ed in the colonies were trained as
infantrymen, dispatched to South Africa, and on arrival there were formed
into one regiment, every member of which was a first-class rider but a
bad walker. They were shifted about hither and thither, gained no
particular laurels, and rested not until the day came when they were
turned into a mounted regiment, shortly before the arrival at Cape Town
of the first mounted units. No more infantry units were dispatched from
the colonies. The War Office had repented.

One of the reasons given to me for their preference for infantry had been
that it had been considered inadvisable to put upon the Australians the
extra expenditure that would be incurred in equipping mounted corps. To
say the least of it, a very childish one.

I found on reaching Adelaide that there were enough applications already
handed in at the military staff office to organize five or six squadrons,
instead of one. It became a question simply of selecting the best.
Married men were at once barred. Our unit was one squadron, a hundred and
twenty officers and men. The remark which had been made to me in the War
Office, previous to my leaving London, with reference to putting the
colonies to extra expenditure in sending mounted troops, came back to my
mind. I called on my old friend, Mr. Barr Smith, and I suggested to him
that it would be patriotic on his part if he permitted me to notify to
the Government that he was willing to bear the expense of supplying some
of the horses required for the contingent. "Most certainly," he answered.
"You can tell the Government that they can draw upon me for the amount
required for the purchase of the whole of the horses." This was a winning
card in my hand. I called upon Kingston next morning and told him of the
offer. I further told him that I had already heard whispers of probable
opposition to my so soon relinquishing my position as Commandant after my
long absence from Adelaide. "Don't bother," said Kingston. "You are now
going to fight for us; leave it to me. I am announcing to the House this
afternoon the Government's decision to send this first mounted
contingent. You have put in my hands a trump card--Mr. Barr Smith's
generous offer. It will be received with the greatest enthusiasm by the
members. I shall tell them your part in it and then immediately announce
that I have selected you to proceed at once to South Africa as a special
service officer, representing South Australia."