Silver

Boer War Statuette: Smiley

Presented by Captain John Smiley to the Officers of the Carabiniers in commemoration of the South African War 1899 – 1902. Hallmark London 1904-05

Background Information


All three ancestor regiments of today's combined regiment fought in the Boer War. The 6th Dragoon Guards arrived in South Africa in November 1899 to be joined by the Royal Scots Greys a month later. The 3rd Dragoon Gaurds arrived in 1901. This was the last British War in which Horsed Cavalry had a major role to play.

An extract from the regimental history book ‘In the Finest Tradition ‘  by Stephen Wood which refers to Capt John Smiley’s regiment, The 6th Dragoon Guards reads… The charge at Klip Drift  was carried out in true cavalry style, with the front rank of each squadron being armed with lances as well as swords and carbines. This experiment of arming the front rank of all cavalry regiments, except hussars, as lancers, was begun in 1892 as a direct result of the usefulness of the lance in open country and against an unconventional enemy. Although the actual effectiveness of lances was limited, except against dismounted troops or those lying down, the effect on enemy morale seems to have been considerable and so until the Bore war turned into a manoeuvring stalemate, lances and swords were retained. Once the war had taken that turn, cold steel was returned to the armoury and rifles issued to the cavalry.