About This Unit
FOURTH BATTALION AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH HORSE. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN UNIT.
A SQUADRON of this Battalion was raised under circumstances which did not differ in any essential from those under which that preceding it was enrolled. Authority was received on 23rd January, 1902; and men were selected, medically examined, tested, and finally accepted in the usual manner.
The strength was —4 officers, 116 others, with 121 horses.
The Contingent left Port Adelaide on 1st April, 1902, in the transport Templemore, which carried the Victorian units and staff, and part of the Western Australian unit. Landed at Durban, 21st April, and encamped there for two days; then entrained for Newcastle, and encamped at Kitchener's Kop, with the 3rd Battalion.
Subsequently trekked, vid Laing's Nek and Majuba, to Volksrust.
Entrained from there (Charleston) to Elandsfontein, and encamped there until ordered to return to Australia, after having returned horses into Remount Camp. There was but one casualty (vide Nominal Roll); and not any promotions.
Embarked at Durban on 7th July, in the transport Norfolk. Lieutenant Watson and portion of the Contingent arrived in South Australia on 24th July, vid Albany; Captain Collins, D.S.O., with remainder, arrived vid Albany, 31st July. Disbanded, 15th August.
Extract from- Official Records of the Australian Military Contingents to the War in South Africa, compiled and edited in 1911 by Lieutenant-Colonel P.L. Murray, R.A.A. (Ret.).p., 382