Boer War Vetern

Very Nice indeed!
You can't beat an early 'Long Lee'!

A lovely example.
I am inclined to think 2CMR is the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles, for the following reasons:
- The Cape Mounted Rifles, which had a strength of 900 in 1899, wasn't divided into 2 Battalions. Thus the tang markings I have seen from the unit are all CMR and not 1CMR or 2CMR
- Cape Mounted Rifles markings should [almost invariably] be accompanied by an acceptance mark of the Cape Government on the knox form of C^G [where ^ = a broad arrow]
- Cape arms often have other markings such as K.T. but this is not consistent.

But if Canadian, this rifle did have service in the South African War - from anglobeorwar.com:

2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles

On 25th November 1901 it was announced that the Imperial Government had accepted the offer, made by Canada, of a force of 600 mounted men. Recruiting at once commenced, and on 14th January 1902 470 men sailed on the Manhattan, the remainder embarking on the Victorian about the 28th, making a contingent of six squadrons. A field hospital accompanied the contingent. The total strength sent was nearly 900. On arrival in South Africa the regiment, which was commanded by Colonel Evans, was taken to the Western Transvaal, where Lord Methuen had met with serious reverses shortly before, and they were employed under Major General Walter Kitchener and Lieutenant General Ian Hamilton. On 31st March 1902 Major General Kitchener had sent forward two columns, those of Colonel Keir and Colonel Cookson, with the latter of whom were the newly arrived Canadian MR, Damant's Horse, and two squadrons of Yeomanry. At Brakspruit Colonel Cookson, after being engaged with the enemy, decided to halt, entrench, and close up his baggage. In his despatch of 8th April 1902 Lord Kitchener said: "At 1.20 pm the enemy opened fire with three guns and a pom-pom, and then under cover of their artillery attempted to rush the eastern side of the camp". After very heavy fighting the enemy withdrew. Lord Kitchener adds: "The heaviest loss in this engagement fell upon the Canadian Mounted Rifles, who, in this, their first fight of importance since landing, displayed the utmost bravery and determination. Lieutenant Bruce Carruthers of the regiment especially distinguished himself. Being in command of a detachment of the rear-guard, when coming into camp he remained out in a position of observation, in which he eventually found himself isolated and surrounded by a large body of the enemy. Rejecting all idea of surrender, however, his small patrol of 21 men fought stubbornly on to the end, no less than six of their number, including Lieutenant Carruthers, being killed and 12 wounded. There have been few finer instances of heroism in the whole course of the campaign. The Boers who took part in this unsuccessful attack upon Colonel Cookson's camp were estimated to have numbered 1800 men, and were under the command of Generals Delarey and Kemp". In this action, generally referred to in the despatches and elsewhere as that of Boschbult, the Canadians lost Lieutenant Carruthers and 11 men killed, and Captain F S M Howard and Lieutenants R H Ryan, G B Mackay, R F Markham, and A T London, and 42 men wounded. Major wired to the Minister of Militia of Canada: "regiment and field hospital have undergone sev. test, and have acquitted themselves most creditably. I regret the heavy losses". Lord Roberts telegraphed his congratulations to the Governor-General as well as to South Africa.

The regiment took part in the last great drive between the Klerksdorp blockhouse line and the railway running from Kimberley and Vryburg to Mafeking. In these drives many prisoners were taken.

Although I haven't had a chance to create a formal Knowledge Library entry for it, here's a piece from my collection …

1896 Boer Mauser Rifle Serial # B7772 (click here)

"One of the first 20,000 rifles delivered in 1896 to Z.A.R.
Serial number ranges were A1 - A10000 & B1 - B10000"

"All matching numbers except cleaning rod and un-numbered bolt"
"Vet bring back and was originally part of CMI collection"

Regards,
Doug

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RobD

A lovely example.
I am inclined to think 2CMR is the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles, for the following reasons:
- The Cape Mounted Rifles, which had a strength of 900 in 1899, wasn't divided into 2 Battalions. Thus the tang markings I have seen from the unit are all CMR and not 1CMR or 2CMR
- Cape Mounted Rifles markings should [almost invariably] be accompanied by an acceptance mark of the Cape Government on the knox form of C^G [where ^ = a broad arrow]
- Cape arms often have other markings such as K.T. but this is not consistent.

But if Canadian, this rifle did have service in the South African War - from anglobeorwar.com:

2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles

On 25th November 1901 it was announced that the Imperial Government had accepted the offer, made by Canada, of a force of 600 mounted men. Recruiting at once commenced, and on 14th January 1902 470 men sailed on the Manhattan, the remainder embarking on the Victorian about the 28th, making a contingent of six squadrons. A field hospital accompanied the contingent. The total strength sent was nearly 900. On arrival in South Africa the regiment, which was commanded by Colonel Evans, was taken to the Western Transvaal, where Lord Methuen had met with serious reverses shortly before, and they were employed under Major General Walter Kitchener and Lieutenant General Ian Hamilton. On 31st March 1902 Major General Kitchener had sent forward two columns, those of Colonel Keir and Colonel Cookson, with the latter of whom were the newly arrived Canadian MR, Damant's Horse, and two squadrons of Yeomanry. At Brakspruit Colonel Cookson, after being engaged with the enemy, decided to halt, entrench, and close up his baggage. In his despatch of 8th April 1902 Lord Kitchener said: "At 1.20 pm the enemy opened fire with three guns and a pom-pom, and then under cover of their artillery attempted to rush the eastern side of the camp". After very heavy fighting the enemy withdrew. Lord Kitchener adds: "The heaviest loss in this engagement fell upon the Canadian Mounted Rifles, who, in this, their first fight of importance since landing, displayed the utmost bravery and determination. Lieutenant Bruce Carruthers of the regiment especially distinguished himself. Being in command of a detachment of the rear-guard, when coming into camp he remained out in a position of observation, in which he eventually found himself isolated and surrounded by a large body of the enemy. Rejecting all idea of surrender, however, his small patrol of 21 men fought stubbornly on to the end, no less than six of their number, including Lieutenant Carruthers, being killed and 12 wounded. There have been few finer instances of heroism in the whole course of the campaign. The Boers who took part in this unsuccessful attack upon Colonel Cookson's camp were estimated to have numbered 1800 men, and were under the command of Generals Delarey and Kemp". In this action, generally referred to in the despatches and elsewhere as that of Boschbult, the Canadians lost Lieutenant Carruthers and 11 men killed, and Captain F S M Howard and Lieutenants R H Ryan, G B Mackay, R F Markham, and A T London, and 42 men wounded. Major wired to the Minister of Militia of Canada: "regiment and field hospital have undergone sev. test, and have acquitted themselves most creditably. I regret the heavy losses". Lord Roberts telegraphed his congratulations to the Governor-General as well as to South Africa.

The regiment took part in the last great drive between the Klerksdorp blockhouse line and the railway running from Kimberley and Vryburg to Mafeking. In these drives many prisoners were taken.

---

Love it, always want to learn. So it might be from a Canadian unit. I pulled out "Defending the Dominion" and there was a "mixed" order of 1,400 MLM's from the UK delivered in the summer of 1895 but it does not have any M&D marks applied. Possibly it was a replacement rifle issued while in service during the war and brought home by the soldier and it never received any further Canadian ownership markings?

The 1 800 Boers is doubtful. It is unlikely there were so many in that area at that time, although 500 would be likely.

If it is Canadian that could explain why it is in such great shape. After the Boer War they gave some soldiers the option of keeping their rifles. This would explain why it would miss all the upgrades and remain in such great condition as it wouldn't have been used as much as a issued rifle would be.

You're sure that's not 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles?

Oh, just saw you've got that already.

---------- Post added at 08:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:05 AM ----------

The "1S 1901" stamped in the butt would be "1st Squadron"?

Congrats a true piece of history!

A bit of detective work might reveal whose rifle it was.

I will arise an' get 'ence -
I will trek South and make sure
If it's only my fancy or not
That the sunshine of England is pale,
And the breezes of England are stale,
An' there's something' gone small with the lot.
For I know of a sun an' a wind,
An' some plains and a mountain be'ind,
An' some graves by a barb-wire fence,
An' a Dutchman I've fought 'oo might give
Me a job were I ever inclined
To look in an' offsaddle an' live
Where there's neither a road nor a tree -
But only my Maker an' me,
An I think it will kill me or cure,
So I think I will go there an' see.

[Kipling - Chant Pagan]

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First pic above looks like he has a Mauser...one of the Boer rifles, or more like carbine?

Jim, that's well spotted - Boer Mauser carbine. And to avoid the saddle ring bashing his cheek, he's moved the sling attachment over to the right.