounted Yeomanry died as a result of enemy action at Morosi's Stronghold
Morosi's Mountain
Morosi's Mountain was the name given to a fortified mountain in the Drakensberg mountain range on the banks of the Orange River in southern Basutoland . It was the site of a siege during the Gun War, also known as the Basuto War...
on 29 May 1879. Sixteen members of the 1st Cape Mounted Yeomanry were killed in action at Morosi's Stronghold 5 June 1879 along with seven members of the 2nd regiment.
Three hundred and six members of the unit received the Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal
Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal
The Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal was a British campaign medal awarded to South African Cape Colonial Forces. It was authorised in December 1900, as a retrospective award for veterans of three campaigns fought in South Africa between 1880 and 1897....
. Captain AL Chiapini and Trooper
Trooper (rank)
Trooper from the French "troupier" is the equivalent rank to private in a regiment with a cavalry tradition in the British Army and many other Commonwealth armies, including those of Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. Today, most cavalry units operate in the armoured role, equipped...
E McGuire received the medal with all three clasps i.e. Transkei
Transkei
The Transkei , officially the Republic of Transkei , was a Bantustan—an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity—and nominal parliamentary democracy in the southeastern region of South Africa...
, Basutoland
Basutoland
Basutoland or officially the Territory of Basutoland, was a British Crown colony established in 1884 after the Cape Colony's inability to control the territory...
and Bechuanaland.
The Cape Mounted Yeomanry was disbanded in 1881.