The 1st King’s Dragoon Guards first action in the front is at Festubert. As an introduction to front line action, they are asked to hold the line for 48 hours. The trenches are very muddy and getting worse.
The South African government had to spend some time in suppressing the “Maritz rebellion” and by February was again ready to mount a second invasion.
Gen. Louis Botha arrives to take command of the Northern force at Swakopmund.
The whole of February 1915 is spent moving around an area between Bethune and Rincq in readiness for action but not actually in action.
The whole of March is spent moving around an area between Bethune and Rincq in readiness for action but not actually in action. They furnish working parties at Fontaine les Hermans.
Gen. Louis Botha advances up the Swakop river and attacks the German forces at Portje, Jakalswater & Riet.
Col. Skinner advances up the Swakopmund-Otavi railway line.
The month of April is spent moving around an area between Bethune and Rincq in readiness for action but not actually in action. They furnish working parties at Robecq.
The final German offensive of the German South West Africa Campaign is at Trekkopjes.
The 2nd Transvaal Scottish and 2nd Kimberley Regiment resist the German onslaught where the German forces outnumbered the British forces by an estimated 50%.
The German forces retreat up the Swakopmund-Otavi railway line.
On 31st May 1915 1st King’s Dragoon Guards receive orders at 5.15pm to take over trenches in the Hooge area, east of the Belgian town of Ypres, from where they are to attack and hold Hooge Chateau. They discover that the Chateau is not held by the Germans, and the regiment move into the buildings and grounds unopposed. The Dragoons then proceed to improve the position. On the approach to the Chateau, Reggie is wounded in Zouave Wood.
The King’s Dragoon Guards finish their action at Hooge Chateau which ends in being relieved on the 3rd June.
They spend the rest of June recovering and in training.
The King’s Dragoon Guards spend the entirety of July at Rincq supplying working parties mostly for digging trenches for whoever needed them.
They then march down towards the Somme area at the beginning of August.
They are at the front in late August near Authuille but end up doing little more than working parties preparing defences in case of an enemy attack.
The German South West Africa Campaign invasion was concluded by a German surrender in July 1915.
The country now known as Namibia is added to the British Empire.
1st South African Infantry Brigade raised at Potchefstroom, South Africa
The brigade is led by Major-General Henry Timson ‘Tim’ Lukin who had been Donald’s commanding officer in the Cape Mounted Rifles back in 1898.
Reggie is evacuated as “sick” with no information as to the circumstances. He was not to return to the front until Christmas Day later in the year.
After Reggie was evacuated the King’s Dragoon Guards spend another few days in Authuille supplying working parties. On the 3rd they leave the village for Forceville and then on to billets near St. Gratien. At this point they split into 2 parties. 1 party staying in St. Gratien for the purpose of providing working parties in Senlis. The other going on to billets in Halloy-lès-Pernois.
After a week, the Halloy party marches back to St. Gratien and the whole regiment moves back to Authuille. Back in Authuille they provide further working parties until the 16th Sep.
They leave Authuille for the last time and march to Forceville where their horses are waiting and they ride back to St. Gratien for a couple of nights.
The whole group moves back to billets in Halloy-lès-Pernois where the whole 1st Indian Cavalry Division is inspected by Field Marshal Lord Kitchener on the 21st September.
Finally, the regiment move to billets in Autheux but remain in readiness to move at 2 1/2 hour’s notice until the end of the month.
After sailing to England from South Africa, the South African Brigade assembles at Bordon Camp in Hampshire.
In his memoirs, addressed to Donald’s daughters, Reggie Hunt records “I happened to be in England, in Hospital, when your Father came over with the South African Scottish; I went over & saw him at Richmond”. This meeting must have been while Reggie was recuperating from wounds received in Zouave Wood on 31 May as part of the operation on Hooge Chateau.
Donald is promoted to captain in the 4th SAI and the 4th SAI are issued with uniform made from Murray of Atholl tartan.
Donald was gazetted (temporary) Major in the 4th SAI (South African Scottish)
Reggie rejoined the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards at Quesnoy-Le-Montant on Christmas Day after being evacuated on 2nd September at Authuille.
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