Canada in the Second Boer War

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Canada was split over helping Britain in the Second Boer War. English and Irish Canadians supported the war, while French Canadians were against it, calling it a British colonial venture. The aim to appease both sides led Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier to send a force of 1,000 volunteers from the Royal Canadian Regiment to South Africa—the first time Canadians had fought overseas since the Mahdist War.

The first group was led by Lieutenant Colonel Sir William Dillon Otter. Later, two more contingents arrived: the second, about 6,000 men from the Royal Canadian Dragoons and Canadian Mounted Rifles; and the third, the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) Regiment. In total, about 8,600 Canadians volunteered, and roughly 7,400 soldiers and 12 nurses served in South Africa.

About 270 Canadian soldiers were killed and 252 were wounded.

Canadians were equipped with Lee Enfield rifles, and officers carried Colt New Service revolvers. Each unit began with two Maxim machine guns mounted on Dundonald Galloping Carriages, but the Maxim guns were heavy, tended to jam, and needed constant water cooling. Later, many units adopted the lighter M1895 Colt–Browning machine gun, which was especially popular with mounted troops despite a slower rate of fire.

Canadian uniforms were khaki. Early uniforms were produced quickly by the W.E. Sandford Manufacturing Company in Hamilton, Ontario. Canadians used Oliver Pattern Equipment webbing, while the British used Mark IV webbing. There were two versions: infantry and mounted troops. Infantry gear included a belt, cartridge pouch, water bottle, and other items; mounted troops carried a belt, bayonet, haversack, holster, and ammunition bandolier. The Strathcona’s Horse wore a distinctive Strathcona Boot. Mounted troops wore a Stetson hat, while infantry wore a pith helmet. The Stetson became a symbol of Canada’s presence in South Africa.

This war marked the largest Canadian military deployment before World War I and the first time Canadians fought overseas in many years. After the war, celebrations swept across the country, and many towns built their first war memorials, many of which still stand today.