The Fourth Contingent, New Zealand Mounted Rifles landed at Beira at the end of April 1900. Stirling notes 'These two corps [Fourth and Fifth] N.Z.M.R. were, along with the 6th New South Wales Imperial Bushmen, intended to form the 2nd Brigade of the Rhodesian Field Force, which crossed Rhodesia and, under the leadership of General Carrington, entered the Transvaal from the north-west; but before Mafeking was reached the brigade was broken up'. As a result they narrowly missed qualifying for the 'Relief of Mafeking' clasp. The 4th N.Z.M.R. took part in the attempt to relieve Colonel Hore at Elands River where they 'particularly distinguished themselves' (Stirling refers) and were involved in heavy fighting in the Western Transvaal.