Trooper F.E. Crummack was one of the 'Fighting Five Hundred' of the Imperial Light Horse, a regiment composed mainly of Uitlanders which The Times History describes as a 'corps d'elite'. Ten of its Officers had been members of the Reform Committee and when recruiting for the I.L.H. started in September 1899 over 2000 men applied. 'The methods of selection were drastic and only the very best in every sense - horsemanship, shooting, character, physique - were accepted.' The I.L.H. was commanded by Colonel Scott-Chisholme, a Regular Officer of the 5th Lancers, who agreed with General Hunter that they were the finest body of men that he had seen during his service but it was obvious that cavalry drill would be something of a problem. 'The first occasion the Regiment paraded as such before their new Colonel was on the well-known Fox Hills, Pietermaritzburg. When the order was given - "Prepare to mount! Mount!" - chaos resulted, the horses moving in all directions. The Colonel, raising his arms to heaven, exclaimed: "My God! My God! My God!"' (The Story of the Imperial Light Horse refers). Whatever the drill problems, the Imperial Light Horse were the most distinguished Irregular Regiment of the War, won four Victoria Crosses and, unusually, were presented with a King's Colour. Elandslaagte was their first battle and Scott-Chisholme was killed at the head of his men.