The battalion found itself again under the command of General Walter Kitchener, forming part of his column, which was composed of the following troops:—­

1st Devonshire Regiment. 2nd Rifle Brigade. 6th West Australians (450 strong). 2nd I.L.H. (800 strong).  Four guns 53rd Field Battery R.A.  One 5-inch gun.  One naval 12-pounder.

Its position in the drive was on the left or outside edge of the circle of the operations.

The forces were put in motion on the 13th May, on which day Kitchener, advancing in the direction of the Swazi border, marched to Zaaiplaats (12-1/2 miles), and thence without incident through Riet Kuil, reaching Schoonora on the 15th.  In the neighbourhood of Schoonora Commandant Trichardt, with 170 of his followers, was surprised by the Australian mounted infantry, who killed one Boer and captured 300 head of cattle.  A considerable number of Boers were reported to be in the neighbourhood.

The drifts over which the column had to pass after leaving Riet Kuil were bad, and only two companies reached Schoonora that night.  The remainder of the battalion, which was rear-guard to the column, bivouacked with the baggage three miles out of camp near a branch of the Klein Oliphants River, and joined up with the column next morning.  The following day Mooiplaats was reached, when a large number of cattle and some families were taken.

On May 16th the column moved to Grobellars Recht.  Here the Boers were found in large numbers under Botha.  The 5th and 6th West Australians whilst operating on the right flank of the column were ambushed, losing one officer and six men killed and thirteen wounded.  The Boers were very truculent and gave considerable trouble, and the force was not in camp till dark.  It was not, however, disturbed during the night.

The column left Grobellars Recht on the 16th with the 5th and 6th West Australians as rear-guard, supported by the Devonshire Regiment.  The Boers followed up smartly for some hours, but there were no casualties, and camp was reached at Kromkrans at about 4 p.m.  Smutsoog was reached the next day.  On the march Pulteney’s column, which was seen in the distance, mistaking Kitchener’s column for a commando of Boers, shelled them with field guns.  Their shooting was accurate, and it was not till General Kitchener threatened to send a 5-inch shell at them that they desisted.  Fortunately no damage was done.  From Smutsoog the column proceeded to Goedevervachting, a few Boers sniping the column on the march.

Much inconvenience was experienced from the cold, as it froze hard every night.

On the 20th the column marched to Florence, passing Bothwell and Lake Chrissie, and on the following day reached Veltevreden.  Here the 2nd Rifle Brigade and the West Australians left the column.  On the march to Veltevreden a few Boers were seen, and there was some firing at the rear-guard.

On the following day a short march brought the force to Uitkyk, where a halt was made on the 23rd.