TheCape Mounted Yeomanry was a military force created on amilitia basis by Act 5 of 1878 in theCape Colony, with a strength of 3,000 in three regiments, to act in conjunction with theCape Mounted Riflemen on the eastern frontier.[1] About 600 men were put into the field for the Basuto Rebellion in 1880.
Lieutenant-ColonelRichard Southey commanded the Cape Mounted Yeomanry during theBasuto Gun War.
Twenty-six-year-old SurgeonJohn Frederick McCrea was aSurgeon in the 1st Cape Mounted Yeomanry during theBasuto Gun War. He was awarded theVictoria Cross for his actions on 14 January 1881, at Tweefontein,Basutoland.
In this action, theburghers had been forced to retire under a most determined enemy attack, with a loss of 16 killed and 21 wounded. Surgeon McCrea was the only doctor present and notwithstanding a serious wound on the breast bone, which he dressed himself, he most gallantly took the casualties into shelter and continued to attend to the wounded throughout the day. Had it not been for this devotion to duty on the part of Surgeon McCrea, there would undoubtedly have been much greater suffering and loss of life.
Eleven members of the 3rd Cape Mounted Yeomanry died as a result of enemy action atMorosi's Stronghold on 29 May 1879. Sixteen members of the 1st Cape Mounted Yeomanry were killed in action at Morosi's Stronghold 5 June 1879 along with seven members of the 2nd regiment.[2]
Three hundred and six members of the unit received theCape of Good Hope General Service Medal.[3]Captain AL Chiapini andTrooper E McGuire received the medal with all three clasps i.e.Transkei,Basutoland andBechuanaland.[4]
The Cape Mounted Yeomanry was disbanded in 1881.[1]
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