Título: Windham Wyndham-Quin, 4th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl
Seção: Boer War and the Sharpshoooters
Background: Windham Thomas Wyndham-Quin, 4th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl, KP PC (12 February 1841 - 14 June 1926), styled Viscount Adare between 1850 and 1871, was an Anglo-Irish journalist, landowner, entrepreneur, sportsman and Conservative politician. He served as Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies under Lord Salisbury from 1885 to 1886 and 1886 to 1887. He also successfully presided over the 1902 Land Conference and was the founder of the Irish Reform Association. He recruited two regiments of sharpshooters, leading them in the Boer War and later establishing a unit in Ireland.

Conteúdo: During the early stages of the South African War 1899-1902, the British Army suffered defeats at the hands of the Boer Commandos, composed of men who were first-class shots and good horsemen. The effect in the United Kingdom was to inspire a rush of volunteers. The Earl of Dunraven formed a committee in Dec 1899 to raise a squadron of 'Sharpshooters' from those volunteers who could both ride and shoot well. By March 1900, a full battalion (18th Bn Imperial Yeomanry) had been raised. On 6 April 1900, Dunraven's Sharpshooters started for South Africa. Lord Dunraven at the last moment decided to accompany the force and was posted as a supernumerary captain on the battalion staff. He was gazetted on 17 April 1900 to be Captain (Supernumerary) of the 18th Battalion of the Imperial Yeomanry, with the temporary rank of Captain in the Army, from 18 April 1900, which he relinquished in July 1901. He was mentioned in despatches (29 November 1900) by Lord Roberts, Commander-in-Chief during the early part of the war. In January 1901, the government made a further call for yeomanry and between February and March, another 1,200 men were recruited by the Sharpshooters Committee. They were formed into two battalions, the 21st and 23rd. The Sharpshooters fought many small-scale actions against the Boers, with increasing skill, and showed the value of mobile, well-armed and resourceful troops. Following their success, Lord Dunraven was given permission to raise a regiment for service at home. 

user: How did the Boer war start?

assistant: During the early stages of the South African War 1899-1902, the British Army suffered defeats at the hands of the Boer Commandos,

user: What were the Boer Commandos?

assistant: composed of men who were first-class shots and good horsemen.

user: Who were the sharpshooters?

assistant: volunteers who could both ride and shoot well.

user: What were the sharpshooters used for?

assistant: The Sharpshooters fought many small-scale actions against the Boers,

user: Were there also non-sharpshooters that fought on the same side?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: How were sharpshooters found or recruited?

assistant: The effect in the United Kingdom was to inspire a rush of volunteers.

user: Who created the sharpshooters committee?

assistant: The Earl of Dunraven

user: Why did they feel the need to found the committee?

assistant: During the early stages of the South African War 1899-1902, the British Army suffered defeats at the hands of the Boer Commandos,