The unit set off for South Africa on 2 February 1900; most of the new volunteers, and their officers, were seasick and it largely fell to him to care for the troop's 30 horses. After the three-week voyage it was something of a disappointment that the HAC detachment was initially not used. On 26 June, while escorting a supply train of slow ox-wagons, Childers first came under fire, in three days of skirmishing in defence of the column. However, it was a smartly executed defence of a beleaguered infantry regiment on 3 July that established their worth and more significant engagements followed.