Natal carbineers

The Natal Carbineers was raised in Pietermaritzburg on 15th January 1855 and known for the first three weeks as the Pietermaritzburg Irregular Horse and gazetted on the 13th March as the Natal Carbineers. Troops were established at Richmond, Karkloof, Estcourt, Ladysmith, Newcastle and Dundee. In 1887 the Natal Hussars were amalgamated and the regiment was divided into two wings. In 1893 the Left Wing became the Umvoti Mounted Rifles.

The Ladysmith squadron, number 6 was raised by Frederick Spence Tatham in 1887 and was joined by the Newcastle squadron on 4th October and the Dundee on 26th October. In total there were four squadrons serving with the Besieged forces having a compliment of 22 officers, 370 men and 497 horses. They fought at Dundee and Elandslaagte and their listed casualties for this period were 5 killed, 16 wounded and 11 died of disease. 

E squadron, Estcourt, was under the command of Major Mackenzie with the relief force fighting at Willow Grange and the Breakthrough.

With a squadron of the Imperial Light Horse they were the first troops to enter Ladysmith on the 28th February 1900. “.