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MATABELE REBELLION OF 1896 - British Orders Of Battle

By Dennis Bishop

Laagers at Buluwayo, Bellingwe, Mangwe and Gwelo
Units Numbers
Rhodesian Horse Volunteers (3 mtd companies)150 men
Rhodesian Infantry Volunteers(7 inf companies)350 men
Salisbury Horse Regiment(3 mtd companies) 150 men
Gifford's Horse Regiment (3 mtd companies)150 men
Afrikander Corps (3 mtd companies) 213 men
Bellingwe Field Force (4 inf companies)200 men
Gwelo Field Force (6 inf companies) 336 men
Buluwayo Field Force Artillery Battery1 x 7pdr, 1 x 2.5" gun, 1 x Hotchkiss,1 x Nordenfeldt gun, 1 x Maxim
Buluwayo Field Force Engineers Company 50 men
Matabele Mounted Police Company48 men
Grey's Scouts Company 50 men
Dawson's Scouts Company 49 men
Brand's Mounted Volunteer Company 100 men
Matabele Irregular Company 100 warriors
Matabele Native Police Company100 men (defected to rebels)
British RegularsNumbers
7th Hussars Cavalry Regiment480 men
Mounted Infantry Battalion 200 men
West Riding Regiment (2 companies)160 men
BSA Police Regiment (2 companies)100 men
South African Constabulary Police Battalion 100 men
British VolunteersNumbers
Natal Contingent Company100 men
Hurrell's Mounted Volunteer Company50 men
Coope's Scouts Company50 men
Ndapfunya Native Contingent200 warriors
Cape Boys Regiment200 men

The Rhodesian units were divided into four columns.

Matabele Irregular Company

  • Salisbury Column (Major Beal) 150 men
  • Salisbury Regiment
  • Gwelo Field Force (Captain Gibbs) 336 men
  • Bellingwe Field Force (Unknown) 200 men
  • The British units were divided into two columns.
  • Matabele Relief Force (Colonel Plumer) 750 white men and 200 Cape Boys
  • South African Constabulary Police Battalion
  • West Riding Regiment
  • Coope's Scouts Company
  • Hurrel's Mounted Volunteers Company
  • Cape Boy Regiment(200)

    Mashonaland Relief Force (Lt. Colonel Alderson)

  • 7th Hussar Cavalry Regiment
  • BSA Police Battalion
  • Mounted Infantry Battalion
  • Natal Contingent Company
  • Ndapfunya Native Contingent Click Here To see the Matabele O.B.

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