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The South African War 1899 - 1902 In 1899 war broke out between Britain and the two Boer Republics in South Africa. There was a strong demand from English Canada to send troops, and considerable opposition from French Canada towards any involvement at all. The Prime Minister, Wilfred Laurier, decided to compromise and try to satisfy both groups by sending a limited force of 1,000 volunteers for a term of service not to exceed twelve months. Limited numbers of volunteers were selected from each province and 24 members of the Regiment formed 'A' Company 2nd (Special Service) Royal Canadian Regiment. Commanded by Lt-Col W.D. Otter, ADC to the Governor-General Lord Minto. They showed great distinction during the Battle of Paardeberg and participated on 18th February, 1900 in a wild and unsuccessful charge on the Boer positions. On February 27th the RCRs attacked again under the cover of darkness and General Cronje surrendered with 41000 of his men. It was the largest single defeat of the Boers, and ironically fell on the same anniversary as the Boer Victory at Majuba Hill. Other members served with The Lord Strathcona's Horse, and one member was killed with the Stathcona's and two with the Royal Canadian Regiment. Their names are immortalized on the brass plaque on the Drill Hall Floor which was donated to the Regiment by the grateful citizens of Vancouver. October 1899. British Columbia Contingent departs from CPR terminal, Vancouver.
The volunteers returned to Canada on 30th December, 1900, and received a hero's welcome. They had earned for their Regiment their first Battle Honour, which was not formally awarded until 1930. Many of these young men would go on to command battalions in the First World War. With the change to rifles from artillery came new uniforms, traditions and affiliations. One surviving artillery tradition appears in the form of lanyard worn by our Senior NCO's. The lanyard itself is in our rifle colours of Rifle Green and Black, but the lanyard is woven in the artillery fashion and is worn on the right shoulder. On 1st May 1900 we were formally redesignated Sixth Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Rifles) and we became formally affiliated with the Rifle Brigade. Barely a hundred years old, the Rifle Brigade had won sixty battle honours, more than any other unit In the British Army. The Rifle Brigade had fought so well during the Napoleonic Wars as the 195th (Rifle) Regiment, that in 1816 it was redesignated as The Rifle Brigade and was promoted out of the numbered line, an honour never before conferred on any Regiment. Since that date the Rifle Brigade (now The Royal Green Jackets) has retained the privilege of the position on the left of the infantry on ceremonial parades. It was Colonel Conte Manningham, first commanding officer of the Rifles, who decided that the rifleman must be an expert shot, highly trained and resourceful, able to travel light and quickly, to seize and hold tactical points until the slower-moving heavy infantry could arrive and relieve him. Their pace of march was 140 to the minute where the normal infantry pace was 120. They carried no colours and their battle honours were carried on their cap badges. Finally, they were the first to discard the Scarlet Jackets worn by the British Infantry in favour of dark Rifle Green. "He dressed them
up in Jackets of green Our Regimental motto became suitably Rifles as Celer et Fortis (Swift and Strong). We also have the same march past as the Rifle Brigade, "I'm 95."
"Up The Dukes!"
The
British Columbia Regiment Recruiting:
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