X-Nico

5 unusual facts about Cape Mounted Riflemen


Cape Mounted Riflemen

The unit was deployed in several operations and campaigns: the 4th Frontier War (1811–1812), the 5th Frontier War (1818–1819), the 6th Frontier War (1834–1835), the siege of Durban (1842), the 7th Frontier War (1846–1847), the 8th Frontier War (1850–1853), and the Basuto War 1850–1852.

A new constitution that prohibited discrimination on the basis of race and instituted the non-racial Cape Qualified Franchise partially assuaged some of the Xhosa people's grievances, leading to a period of relative peace on the frontier.

Hughes of Gwerclas

His cousin - Lieutenant Talbot de Bashall Hughes (b. 1836) - had joined the Cape Mounted Riflemen in the 1850s and disappears from the record.

Moorosi campaign

The campaign against King Moorosi, leader of the Baphuthi people, was launched in southern Basutoland (today's Lesotho) in 1879 by the Cape Colony and was fought largely by members of the Cape Mounted Riflemen.

Robert George Scott

Scott was 21 years old, and a sergeant in the Cape Mounted Riflemen, Cape Colonial Forces during the Basuto Gun War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.



see also