 Overseas service for the 1st King 's included a two @-@ year residence in Nova Scotia , beginning in 1893 . In January 1895 , the battalion provided a 100 @-@ man guard of honour when the body of Canadian Prime Minister John Thompson was returned from Britain . The battalion subsequently became stationed in the West Indies , then Cape Colony in 1897 . The Second Boer War began two years later . Prior to the outbreak of the war , as the discord between the British and Boer republics escalated , the 1st King 's formed a company of mounted infantry and underwent intensive training at Ladysmith , Natal Colony . War was declared on 11 October and Natal invaded by a Boer force under General Piet Joubert . General George White held authority over 13 @,@ 000 British personnel dispersed throughout Natal . Heavy losses were incurred by the British in the first major engagements of the war , at Talana Hill and Elandslaagte . Retreat to Ladysmith , where the British concentrated its largest contingent , ensued . Having besieged Kimberley and Mafikeng , Boers converged upon Ladysmith and positioned artillery pieces on surrounding hills overlooking the town . 
