History Browser

An article about the origins of the South African War and Canada's involvement in it. Includes reading list.

Major Arthur L. (Gat) Howard accepted the position of machine gun officer in the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles (later called the Royal Canadian Dragoons). Instead of returning home from the South African War with his unit in December 1900, Howard organized the Canadian Scouts and took command of the unit.

Lieutenant-Colonel William D. Otter became the first Canadian-born officer to command this country’s military. As commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry in South Africa, his no nonsense, no frills approach to soldiering brought him into conflict with the less disciplined ways of his officers and men, but his austere professionalism got results.

Over 7300 Canadian volunteers served in South Africa in October 1899, when the British Empire and the two small South African Boer republics of Transvaal and the Orange Free State went to war. Canada's participation advanced Canadian nationalism, but the war also magnified domestic linguistic and cultural differences.

In November 1899, the Canadian government offered a second contingent consisting of horse-mounted infantry and field artillery.These men were already experienced horsemen and good shots. The Royal Canadian Dragoons was perhaps the most effective Canadian unit to serve in South Africa.