How did Mahatma Gandhi organize an ambulance corps during the South African War?

When the South African (Boer) War broke out in 1899, Mahatma Gandhi argued that Indians living in the British crown colony of Natal had a duty to defend it to claim full rights of citizenship.1

To fulfill this commitment, Gandhi organized an ambulance corps consisting of 1,100 volunteers. This group was composed of a diverse range of individuals, including barristers, accountants, artisans, and indentured laborers, with 300 of the volunteers being free Indians. Gandhi’s primary challenge was to instill a spirit of service within this group toward those they viewed as their oppressors. His efforts in the battle zone were noted for his stoic, cheerful, and confident demeanor, even while working under difficult conditions.1