erving in it, Sergeant A. H. L. Richardson, on July 5, 1900, won
the highest of all the decorations for valour, the Victoria Cross. At a
hot engagement in the village of Wolvespruit the odds were so heavy
against our men that they were given the order to retire. One of our
dismounted men, wounded in two places, lay on the field, and Sergeant
Richardson, seeing his plight, rode back and brought him in, although
exposed to a warm cross-fire at close range, and despite the fact that
Richardson's horse was so badly wounded that he could only go at a slow
pace. It was a very gallant action.

When at the close of the main part of the war the South African
Constabulary was formed, Steele, of the Strathcona's, was appointed its
Colonel, and much "mopping up" was done in the pursuit of irregular Boer
bands. Inspector Scarth, Constables C. P. Ermatinger, and J. G. French
were given commissions. For their service with the 2nd and 5th C.M.R.,
Inspectors John Taylor, Demers, Sergt.-Major J. Richards, Sergt.-Major
F. Church, Sergeant Hillian, Sergeant H. R. Skirving, Constables A. N.
Bredin and J. A. Ballantyne were also granted commissions.

I have mentioned certain circumstances which set Strathcona's Horse more
in the public eye than the Canadian Mounted Rifles, in which the
majority of the North-West Mounted Police served, but the latter took a
part in the war which involved much hard fighting, and did much to
enhance the prestige of Canadian soldiers, whose service abroad up to
that time had not been in military units. The North-West Mounted Police
officers who joined the various units of the C.M.R. and received
commissions in the Militia were: (2nd C.M.R.) Lieut.-Colonel L. W.
Herchmer (the then Commissioner of the Police, who commanded the
battalion), Superintendent J. Howe, Inspector A. G. Macdonnell
(afterwards in command of 5th C.M.R.), Inspector J. D. Moodie, Inspector
J. V. Begin, Inspector T. A. Wroughton, Superintendent G. E. Sanders,
Inspector A. E. R. Cuthbert, Inspector H. J. A. Davidson, Inspector
F. L. Cosby (Adjutant), Inspector M. Baker (Quartermaster), Inspector
J. B. Allan, and Veterinary Officer Lieut. R. Riddell. These officers
and the men they commanded were intent upon their duties, and such able
soldiers as General Hutton, General Lord Methuen, and others, gave them
unstinted praise for their work in the Orange Free State and their
advance guard work on the march to Pretoria, under Lord Roberts, who was
g