DIE SOMALILAND BURGHER CONTINGENT G. GENIS DIREKTORAAT DOKUMENTASIEDIENS, SANW The Somaliland Burgher Contingent, consisting of Afrikaans and English speaking South Africans, was the first South African volunteer unit who fought on foreign soil. Volunteers hailed not only from South Africa but from Britain, Rhodesia, America, Ireland, Scotland, Canada and Austria as well. This truly cosmopolitan unit fought during the Third Expedition (1902-1903) in Somaliland against Moham- med Abdulle Hassan (1856-1920) - the so-called Mad Mullah. During this expedi- tion the South Africans fought side by side with British troops of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, Indian troops and the King's African Rifles whose members consisted of Somalis, Sikhs, Sudanese and Yaos (Africans). These troops endured many hardships during the campaign: they had to march in extreme heat in thick bush country with meager rations and water. The Somaliland Burgher Contingent was involved in skirmishes with the Dervish forces of the Mullah but not in the disas- ters of Gumburu and Daratoleh during which two British forces were cut up. The Third Expedition was a military failure for the British and a victory for the Mullah who wanted to rid his country of the British infidel. The Mullah resisted British and Abysinian intrigues in his country until his death in 1920. Apart from the cam- paign, the composition, character, mobilization, demobilization and compensation of the Somali land Burgher Contingent as well as the reasons why volunteers joined up, are discussed. Inleiding Die opvatting word soms gehuldig dat die Eerste Wereldoorlog (1914-1918) die eerste kampanje was waartydens Suid-Afrikaanse soldate buite die grense van Suid-Afrika geveg het. Die Derde Britse Ekspedisie teen Mohammed Abdulle Hassan (1856-1920) - die sogenaamde Mal Mullah - van Somali/and, wat vanaf 4 November 1902 tot 3 Julie 1903 geduur het, was egter die eerste veldtog buite die grense van Suid-Afrika waaraan Suid-Afrikaners deelgeneem het. Die Suid-Afrikaanse kontingent het bestaan uit 'n kompanjie van die King's Royal Rifle Corps - 'n Britse eenheid wat gedurende die Anglo-Boereoorlog in Suid-Afrika geveg het - en die Somali/and Burgher Contingent. Laasgenoem- .de was 'n vrywilligerkorps wat vir slegs ses maande opgeroep is. 1 Sekere offisiele Britse bronne verwys dikwels na die Somali/and Burgher Contingent as 'n Boer Con- tingentwat daarop dui dat dit moontlik die begeerte van die Britse owerhede was om slegs Boere en Afrikaanssprekendes in die kontingent op te neem. Laasgenoemde was egter nie die geval nie. Die kontingent het uit Boere, Engelssprekende Suid- Afrikaners, Engelse, Rhodesiers, Amerikaners, Skotte, lere, Kanadese en 'n Oostenryker bestaan. Hierdie kontingent was dus 'n ware heterogene eenheid wat vir Brittanje in Somaliland gaan veg het. 2 Ongeveer 'n kwart van die kontingent van tussen 89 en 109 lede, het uit Boere bestaan wat tydens die Anglo-Boereoorlog (1899-1902) teen Groot Brittanje geveg het. In Somal Hand moes hierdie Boere skouer aan skouer saam met hul eertydse vyand veg. Ander mede-krygers het ook swart Afrikane, Indiers en selfs 'n paar "hensoppers", dit wil se Boere wat vroeg gedurende die Anglo- Boereoorlog oorgegee het, ingesluit. Laasgenoem- de is deur die "bittereinders" of Boere wat tot aan General Staff War Office, Official History of the Operations in Somaliland, 1901-1904, vol I, pp 109-198,200; L.L. Gordon, British Battles and Medals, 4th ed, p 304; I.S. Hallows, Regiments and Corps of the British Army, pp 234-235. Nasionale Argiefbewaarplek (hierna NAB), Pretoria: Argiewe van die Sekretaris van die Goewerneur van Transvaal Kolonie 1901- 1910 (GOV), Houer 629, Leer PS 401, Somaliland. Export of sheep to the Transvaal, Somaliland Contingent (hierna: NAB: GOV 629 PS 401), Captain Walter Bonham -The Military Secretary to His ExcellencyThe High Commissioner South Africa, Upper Sheikh, Somaliland, 1June 1903; Ibid, Transvaal No 665, Arthur Lawley -The Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain MPThe Colonial Office London, Governor's Office Johannesburg, 12 September 1903; GOV 629 PS 401 ,Transvaal No 865, 0165/3095 (MS3), Guy Fleetwood Wilson -The Under Secretary of State Colonial Office, War Office London SW, 30 July 1903; Official History, vol I, p 120. 74 Militaria 26(2) 1996 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 26, Nr 2, 1996. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za