Boer War - Imperial Yeomanry
The first volunteers to serve in South Africa were eleven NCOs from the East Kent Yeomanry. They were recruited by their Colonel, Lord Harris, who had business interests in South Africa. They set sail in Oct 1899 and served with the South African Light Horse until Dec 1900.
By their terms of service, existing Yeomanry and Territorial Regiments were for home service only and could not therefore be sent overseas. Regiments of Imperial Yeomanry had therefore to be raised from scratch.
The existing Yeomanry Regiments provided many volunteers who served in specially raised Imperial Yeomanry Battalions and Companies.