South African Light Horse

South African Light Horse (SALH)
Cap badge of the SALH
Active	8 Nov 1899 – 1907
Country	South Africa
Branch	British Army
Type	Light Horse Regiment
Size	600 men in 8 Squadrons
Nickname(s)	Cockyolibirds or Sakabulas
Motto(s)	Usibu njalo nga pambili (Zulu) or "Feathers at the Front"
Engagements	Colenso, Spion Kop, Vaal Krantz, Tugela Heights
Disbanded	1907
Commanders
Lieutenant Colonel	Julian Byng
Insignia
Badge	Maltese Cross inscribed with SALH 1899

The South African Light Horse regiment of the British Army (not to be confused with the Imperial Light Horse (ILH) later known as the Light Horse Regiment (LHR) of the South African Army) were raised in Cape Colony in 1899 and disbanded in 1907.

The commanding officer tasked with raising the regiment was Major (locally a Lieutenant Colonel) the Honourable Julian Byng (10th Hussars) who would go on to rise to the rank of Field Marshal).

The future Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Winston Churchill served as a lieutenant in the SALH from January to July 1900.

The regiment was formed in November 1899, just one month after the start of the Second Boer War, and by December of that year 8 squadrons had been raised from Uitlanders. They were largely financed by Wernher-Beit & co. and together with the Imperial Light Horse they effectively formed a Uitlander army. A small portion were used to protect the railway line to De Aar but they mostly served as a part of the Mounted Brigade of the Natal Field Force under Lieutenant-General Douglas Cochrane the 12th Earl of Dundonald, taking part in the relief of the besieged town of Ladysmith.