Luke George Mansfield Robinson

The fighting between the Boers and Britain had started as far back as 1881, when the Boer forces defeated General Colley at Majuba. Britain was also faced with several other frontier wars within Africa at the time. The Ashanti war 1873 - 74, Zulu wars 1878 -79, Egypt 1882, Sudan 1884 - 85.

Thinking her skirmish with the Boers was over she turned her military focus away to concentrate on other conflicts - Matabeleland 1893, Kenya 1896, Bechuanaland 1896 - 97, Nigeria 1897.

With the discovery of the vast amounts of mineral wealth, particularly gold and diamonds in Transvaal, the Boers found themselves outnumbered by the British who came to Southern Africa to make their fortune.

By 1896 approximately 90,000 whites, mainly British subjects were living in and around the rich gold and diamond regions of Transvaal, but only about 6,205 of these were Boers.

Leading up to the political elections of the region, the Boer Republics refused to allow political rights to the non-Boers who had arrived in their thousands to mine for gold.

Britain’s expansionist policies and her desire to control the huge mineral wealth of this region is the real story behind the second Boer War conflict.

British subjects complained to Britain, and the British government saw that without their subjects being allowed to vote, then there was no way that they could regain control over this area.

In 1898 when President Krueger was re-elected by a majority of Boers. The British government headed by Joseph Chamberlain realized that the Boer nation was too powerful for Britain to take control of. Krueger and the Boers were not going to hand over control of their nation without a fight.

The time had come for Chamberlain to draw up some sort of ultimatum, which he did with regret, while he wondered if there was not some other avenue he could take. The Krueger government issued its own ultimatum and moved troops up to the borders of the republic.

In England Prime Minister Chamberlain, put the British Army regiments situated all over the world on alert and started making arrangement to bolster the small number of English troops already situated there.

From the beginning of 1899, there were a series of bloody clashes between the Boers and the British. Orange Free State and Transvaal were Boer controlled areas; they adjoined the British Territories of Cape Colony and Natal.

The Boers won a number of early victories, and entered the neighbouring British Territories.

In Sept of 1899 George having left Government House Adelaide, enlisted as a Military Instructor for the impending South African Boer War. On October 11th 1899 the South African Republic and Britain were at war.

It was not long after the first of our troops arrived in South Africa that the British War Office was called for another 2000 mounted men. These were to be men like the Boers, good riders and good shots.

A select committee traveled to all the country towns raising men of the right caliber, men who had spent their lives in the saddle. Men who were roughriders, housebreakers, boundary riders, stockmen, drovers, men who can do anything with a horse. Men who can stand any hardship, and go anywhere, and to whom camp life is second nature.

George was assigned to the 3rd Imperial New South Wales Bushmen’s Regiment, as a Squadron Sergeant Major of “F Squadron. (See Sergeant Major’s photo & F Squadron photo). The 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen - was made up of the draft of 200 Riverina Bushmen raised by Mr J.S. Horsfall of Widgewa, NSW, plus other recruits, from all over the Australian continent.

Within 3 weeks of the initial raising of the regiment, Major General James A.K. Mackay CB, OBE was pleased with the way the unit was shaping up.

They sailed from Sydney abroad the troop ship “The Armenian”, on 23rd April 1900. Strength of contingent was 40 Officers, 722 NCOs & men, 800 horses (riding), 24 packhorses, 31 spare horses and 6 carts. They landed in Durban.

On arriving in Durban they crossed overland to Rhodesia, their Australian contingent came under the command of the English Brigadier Sir Frederick Carrington. They served under him from the 22nd of June 1900 to 31st August 1900 as part of the 2nd brigade Rhodesian Field Force.

The 3rd moved to Mafeking in July and then on into Western Transvaal. In the next 3 months they rode 550 miles (885 klms) living in the open, and were often under fire.

On the 4th of September 1900, Major D Millar reporting from Ottoshoop:

We have been continually engaged in skirmishes, sniping or heavier engagements on a daily basis, and are now awaiting orders for another advance.

General Carrington and staff have left us, and are now at Bulawayo, organizing a force to repel the threatened Boer invasion of Rhodesia. Lord Errol, in command of our first brigade, which is under orders from Lord Methuen, who marched through here (Ottoshoop) a few days ago with his force, which has been on the march since early May.

The horses have suffered terribly, we have lost nearly 200; some of our very best among them.

Then joined up with the 2nd column under Major General C. W. Douglas from the 7th of September through to the 25th of December 1900.

Leeupan, 20th September 1900, operating in the northwest corner of the Transvaal in the Marico and Lichtenburg districts. They had 5 encounters with the Boers. 50 Prisoners taken, 40 wagons with spans complete a number of cattle and sheep, besides rifles and ammunition. From regiment Lieutenant White killed, also 2 troopers, and 1 officer Captain Ryrie and several troopers wounded. Regiment joined by Lord Methuen for 1 day, his column leaving same day taking 200 troopers to act as scouts. On the following day his column involved in skirmishing he captured 27 prisoners, 28 wagons, 1 Maxim gun, 20,000 rounds ammunition, sundry rifles, sheep and oxen. He continued south to relieve 300 troopers held by 2,600 Boers.

27th September - regiment moved out at 4am, marched until noon, covered 12 miles to occupy Reitkuil. 9 Prisoners taken. Boers attacked at 5pm, mounted troops engaged enemy, volley firing at long range. Use of pom-poms and 15 prs. With shrapnel.

29th September - convoy moved out marched 15 miles to Dinkfontein, Lord Methuen’s column marched parallel with regiment, attacked and sustained several injuries. The Boers have adopted similar formations, also changed to wearing khaki.

30th September - Regiment moved out at 2.30am march to Rietpan by 10am. 12th of October moved out to Waterval, captured 9 prisoners.

17th of October - regiment moved to Dammenburg, passing Lord Methuen’s column. Lord Methuen’s column attacked heavy shelling, serious injuries.

18th October marched to Zeerust, 19th October continued trek, and 20th October joined by Lord Methuen’s column. General Douglas attacked enemy at daybreak. Regiment arrived at Mafeking at 3pm on the 21st of October 1900.

Regiment about 25 miles from Lichtenburg. Cape Town November 6th, 1900 D Squadron of the regiment retained to act as bodyguard to Lord Methuen.

From the 25th of December to 12th of January 1901 they were part of the Mounted Brigade under Colonial R G Kekowich, then still part of the Mounted Brigade under Major-General J M Babington from the 12th of January until the 29th of May 1901.

The following list is made up of the principal operations that this contingent was engaged:

Relief of garrison, Elands River, 5th August 1900; Marico River, 6th August 1900; occupation of Ottoshoop, 14th of August 1900; Buffel’s Hoek, 18th and 19th of August 1900; Jacobsdal, 22nd August 1900; Malmani, 27th August 1900; Wonderfontein, 10th and 11th of September 1900; Manana and Lewerpan, 12th September 1900; re-occupation of Lichtenburg, 28th September 1900; Oliphants Nek, 5th October 1900; Magatas Pass, 10th October 1900; Riekertodam, 16th October 1900; lead Mines, 24th October 1900; Kaffir Kraal, 1st November, 1900; re-occupation of Klerksdorp, 16th November 1900; Wittepoort and Bulkop 26th and 27th December, 1900; Syferfontein, 5th January 1901; occupation of Ventersdorp, 10th January 1901; Klip Drift, 17th January 1901; Valkfontein, 26th January 1901; Magalisburg Valley, 3rd March 1901; relief of Lichtenburg, 7th March 1901; Hartebeestfontein, 20th, 21st and 22nd March 1901; Veldfontein 24th March 1901; Palmietfontein, 8th April 1901; Wittepoort, 14th of April 1901; Hartebeestfontein, 18th April 1901; Geduld, 3rd May 1901.

The rest of the unit returned to Australia aboard “The Orient” embarking at East London on the 23rd of June 1901, via Albany and Melbourne.

George was commissioned to the rank of Lieutenant, on the 22nd day of June 1900; his commission was signed on behalf of King Edward by his secretary W G Stretton and E W North at the court of St James on the 2nd of September 1904.

George was re-assigned to the 6th New South Wales Imperial Bushmen’s unit & volunteers from the 3rd Imperial Bushmen Unit signing on for further service. The Bushmen’s unit came under the command of Lieut. -Colonel Hon. Rupert-Carrington.

As part of the 2nd NSW Mounted Rifles, they engaged in operations against Generals De La Ray, Kemp, Potgeitiers and Vermaas.

Serving in Western Transvaal, under the command of Major General Fetherstonhaugh, from the 22nd of April to the 1st of October 1901. George joined the regiment at Klerksdorp Sth Africa 4th May 1901.

On the 24th of May 1901, the 2nd NSW Mounted Rifles captured General De La Ray’s convoy consisting of 106 wagons of ammunition, rifles, etc.

The 2nd NSW Mounted Rifles served in Eastern Transvaal under Major General Fetherstonhaugh, resulting in the capture of over 1000 prisoners.

The Imperial Bushmen and the 2nd NSW Mounted Rifles continued to serve until peace was declared in June 1902.

The regiment sailed from Durban, Natal, under the command of Lieut. -Colonel Hon. Rupert-Carrington, aboard the troop ship “The Drayton Grange”. Calling en route at Albany and Melbourne before arriving in Sydney on the 11th of August 1902.

The Boer War was Britain’s last great imperial victory, by the end 200,000 men; British, Australian, New Zealanders and Canadian had fought for king and country.

On the 31st of May 1902 the Boer Generals presented themselves at Vereeniging to sign a peace treaty.