The Natal (Hired) Transport were formed to ameliorate the deficencies in Buller's transport system. Accounts of their work can be found in A Mule Driver at the Front and Creswicke gives an idea of the difficulties they faced as Buller's Force moved towards the Tugela:

'The passages through the spruits were nightmares, carts overturned in the water, wheels off, mules mixed up, fighting and knotted in their harness and half drowning, oxen with their heads borne down on the water and heaving with all their mighty strength to the opposite bank, a gun or wagon stuck, and the river of traffic looping round it as the water flows round an island; spare teams of oxen moving about to help the unfortunate out of difficulties ...'

62 Medals were issued named to the Natal Transport.