Chapter XXVI: Appendix: II

_MOBILISATION SECTION, ARMY HEADQUARTERS_

DATED FORT WILLIAM, JANUARY 1900

_Scheme for the despatch of Two Companies Mounted Volunteers
to South Africa_

Her Majesty’s Government having accepted the offer of the Government of India to provide a force of Mounted Volunteers for service in South Africa, two companies of Mounted Infantry, to be called ‘The Indian Mounted Infantry Corps (Lumsden’s Horse),’ will be raised immediately at Calcutta under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel D. McT. Lumsden, of the Volunteer Force of India, Supernumerary List, Assam Valley Light Horse.

_Terms of Enlistment._—The term of enlistment for officers and men will be for one year, or for not less than the period of the war.

All members of the force will be entitled to free passages to India on discharge or completion of engagement.

Preference will be given to Volunteers from Mounted Volunteer corps, but Volunteers belonging to Infantry corps who may possess the requisite qualifications will also be eligible.

_Qualifications._—Candidates must be from twenty to forty years of age and of good character. Infantry Volunteers must show that they are good riders.

All candidates must obtain a medical certificate of fitness for active service. Civil surgeons will be asked to examine free of charge all candidates applying for enlistment.

_Pay._—The pay and allowances for officers and men will be at British Cavalry rates from date of enlistment.

_Allowances._—Particulars regarding wound pensions, gratuities, and family pensions will be given later.

_Rations._—All ranks will receive rations as for British soldiers from date of joining.

_Organisation._—_Establishment._—The corps will be organised in two companies as under:

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Officers Sergeants Artificers Buglers R.&F. Total
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Staff—
Lieutenant-Colonel 1 — — — — 1
Second in Command 1 — — — — 1
Adjutant and 1[B] — — — — 1
Quartermaster
Medical Officer 1 — — — — 1
Quartermaster- — 1[B] — — — 1
Sergeant
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total 4 1 — — — 5
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Detail of one
Company—
Major (or Captain) 1[B] — — — — 1
Captain or 4 — — — — 4
Subalterns
Company — 1[B] — — — 1
Sergeant-Major
Company
Quartermaster-
Sergeant — 1[B] — — — 1
Sergeants — 4 — — — 4
Farrier-Sergeant — 1[B] — — — 1
Shoeing-Smiths — — 2[C] — — 2
Saddlers — — 1 — — 1
Signallers — 1 — — 1 2
Buglers — — — 2[C] — 2
Rank and File — — — — 104 104
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total of one Company 5 8 3 2 105 123
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total of two 10 16 6 4 210 246
Companies
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total of Staff 4 1 — — — 5
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
GRAND TOTAL OF UNIT 14 17 6 4 210 251
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

───────────────────────────────────────────────
Horses Ponies Private
or Mules Followers
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Staff—
Lieutenant-Colonel 2 3
Second in Command 2 3
Adjutant and 2 3
Quartermaster
Medical Officer 2 3
Quartermaster- 1 —
Sergeant
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Total 9 12
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Detail of one
Company—
Major (or Captain) 2 3
Captain or 8 12
Subalterns
Company 1 —
Sergeant-Major
Company
Quartermaster-
Sergeant 1 —
Sergeants 4 —
Farrier-Sergeant 1 —
Shoeing-Smiths 2 —
Saddlers 1 —
Signallers 2 —
Buglers 2 —
Rank and File 104 —
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Total of one Company 128 15
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Total of two 256 30
Companies
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Total of Staff 9 12
───────────────────────────────────────────────
GRAND TOTAL OF UNIT 265 42
───────────────────────────────────────────────

Footnote B:

From Regular Army.

Footnote C:

One from Regular Army, the other a Volunteer.

The following officers, non-commissioned officers, and men will be drawn from the Regular Army:

Adjutant and Quartermaster 1
Company Commanders (Majors or Captains) 2

Total Officers 3
Quartermaster-Sergeant 1
Company Sergeant-Majors 2
Company Quartermaster-Sergeants 2
Farrier-Sergeants 2
Shoeing-Smiths 2
Saddlers 2
Signallers 4
Buglers 2
—
Total 17

The force will be equipped and trained as Mounted Infantry.

Officers will be equipped and armed as far as possible like the men.

Officers and men will provide their own horses.

Officers’ Servants.—Officers will be allowed one personal native servant each and one syce for each charger. Total, three native servants per officer.

_Ordnance Department._—Arms, ammunition, accoutrements, and equipment will be issued _free_ by the Ordnance Department according to the scales given.

Officers and men will be armed with ·303 rifles and bayonets.

All members of Volunteer corps of Light Horse or Mounted Rifles joining the corps may, if they so wish it, bring with them the saddlery and equipment issued to them in their present corps.

Saddlery and camp equipment, according to the scales given, will be supplied under regimental arrangements. If required the Ordnance Department will supply saddlery and camp equipment on payment.

The Ordnance Department will supply _free_ transport saddlery and draught harness according to scale given.

Line gear including one knee halter per horse will be provided _free_ by the Ordnance Department.

Two horse loads of entrenching tools as for a British Cavalry regiment, together with complete equipment of saddlery, bridles, and entrenching tool bags for two horses, will be provided _free_ by Ordnance Department.

Artificers’ tools and stores and miscellaneous stores, including two light forges for pack saddles, will be issued _free_ by Ordnance Department.

_Signalling._—Signalling equipment will be issued _free_ on the field service scale for a British Cavalry regiment.

_Ammunition._—Small-arm ammunition will be issued at the rate of 650 rounds per rifle, calculated according to the following scale:

On soldier 100 rounds per rifles

1st Reserve (34 boxes) 132 ” ”

2nd ” (Ammunition Column and 268 ” ”
Park)

Practice ammunition 150 ” ”

Mark II. ·303 ammunition only will be taken for use in South Africa. The practice ammunition may be black powder ammunition.

Revolver ammunition will be issued at the rate of 150 rounds per officer’s revolver calculated as under:

On person 24 rounds per revolver

1st Reserve 26 ” ”

2nd ” (Ammunition Column and 50 ” ”
Park)

Practice ammunition 50 ” ”

Total 150

Two boxes of revolver ammunition will be carried with the 1st reserve rifle ammunition. All the above ammunition will be issued at Calcutta.

The 2nd reserve of rifle and revolver ammunition will on arrival of the corps in South Africa be handed over to the Ordnance Department as may be directed by the local military authorities.

_Cooking Utensils._—Cooking utensils will be provided _free_ by the Commissariat Department if required—viz., five sets of three oval camp kettles (with one gridiron, chopper, and ladle for each kettle) per company; one set weighs 39½ lb.

_Transport._—Transport mules or ponies will be provided by the corps for 1st reserve ammunition, medical equipment and signalling equipment. These animals should be trained to draught or pack work. Army transport _carts_ as required will be provided _free_ by the Commissariat Department.

_Clothing._—Sea kit, as prescribed for the Cape Route in Army Regulations, India, Volume V., Article 2166 (but without mattresses), will be issued _free_ to all non-commissioned officers and men by the Commissariat Transport Department.

Clothing will be provided under regimental arrangements, but field service and other clothing as required will be issued on payment indent by the Commissariat Transport Department.

_Supplies._—(_a_) Thirty days’ sea rations for men and animals will be placed on the transport by the Commissariat Department.

(_b_) In addition to the above sea rations, three months’ rations for men and one month’s crushed gram and compressed hay for animals will be provided and shipped by the Commissariat Department.

(_c_) Supplies will be packed in one-maund packages and in waterproof bags where necessary.

_Veterinary._—The Principal Veterinary Officer in India will arrange for the veterinary inspection of horses before embarkation and for the necessary veterinary arrangements for the voyage. The corps will be provided _free_ with two field veterinary chests and two veterinary wallets.

_Medical._—The Principal Medical Officer of her Majesty’s Forces in India will issue orders for the necessary medical arrangements for the voyage. The corps will be provided _free_ with medical equipment as for a British Cavalry regiment on field service, except that two field stretchers and four blanket stretchers will be provided.

_Office Stationery._—The Superintendent Government Stationery will issue _free_ such stationery as may be required for use in the regimental office.

The Superintendent Government Printing will supply _free_ such books and forms as may be required for use in the regimental office.

The officers in charge Mathematical Instrument Office will issue _free_ such instruments as may be required on a scale not exceeding that of a British Cavalry regiment on field service.

_Embarkation._—The force will be embarked at Calcutta. The Director of the Royal Indian Marine will arrange for the necessary sea transport for conveyance of the force, informing the General Officer Commanding Presidency District of the vessel or vessels he proposes to charter. The vessels will then be surveyed in accordance with Army Regulations, India, Volume X., and as soon as the date of sailing is known the General Officer Commanding the Presidency District will arrange for the embarkation of the force. Details regarding the transports engaged, date of sailing, and probable date of arrival at Durban should be sent to Army Headquarters and to the Bengal Command.

_Stores, Rest Camps._—The General Officer Commanding the Presidency District will make such arrangements as may be needed to facilitate the raising of the force, the provision of such storage accommodation as may be necessary, and for rest camps. He will be responsible for receiving stores for the force and for loading the transport.

_Telegrams._—The Lieutenant-General Commanding the Forces, Bengal, will authorise the despatch of telegrams on the ‘debit note’ system from such offices as may be concerned with the raising, equipment, and despatch of the force. He will communicate to the Director-General of Telegraphs the designations and head-quarters of officers whom he authorises to use the ‘debit note’ system, and any other offices from which such telegrams are likely to be despatched. ‘Debit note’ telegrams cannot be despatched from railway offices.

All telegrams will be endorsed, ‘Lumsden’s Horse. Debit cost to Military Department.’

_Report and Maps of Transvaal._—Copies of ‘A Short Military Report on the Transvaal,’ together with maps, will be supplied by the Intelligence Branch, Quartermaster-General’s Department, Simla.

_Press Correspondents._—No member of the corps will be permitted to act as a Press correspondent except with the special permission of the military authorities in South Africa.

_Expenditure Accounts._—The various departments of the Army are authorised to issue on ‘payment indents’ such supplies, stores, equipment, and clothing as may be required, in addition to the free issues referred to above. All such payment indents will be clearly marked ‘Lumsden’s Horse. On payment.’

All supplies, stores, equipment, and clothing issued from stock to the force should be replaced as soon as possible, and all charges connected with the raising, equipping, and despatching of the force other than those borne by the corps itself should be debited to the Government of India under the heading ‘Lumsden’s Horse.’

FORT WILLIAM: _January 1900_.

FIELD-SERVICE KIT

┌──────────────────────────────────────────┬────────────┬────────────┐ │ —— │ Officers │ N.C.O. and │ │ │ │ Men │ ├──────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────┼────────────┤ │ │ │ │ │ _On Person_ │ │ │ │Helmet with khaki cover, pagri, and chin │ 1 │ 1 │ │strap (or felt hat) │ │ │ │Khaki serge coat │ 1 │ 1 │ │Pantaloons, Bedford cord │ 1 │ 1 │ │Khaki putties or leather gaiters │ 1 │ 1 │ │Walking boots │ 1 │ 1 │ │Spurs, jack │ 1 │ 1 │ │Drawers │ 1 │ 1 │ │Flannel shirt │ 1 │ 1 │ │Socks, woollen pairs │ 1 │ 1 │ │Vest │ 1 │ 1 │ │Flannel belt │ 1 │ 1 │ │Braces │ 1 │ 1 │ │Pocket handkerchief │ 1 │ — │ │Sword │ 1 │ 1 │ │Revolver (and ammunition) │ 1 │ — │ │Belts set │ 1 │ 1 │ │Bandolier │ 1 │ 1 │ │Field glasses (if not on saddle) │ 1 │ 1 (N.C.O. │ │ │ │ only) │ │Compass │ 1 │1 (ditto)│ │Watch │ 1 │1 (ditto)│ │Note-book │ 1 │1 (ditto)│ │Water-bottle │ 1 │ 1 │ │Haversack, with knife, fork, and cup │ 1 │ 1 │ │Map, linen (if available) │ 1 │ 1 (N.C.O. │ │ │ │ only) │ │First field dressing (in special pocket) │ 1 │ 1 │ │Descriptive card (ditto) │ — │ 1 │ │Emergency ration (if available) │ 1 │ 1 │ │Pocket dressing-case │ 1 (Medical │ — │ │ │ Officer │ │ │ │ only) │ │ │ │ │ │ │ _Carried in Kit_ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │Khaki helmet cover, spare │ 1 │ 1 │ │Khaki drill coat │ 1 │ 1 │ │Khaki serge coat │ 1 │ 1 │ │Khaki trousers, serge │ 1 │ 1 │ │ ” ” drill │ 1 │ 1 │ │Pantaloons, Bedford cord │ 1 │ 1 │ │Field service cap │ 1 │ 1 │ │Walking boots (and spare laces) │ 1 │ 1 │ │Putties, khaki pair │ 1 │ 1 │ │Drawers │ 2 │ 1 │ │Flannel shirts │ 2 │ 1 │ │Socks, woollen pairs │ 3 │ 1 │ │Vests │ 2 │ 1 │ │Flannel belt │ 1 │ 1 │ │Pocket-handkerchiefs │ 5 │ 2 │ │Housewife │ 1 │ 1 │ │Holdall │ 1 │ 1 │ │Towels │ 2 │ 2 │ │Blankets │ 2 │ 2 │ │Wolseley valise │ 1 │ — │ │Waterproof sheet │ 1 │ 1 │ │Basin, canvas │ 1 │ — │ │Dubbing tin │ 1 │ 1 │ │Small book │ — │ 1 │ │Diary │ 1 │ — │ │Field Service Departmental Code, Medical │ 1 (Medical │ │ │ │ Officer │ │ │ │ only) │ │ │Writing-case │ 1 │ — │ │Lantern │ 1 │ — │ │Cardigan jacket │ 1 │ 1 │ │Warm coat │ 1 │ 1 │ │Mittens pair │ 1 │ 1 │ │Balaclava cap │ 1 │ 1 │ │Cooking utensils set │ 1 │ — │ │Enamelled tin plates, cups, &c. set │ 1 │ 1 │ │Logline for packing, 15 feet │ — │ 1 │ └──────────────────────────────────────────┴────────────┴────────────┘

_Artificers’ Tools and Stores (to be supplied free by
Government)_

Armourer’s tools and stores 80 lb.

Saddler’s tools and stores 160 ”

Materials for repairs of accoutrements, saddlery, 160 ”
and line gear

Shoeing iron and charcoal 160 ”

Reserve of shoes with nails 160 ”

_Miscellaneous Stores (to be supplied free by Government)_

Handcuffs 2 pairs

Steelyards, with weights, complete 1 set

Scales, weights, with small stores, &c. 1

Light forges, Mark IV., pack saddle, I.P. 2

_Veterinary Stores (to be supplied free by Government)_

Universal field veterinary chests 2

Veterinary wallets 2

_Medical Stores (to be supplied free by Government)_

Medical field panniers 1 pair

Field medical companion 1

” surgical haversack 1

” ” Cavalry bag 1

” stretchers 2

Blanket stretchers 4

_Quartermaster’s Stores (to be supplied on payment by
Government if required)._

Drawers, cotton 25 pairs

Coats, khaki serge 25

Trousers, serge, khaki 25 pairs

” drill ” 25 ”

Boots, ankle 25 ”

Socks, woollen 25 ”

Shirts, flannel 25

Caps, forage 10

Buttons, coat, small 6 doz.

” iron, trousers 2 gross

Cloth, serge, khaki 20 yds.

Chin, strapers, helmet, leather 10

Thread, black and coloured 5 lb.

” khaki 4 ”

Dubbing
Soap, washing 30 ”

Scissors, tailor’s, 9” 1 pair

Oil, Rangoon (1 gallon per company) 2 cans

_Shoemakers’ Tools and Stores (to be supplied free by
Government)_

Soles, half pairs 50

Lifts ” ” 50

Tips ” ” 50

Nails, tip 1 lb.

Rivets 7 ”

Feet, iron, 9” 2

Leather, spare
Hemp balls, 24-lb. 1

Tools, shoemakers’ 10

_Entrenching Tools (to be supplied free by Government)_

Shovels, light 20

Pickaxes, ” 20

Felling axes 8

Bill-hooks 16

Hooks, reaping 32

Bags, entrenching tool 2 pairs

Carried on one horse per company.

_Maxim Equipment_

One Maxim gun. One tripod mounting, &c.

_Camp Equipment (to be supplied under regimental
arrangements)_

Officers, 80-lb. tent each. Non-commissioned officers and men,
8 per 80-lb. G.S. tent. Office, 80-lb. tent. Surgery, 80-lb.
tent. Quarter-guard, 80-lb. tent. Rearguard, 240-lb. tent.

_Baggage._

Officers, 80 lb. each. Non-commissioned officers and men, 40
lb. each.

_Saddlery and Line Gear (to be supplied free by Government)_
_For each Horse_

One hay-net. │One set head and heel ropes. One nosebag, canvas. │One set heel-pegs. One watering-bridle. │One jhool. One horse-brush. │One blanket. One curry-comb. │One set spare shoes with nails. One knee-halter. │One horse rubber. One canvas water-bucket. │One waterproof harness wrapper. One numnah. │Water buckets, one to four horses. One eye-fringe. │Sponges, one to ten horses. One chagul. │Clipping machines, one to ten horses. One headstall. │Hoof-pickers, one to five horses.

_Miscellaneous_

Cooking utensils, five sets per company 10 sets
Tables, office, 14 lb. each 2
Chairs ” 4 lb. each 2
Yakdans, office. Weight full 80 lb. each 1 pair

_Reserve Saddlery (to be supplied free by Government)_

Saddle. │Horse brush. │Headstall.
Numnah. │Curry-comb. │Head-ropes.
Bridle. │Knee-halter. │Heel-pegs.
Reins. │Canvas water-bucket.│Jhool.
Bit, complete. │Eye-fringe. │Blanket.
Nosebags, canvas. │Chaguls. │
Watering bridle. │ │

Pay as for British Cavalry of the Line (_vide_ Article 780, Royal Warrant for Pay and Promotion):

┌────────────────────────────────────┬─────────────────┐
│Rank │ Per day │
│ │ _£._ _s._ _d._│
│Lieutenant-Colonel │ 1 1 6│
│Major │ 15 0│
│Captain │ 13 0│
│Lieutenant │ 7 8│
│Second-Lieutenant │ 6 8│
│Adjutant (and Quartermaster) │ 5 0[D]│
│Quartermaster-Sergeant │ 4 4│
│Company Sergeant-Major │ 4 4│
│Company Quartermaster-Sergeant │ 3 4│
│Sergeant │ 2 8│
│Farrier Sergeant │ 2 10│
│Shoeing Smith │ 1 8│
│Saddler │ 1 9½│
│Bugler │ 1 4│
│Corporal (if paid as Lance-Sergeant)│ 2 4│
│Corporal │ 2 0│
│Private (appointed Lance-Corporal) │ 1 6│
│Private │ 1 2│
└────────────────────────────────────┴─────────────────┘

Footnote D:

In addition to pay of rank.