The Leicestershire Militia in South Africa

Leicester, Clarke & Satchell, 1902. 1st Edition. Small oblong. Worn and stained brown cloth covers with faded gilt title to front board. Red Black and Yellow colours of the Leicestershire Regiment also on the front board. Internally good with numerous black and white photographs of the period. Binding a little loose. Medal Roll at the rear of the book. 116 pages. Bookplate of John Woodfield Militaria Collector of the 17th Foot Leicestershire Regiment. A rare survival.

The South African War in 1899 (the Second Boer War) took 1st Battalion on another long spell of active service which won further renown for the regiment.  It was embodied in the force led by the gallant General, Sir William Penn Symons, which attacked the Boer position at Talana Hill on 20 October.  Then came the hurried retirement on Ladysmith.  For four months the Battalion fought splendidly throughout the stubborn defence of Ladysmith, during which the garrison was reduced to almost starvation rations.  Before the town was relieved one tenth of the defenders had laid down their lives.Restored by a brief rest, the Battalion took part in the operations that carried the war into the Orange Free State, and the Transvaal, and was present at the storming of Laing’s Nek and the capture of Amersfort, Ermelo and Belfast, and in the operations around Lyndenberg

3rd (Militia) Battalion was embodied and volunteered for Active Service.  The first time it was quartered at The Curragh near Dublin, from February to December 1900, and from there it sent 127 to reinforce 1st Battalion in South Africa.  It was embodied a second time in February 1902 and served in South Africa from April to September 1902, giving an excellent account of itself in the Burghersdorp and Knapdaar fighting.