Elandslaagte - the cavalry chargers

The battle at Elandslaagte on October 21, 1899 was critical to holding up the Boer forces bearing down on Ladysmith and southern Natal. British forces won the battle driving the Boers off the field and inflicting a physcological and physical defeat when the British cavalry charged through the retreating  Boers. The charge has gone down in history, a relatively rare use of lances and swords in a full blown cavalry charge. The young trumpeter Shurlock shooting three Boers with his revolver and one lance piercing two Boers. The British infantry did well too, charging and capturing the Boer positions. 

 A clasp Elandslaagte was issued for the Queen's South Africa medal. For medal collectors medals to men who took part in the battle are eagerly sought. Most highly prized are medals to the cavalry, the 5th Lancers and 5th Dragoon Guards. It is generally accepted that only two squadrons, one from each regiment charged and that there was another squadron of the 5th Lancers on the battlefield who did not charge. Therefore the odds on a 5th Lancer being a charger are 50/50.

What is less well known is that there was a third squadron of the 5th Lancers entitled to the clasp Elandslaagte. They did not take part in the battle which is perhaps why their role in glossed over. This information is critical to medal collectors, the odds on a 5th Lancer being a charger are reduced to1:3.

The regimental history of the 5th Lancers which has been re-printed and is widely available mention all three squadrons involved in the operations that led to the battle.

A (Cpt J.B.Scriven) took no active part "to the west of French" towards Bester's Station

C (Cpt M.P.R. Oakes) the squadron that did charge with 5th Dragoon Guards from the left

D (Cpt A. Parker) with the Imperial Light Horse "sent to clear a ridge running parallel to the main Boer position, and about two and a half miles to the south west of it...The Boers, under Pienaar, fell back towards their main position." They spent the rest of the day supporting the Imperial Light Horse.

A quick count of the Elandslaagte clasps to the 5th Lancers bears this out, 419 clasps were awarded. This equates to three strong squadrons not two. Eighty-six 5th Lancers earned the Defence of Ladysmith without Elandslaagte indicating a weak squadron left behind. In comparison 172 Elandslaagte clasps were issued to the 5th Dragoon Guards, another strong squadron.

The qualification for the clasp hints at it not simply encompassing the actual battlefield, "All troops at Elandslaagte on 21st October, 1899, who were on the right bank of the Sunday's River and north of an east and west line through Buys Farm [south of Elandslaagte].", there is no left or west boundary. "Buys Farm" was the farm RietKuil owned by one Johannes Petrus Buys. The farm was primarily to the east of the railway and extended north to the Modder Spruit and west just to the other side of the railway line. The farm was used by the British to hold cattle and there was a camp about Modder Spruit Siding, called by one soldier "Buy's [sic] Farm Camp, Modder Spruit".

Thanks to Elné Watson for identifying Buys Farm and Rory Reynolds for additional information.