Rimington's Guides

Rimington's Guides (also known as Rimington's Tigers or Rimington's Corps of Guides and then later as Damant's Horse) were a unit of light horse in the British Army active in the Second Boer War. They were led by Major M. F. (Mike) Rimington, later Brevet Colonel Rimington CB. He also led a column in the later stages of the war. The Rimington's Guides also had the name Rimington's Tigers due to the leopard skin hatbands worn on their slouch hats.[1] Rimington gave his Corps of Guides the nickname "catch-'em-alive-o's while other forces gave him the nickname "The Night Cats" because of their night marches and stealth like movement.[2] Rimington left the Guides in January 1901. The force was reorganised as Damant's Horse under Major Frederic Damant, Rimington's second-in-command, though they were often known by his name through the remainder of the war.

Rimington's Guides
Country South Africa
BranchBritish Army
Commanders
Major (later Brevet Colonel)Michael Rimington
MajorFrederick Damant

Composition

The unit was recruited from English speaking South Africans. Every man in Rimington's Corps of Guides was obliged to speak Afrikaans and at least one of the indigenous African languages, with many speaking both. They were armed with carbines and pistols, riding light ahead of the main army.[2]

Notable Unit Members

References
  1. Duxbury, G. A. "Queen's South Africa Medal with 10 clasps". 2.Issue 3. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. "The English "Night Cats."" (PDF). The New York Times. 1900-03-25. p. 27. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
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