[email protected] Andy wrote> Hello Listers, > I am tracing the life of William Duthie. During the Boer War he joined the > Colonial Scouts. He then joined G Squadron of the Commander-in-Chiefs > Bodyguard. Also, what did G squadron of the C-in-C bodyguard do? Regards Andy Dear Andy, I wrote the following as part of a history of my ancestor Private - later Trooper Harry Laver, of Compton's Horse and then of Lord Robert's Bodyguard. The text contains quotes from contemp[orary newspaper reports, - and the whole may answer some of your questions about the irregular Horse, and about what grew from small beginning to be an official Unit of Irregular Cavalry - The Commander In Chief's Bodyguard. I hope you will find it to be of interest. Cordially, Julian Wilson, Family Historian. Compton's Horse had by this time been considerably lessened. A great many personnel had left to join other Irregular corps (inter-Unit "poaching" of good men was rife in South Africa at this time) - and several had taken Commissions in Line and Mounted Regiments, a number of our NCO's "bettering themselves" in this way. Although two-thirds of Compton's Horse had left, the remaining one-third had a very trying and precarious time round Johannesburg (on Mounted Police Patrol duties). There would be five or ten of them billeted on different farms, and the Boers would come up every now and then, and surround the place, and snipe at anyone who showed themselves; then be gone again before a superior force could arrive. Two troopers were killed on two occasions; and one on another; - eight or ten men being lost in that way. (Those listed on the Medal Roll as KIA were Ptes. A. Ferrand, C. Hamilton, and C.H. Warren). During this time General Lord Roberts was in Johannesburg; and six members of Compton's Horse acted as his Personal Mounted Escort, (read "Commander-in-Chief’s Bodyguard"). The Company were engaged in this work until December, 1900; when they were sent to Pretoria, and acted as General Lord Kitchener's Orderlies, and for communicating with the various Colonels near Pretoria. Later, they also formed Lord Kitchener's personal Mounted Escort - as they had for Lord Roberts. On Christmas Day, 1900, it was thought that the Boers might mount an attack on Pretoria, and on Christmas Eve, about a dozen men of Compton's Horse slept on the lawn of Lord Kitchener's house, saddled-up and ready to escort Lord Kitchener at any moment. This was how two or three Bedford men spent their Christmas eleven years ago. The Company camp was a terribly marshy place near Pretoria, and nearly all the party had a turn in hospital, several being invalided home after their recovery. About one-third of the Troop were left, (out of a total of 290 personnel from the 1st and 2nd Drafts) who returned home the following (1901) summer, and were received at Bedford with the hearty reception they richly deserved. They were met at the railway station by the Mayor and escorted through the Town by an enthusiastic crowd to the Barracks, where the men were entertained to dinner by Lord Alwyne Compton, (now promoted Major). This period of Active Service in South Africa will always be remembered by those who took part in it. All members of the Yeomanry know how punctilious the Late Lord Alwyne Compton was in the matter of dress, and that he would insist upon anything which would conduce to a smart appearance. At the recent Church Parade at Bedford, he drew attention to the fact that several troopers had too long hair, which was unsoldierlike. He kept his men in South Africa up to this standard; with the result that they were known as the "Shiny 10th†". [† Comment - why the "Shiny 10th"? The Troop's No. was The 28th Company of I.Y.? Is this an error by the 1912 Reporter, confused by Lord Alwyne's original Commission in the 10th Hussars?] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andy Hall" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, August 04, 2003 5:56 PM Subject: [BOER-WAR] G Squadron Commander-in-chief