Tunbridge Wells in time of war. Royal Sussex Regiment The Childers Reforms of 1881 took Cardwell's reforms further, with the linked Regular regiments becoming two-battalion regiments and their associated militia formally joining as sequentially numbered battalions. The 35th and 107th formed the 1st and 2nd Bns Royal Sussex Regiment and the two battalions of the RSLIM became the 3rd and 4th Bns on 1 July 1881. However, the 3rd and 4th Bns were amalgamated on 1 April 1890. The RSLIM's old Regimental colours were laid up in Chichester Cathedral in 1881. Although Cardwell's army corps scheme had been abandoned, the Stanhope Memorandum of 1888 proposed that the home defence army should consist of three corps, of which the first two would be regular, and the bulk of the third would be militia, while the rest of the militia and the volunteers would be assigned to fixed defences round London and the seaports. Second Boer War After the disasters of Black Week at the start of the Second Boer War in December 1899, most of the regular army was sent to South Africa, the militia reserve was called out to reinforce them, and many militia units were embodied to replace them for home defence and to garrison certain overseas stations. The 3rd Bn Royal Sussex was embodied on 11 December 1899. As the war continued, additional troops were required in South Africa for line of communication (LoC) duties. The battalion volunteered in March 1901 and embarked with a strength of 23 officers and 477 ORs (the militia reservist already having been withdrawn) under the command of the Earl of March, eldest son of the 6th Duke of Richmond. On arrival the battalion carried out LoC duties and guarded Boer prisoners of war, while its Mounted Infantry detachment was employed on patrol duties and escorting convoys. Later, the battalion took part in some of the anti-guerrilla 'drives' around the Volksrust and Ingogo districts. After the Peace of Vereeniging the battalion returned home where it was disembodied on 11 September 1902. During the campaign the battalion lost 24 ORs killed or died of disease. The Earl of March was awarded a CB and Sergeant-Major Amos the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The battalion was granted the Battle honour South Africa 1901–02 and all the participants received the Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps for 'Cape Colony', 'Orange Free State', 'Transvaal', and 'South Africa 1901' and