The History of Lumsden's Horse: A Complete Record of the Corps from Its Formation to Its Disbandment — John Shaqi
The History of Lumsden's Horse: A Complete Record of the Corps from Its Formation to Its Disbandment
History
The History of Lumsden's Horse: A Complete Record of the Corps from Its Formation to Its Disbandment
Great Britain. Army. Lumsden's Horse; South African War, 1899-1902 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
first to fall into their relative positions, some as officers, others as
troopers, and to keep each his own proper groove, ignoring old
associations. But the right spirit of subordination was there, and a
commander of Irregulars does not ask for more if he has the true
capacity for leadership. The daily routine of duties in camp on the
Maidan was designed to foster this spirit without making the yoke of
essential discipline too galling. A description of it as given by one in
the ranks will show that Lumsden’s Horse were by no means pampered
Sybarites even at that early stage of their soldiering:
At 6 the ‘rouse’ sounds, and, some minutes later, men clad in khaki
breeches, putti gaiters, and flannel shirts issue from the little bell
tents into the clammy mist of early morning, and after obtaining a cup
of tea at the mess, remove the jhools—which are a most necessary
protection against the heavy dew—from their horses, and give them a
rub down. At 7 we hear the bugle call ‘Saddle up,’ and at 7.30 the men
are all fallen in on the Maidan in column of sections, and go through
the various evolutions, special attention being given to mounting and
dismounting on saddles packed with full kit, and the leading of
horses, the correct and rapid performance of which is so important in
Mounted Infantry work. The regiment is divided into two companies,
each company consisting of 120 men formed into four sections, and
these again divided into permanent sub-sections of four men each. As a
rule the sections work independently, each under its own commander.
Blank ammunition is liberally expended in order to accustom the horses
to the rattle of musketry. Most of the men are mounted on
country-breds; but several ride shapely walers averaging 14.2.
Considering that 50 per cent. of the horses are quite untrained as
chargers, they are astonishingly quiet and well-behaved; the
C.B.s—with the exception of an occasional kicker, which plays havoc in
the ranks, and is a source of some danger to his unfortunate
companions, both men and horses—are quick, handy little brutes, and
already they have learnt to lead steadily and well. There are, of
course, a good number of trained horses in the ranks; the Mysore men,
for instance, being almost without exception mounted on Silidar
horses, which are proving most satisfactory chargers and are expected
to do well in Africa. After parade the horses are watered, fed, and
groomed by their respective owners, and then, as Mr. Pepys would have
said, ‘to breakfast,’ under a large _shamiana_ placed at one end of
the camp in the shade of sycamore-fig trees. The morning passes
quickly while men are drawing and marking kit, cleaning rifles, or
doing fatigue duty at pitching tents and other healthy exercises. At
noon we water and feed the horses, and 1 o’clock is the tiffin hour.
At 4.30 there is an afternoon parade, sometimes by companies, and
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