42nd (Hertfordshire) Company was a unit of the Imperial Yeomanry formed to supplement the British Army in the Second Boer War.

Following a string of defeats during Black Week in early December 1899, the British government realised that it would need more troops than just the Regular Army to fight the Second Boer War.

[1][2][3][4][5][6] The government's appeal was sent to members of the Hertfordshire Yeomanry on Wednesday 20 December and by Friday morning 60–70 officers and men had volunteered, as well as numerous civilians, and more were coming in.

The Hertfordshire Company, IY, mobilised at the Rose and Crown Hotel in Watford on 11 January and the men arranged their billeting nearby.

42nd and 44th Companies began the 550 miles (890 km) march to Bloemfontein in mid-April, the first part being a 'show of force' through the area round Stellenbosch and Paarl in the Western Cape.

What remained of the battalion was now supposed to join a yeomanry brigade under Col Viscount Downe, but in the event was reassigned as 'Corps Troops' under Lord Roberts's main army.

[12][13][14] The battalion's march was uneventful but, because there were scattered parties of Boers still active in the area, it had to deploy advance and flank guards at all times.

It crossed the Vaal on 1 June and was about 15 miles (24 km) from Johannesburg when news arrived that the Boers under Christiaan de Wet had overrun several garrisons along the railway and destroyed the Rhenoster bridge.

The following day (11 June) the two companies together with some infantry and artillery were ordered to escort a convoy of provisions to Maj-Gen Hector MacDonald's column at Heilbron.

The company joined Lieutenant-General Lord Methuen's column, which was cooperating with Kitchener's, and together they drove De Wet south-west towards the Brandwater Basin.

This was joined on 29 June by MacDonald's column from Heilbron, including 42nd and 44th Companies IY and mounted troops from various units as well as the infantry of his Highland Brigade.

The 4000 remaining Boers trapped in the basin surrendered on 30 July, but in the meantime Hunter sent his mounted troops, including Ridley's brigade, in pursuit of De Wet.

The company was depleted in numbers through sickness, and several officers had been posted to other duties, including Lt Sir George Arthur, who had been sent to the remount depot, and was able to supply the 42nd with good replacement horses.

Leaving Krugersdorp on 30 August, Hart marched through northwestwards across the Mooi River, then on 9 September made a dash southwestwards for Potchefstroom with his mounted troops and some Irish infantry carried in mule wagons.

42nd Company had furthest to go, a 30 miles (48 km) ride to get behind the town, but although the move was successful most of the fighting Boers had already left and joined De Wet.

The column spent the next three months marching backwards and forwards, often at night, in an attempt to dominate its assigned area of 6–700 square miles.

The senior IY officer in South Africa, Lord Chesham, visited Krugersdorp in March and gave a speech to the yeomanry asking them to 'stick it' until they were relieved.

Noting that Gilliat was not fully fit Chesham took him on his staff and Lt Geoffrey Lubbock was promoted to captain to command 42nd Company on 19 March.

[30] At the end of April the remaining yeomanry in Hart's force were ordered to Kroonstad, where they helped train the newly arrived Second Contingent men in scouting.

Trooper Martin-Leake became a medical officer in the South African Constabulary and won the Victoria Cross (VC) for rescuing wounded under fire in February 1902.