Throughout the war there was no shortage of volunteers for service in South Africa. The medical examination became more systematic as the war progressed and the large number of volunteers meant that the doctors could be quite strict in their assessment of medical status. Dental fitness was a matter of real concern. The shooting test does not seem to have been particularly onerous but most ‘dejected rejecteds’ were those who failed the riding test. Early contingents were very short of up-to-date equipment and at first were equipped with single-shot Martini-Enfield carbines but by 1901 they were all using Lee-Enfield or Lee-Metford magazine rifles. The Sixth Contingent, arriving at East London and ordered very promptly to the front were without water bottles. The quartermaster took 50 men to a local hotel, purchased 500 empty wine bottles and pressed them into service for the contingent.