Sharpshooters Imperial Yeomanry – 1
During the early stages of the South African War 1899-1902, the British Army suffered defeats at the hands of the Boer Commandos, composed of men who were first class shots and good horsemen. The effect at home was to produce a rush of volunteers.
A committee was formed in Dec 1899 by the Earl of Dunraven to raise a squadron of 'Sharpshooters' from those volunteers who could both ride and shoot well. By March 1900, a full battalion (18th Bn) (with the Earl as a supernumerary Captain) was on its way to South Africa.
The Sharpshooters battalion was part of the Rhodesian Field Force intended to threaten the Transvaal and the Boer capital of Pretoria from the north. However after six months, the attempt was abandoned and the battalion spent its remaining time in the southern part of the Orange Free State engaged in anti-guerrilla warfare