This Militia Battalion of the Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel William Cooke-Collis,[76] volunteered for active service, and, their services having been accepted, embarked for the seat of war in January, 1900. Landing at Cape Town on February 1st,[77] it proceeded at once to Naauwpoort, and took part in the operations round Colesburg. Leaving Naauwpoort in March, the Battalion was employed protecting the main line of communication and the reconstruction of the railway through the Free State in rear of _Lord Roberts_’ army. It eventually took charge of the line between Vereeniging and Honing Spruit, where it remained for a year, during which its section of the line was never once cut by the enemy; this successful result was in a large measure due to the good work done by the company of Mounted Infantry raised from the Battalion. The Battalion returned home in August, 1901, and was disembodied. ----- Footnote 68: _Vide Official History of the War_, Vol. I, pp. 131–136. Footnote 69: Now Major-General, C.B., and lately A.D.C. to the King. Footnote 70: Now Brigadier-General, C.B., C.M.G., M.V.O., D.S.O. Footnote 71: _Vide Official History of the South African War_, Vol. I, pp. 398–9. Footnote 72: Now Brigadier-General and C.B. Footnote 73: _Vide_ “_Times_” _History of the South African War_, Vol. III, p. 324. Footnote 74: _Vide Official History of the South African War_, Vol. I, pp. 476–484. Footnote 75: Now Colonel, C.B. Footnote 76: Now Colonel, C.M.G., and A.D.C. to the King. Footnote 77: Two officers died on the voyage out. THE MOUNTED INFANTRY OF THE KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS. Note.—The Mounted Infantry raised in the Regiment having played so distinguished a part in the campaign, it has been considered advisable for purposes of historical reference to record their services by battalions. The establishment of a Mounted Infantry Company was 5 officers and 142 other ranks, organised into four sections. [Sidenote: 1st BATT. M.I.] A company was raised from the 1st Battalion in South Africa before the war; it fought at Talana Hill (October the 20th, 1899), was in the DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH, and later with Buller’s army until it arrived at Lydenburg in October, 1900. After this it was continually engaged in the Eastern Transvaal, until it joined the 25th Mounted Infantry in October, 1901 (_see below_). This Company lost twenty-five killed and thirty-three wounded during the war. [Sidenote: 2nd BATT. M.I.]