Slouch hat worn by Sergeant G W Greenaway, 77th (Manchester) Company, 8th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, 1900 (c)

After the setbacks sustained during 'Black Week' in December 1899 the British government realised it would need more men to defeat the Boers. It responded by raising the Imperial Yeomanry on 24 December 1899. Although based on the existing county yeomanry regiments, the new formations also contained a large contingent of volunteers.

The 77th (Manchester) Company was raised in early 1900 under the sponsorship of the Lancashire Hussars. It arrived in South Africa on 3 May 1900 as part of the 8th Battalion. The latter also included the 23rd (Lancashire) and 24th (Westmorland and Cumberland) companies.