17th Light Horse

Campaspe Valley

Loyalty

Allied with King Edward's Horse (The King's Overseas Dominions Regiment).

See: Twinning Regiments, MO 209, 1910  

History:

The structure of the 17th Light Horse came mainly from Squadrons  3 and 4 of the 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment which was formed in 1903. Other troops were created in areas where rifle clubs previously existed but numbers were deemed to be satisfactory to form troops.

17th (Campaspe Valley) Light Horse.
(Attached for training, 1913-14, to 7th Light Horse Brigade)

Honorary Colonel - His Exellency, Sir John MF Fuller, Bt, KCMG

Head-Quarters (less Signallers) - Bendigo

Commanding Officer - Lieutenant Colonel L Long, 9 February 1913, Tenure of command from 1 April 1911 to 31 March 1916
xxx Adjutant - Lieutenant S Bruggy, 1 July 1913, AIS
Quartermaster - Honorary Lieutenant R Hampton
Medical Officer - Captain FE Hutchinson
Veterinary Officer - Lieutenant [Honorary Captain] JB Leitch
Major A Caddy, Calcutta Light Horse, 1 September 1912 [Temporary Major while attached to the Australian Military Forces.]
Captain D McLennan, Area Officer

Signallers - Bendigo and Echuca

Machine Gun Section - Bendigo

Second Lieutenant R Henry, 16 February 1913

"A" Squadron -

Bendigo (A Troop),

Castlemaine and Kyneton (B Troop),

Raywood (C Troop), and

Dingee (D Troop)

Lieutenant T Williams
Second Lieutenant FE Jones
Second Lieutenant AF Connell
Second Lieutenant JB Langdon
Second Lieutenant F Levy
Second Lieutenant FJ Reddrop 

"B" Squadron -

Echuca (A Troop),

Rochester (B Troop),

Elmore (C Troop), and

Deniliquin (D Troop)

Lieutenant J Cahill
Lieutenant GJ Rankin
Lieutenant J Mackintosh
Second Lieutenant TWH Chilton
Second Lieutenant MJ Cochrane

"C" Squadron -

Kerang (A Troop),

Koondrook (B Troop),

Pyramid (C Troop), and

Mitiamo (D Troop)

Captain JW Chanter, 1 July 1913
xxx Lieutenant TE Aicken
Second Lieutenant FH Milvain
Second Lieutenant CB Mann
Second Lieutenant GW Carey, 1 December 1913
Second Lieutenant WF McIver, 1 December 1913

Further Reading:

For the Victoria Light Horse Militia establishment, see:

Light Horse structure 1914

Militia Distribution in Australia, 1914, 3rd Military District, Part 1
Militia Distribution in Australia, 1914, 3rd Military District, Part 2
Militia Distribution in Australia, 1914, 3rd Military District, Part 3

Individual Light Horse Regiments

13th (Gippsland) Australian Light Horse Regiment
13th Light Horse
15th (Victorian Mounted Rifles) Australian Light Horse Regiment
15th Light Horse
16th (Indi) Australian Light Horse Regiment
16th Light Horse
17th (Campaspe Valley) Australian Light Horse Regiment
17th Light Horse
19th (Yarrowee) Australian Light Horse Regiment
19th Light Horse
20th (Corangamite) Australian Light Horse Regiment
20th Light Horse
29th (Port Phillip Horse) Australian Light Horse Regiment
29th Light Horse

Port Phillip Light Horse Officers, 1914

Peacetime and Wartime Regimental Establishments

Peace establishment of Australian Light Horse, 1903-14

3rd Military District Staff Roster and Allocations

3rd Military District Staff Roster and Allocations, 1914, Part 1
3rd Military District Staff Roster and Allocations, 1914, Part 2
3rd Military District Staff Roster and Allocations, 1914, Part 3
3rd Military District Staff Roster and Allocations, 1914, Part 4
3rd Military District Staff Roster and Allocations, 1914, Part 5

1914 Infantry, Artillery and other service arms distribution

Militia Distribution in Australia, 1914, 3rd Military District, Part 3
Militia Distribution in Australia, 1914, 3rd Military District, Part 4
Militia Distribution in Australia, 1914, 3rd Military District, Part 5
Militia Distribution in Australia, 1914, 3rd Military District, Part 6
Militia Distribution in Australia, 1914, 3rd Military District, Part 7
Militia Distribution in Australia, 1914, 3rd Military District, Part 8
Militia Distribution in Australia, 1914, 3rd Military District, Part 9
Militia Distribution in Australia, 1914, 3rd Military District, Part 10

Additional reference:

RK Peacock, Evolution of Australian Light Horse Regiments 1841-1935,  Unpublished MSS, c.1936. 

Posted by alh-research at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Friday, 12 June 2009 9:41 PM EADT

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The account transcribed below:

A BATTLE AT SUNNYSIDE.

Sunnyside has created unbounded enthusiasm throughout Canada.

[Our Brisbane correspondent, telegraphing last night, states:- From a cable received by the Chief Secretary from the Agent-General, it appears that in the engagement with the Boers at Sunnyside, Lieutenant Aide, of Queensland, was dangerously wounded. Privates D. McLeod and A. Rose, also of the Queensland contingent, were killed. Lieutenant Aide a married man belonging to Clifton. Privates McLeod and Rose were both single men belonging to South Brisbane, and the latter to Toowong. A telegram has been received by the Lieutenant Governor from Sir Alfred Milner, stating that the following casualties are reported among the Queensland Mounted Infantry yesterday near Belmont. Dangerously wounded: Lieutenant Aide. Killed: Privates McLeod, Rose and Jones. "While regretting casualties, I congratulate you on the brilliant success attained by the Australian troops in their first engagement. According to the official list Private Victor Jones was a single man from Rockhampton. A cable received from Mr. Chamberlain states that the casualties occurred during a successful attack on a Boer laager.]

The account transcribed below:

LATER PARTICULARS.

THE ENEMY ROUTED.

A TRIUMPH FOR THE COLONIAL TROOPS.

LONDON, January 3.

Some particulars have been received of the fighting at Sunnyside on Monday last, from which it is gathered that the colonial troops gave an excellent account of themselves.

It appears that the Sunnyside kopjes, where the enemy were posted, ranged north and south.

Leaving their native guides in the rear, strictly guarded, to prevent any divulgation of their movements, Colonel Pilcher, of the Northumberland Fusiliers, with Colonel Ricardo's
200 Queenslanders, 100 Canadians, with two guns, a horse battery, 40 mounted men, and Capt. Dodds's Ambulance Corps, marched to within four miles of the enemy's position.

The Canadians, with their guns, were then ordered to attack the enemy's laager, at the foot of the northern spur.

Colonel Pilcher reports that the Queenslanders worked splendidly on the left, taking advantage of every possible means, of cover.

Two shells from the guns were the first intimation the Boers had of the presence of a British force in the locality. These shells landed in the midst of the laager tents.

The Boers hurriedly ascended and lined the kopjes, whence they directed a succession of hot volleys at the colonial troops.

Their fire was, however, soon subdued. The Canadians' artillery fire at 1,000 yards was characterised by wonderful accuracy, while the front attack was delivered with grim determination by Colonel Ricardo's and Capt. Chauvel's company of Queenslanders.

The Boers were soon utterly routed.

Besides their dead and wounded, whose numbers are not stated, forty of the enemy were taken prisoners.

Lieut. Adie, of the Queensland force, who was out patrolling before the attack actually commenced, was severely wounded.

Further Reading:

1st Queensland Mounted Infantry 

Sunnyside, 1 January 1900

Boer War Battles where Australians Fought

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by alh-research at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 7 June 2009 1:13 PM EADT

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1st QMI

1st Queensland Mounted Infantry

Murray Outline

FIRST (QUEENSLAND MOUNTED INFANTRY) CONTINGENT

Like the early Contingents in other States, the first despatched by Queensland was ordered to be raised from officers and others serving in the local defence forces, namely, 250 of the Queensland Mounted Infantry, and a Machine Gun Section from the Royal Australian Artillery (Queensland). They were to be equipped strictly in accordance with the Field Service Manual for the equipment of a Mounted Infantry unit. With regard to this, however, Lieut: Colonel Ricardo, who Commanded the Contingent, stated in his report:-

"Out of 262 of all ranks enrolled, 123 were then serving in the Queensland Mounted Infantry; but 46 men, who had served, also joined; this left 93 to be recruited from outside. Of this number, 25 N.C.O.'s and men of A Battery (Royal Australian Artillery), volunteered; they ware some of the best men we had, and their example had a very good affect an the Contingent. The remainder were made up of men who said they w or had been, members of the Queensland Defence Force."

The Contingent was practically enrolled, organized, and equipped with arms, clothing, horses, saddlery, transport wagons with fittings and stores, between the 13th and 28th October - a record of the indefatigable way in which the Staff, the Comptroller of Stores, the medical and veterinary authorities, and the embarkation officers must have worked. The horses were selected and purchased by Veterinary Major Irving, P.V.O.


Establishment

Staff:-

One major, 1 Sergeant-Major; 1 quartermaster sergeant, 4 Privates; total, 7; with 4 riding and 4 draught horses; total 8.

Machine Gun Section (Royal Australian Artillery):-

One lieutenant, 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, 2 bombardiers, 5 drivers, 7 gunners; total, 1 officer, 1 sergeant, 15 rank and file, with 6 riding and 14 draught horses; total 20.

No. 1 Company:-

One captain, 3 lieutenants, 1 company sergeant-major, 4 sergeants, 1 sergeant-artificer, 3 artificers, 2 buglers, 6 corporals, 92 privates; total, 4 officers, 109 others, with 100 riding and 20 draught horses; in all 113 of all ranks, with 120 horses.

No. 2 Company:-

The like.

Supernumeraries:-

Two officers, 8 privates, with 14 riding and 18 draught horses; in all, 10 of all ranks, 32 horses.

Grand total:-

One major, 2 captains, 9 lieutenants, 1 regimental sergeant major, l quartermaster-sergeant, 2 company sergeant-majors, 9 sergeants, 2 sergeant-artificers, 6 artificers, 4 buglers, 13 corporals, 2 bombardiers, 206 gunners, drivers, and privates; in all, 12 officers, 248 others, with 224 riding and 76 draught horses; altogether, 260 of all ranks, with 300 horses.

Departure and Return

The Contingent left on 1st November, 1899, comprising 14 officer's, 248 others, with 284 horses, besides machine game and wagons. Ten died or were killed, l officer was transferred, 1 commissioned in the Imperial Army, 7 were struck off in South Africa; 12 officers, 231 others returned to Australia.

Bibliography

Further Reading:

1st Queensland Mounted Infantry

Posted by alh-research at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 7 June 2009 1:03 PM EADT

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[Click on map for larger version.]

In attempting to understand the complexity of the planning involved in producing the August Offensive at Gallipoli in 1915, accurate maps of the trench systems were at a premium. This map was produced by the M.E.F. Headquarters in the weeks prior to the attack. All references to trench systems in plans or War Diaries relate specifically to this specific map. Thus this map becomes an essential companion in understanding all the references given for this particular region.

Further Reading:

The Battle of the Nek

Posted by alh-research at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Monday, 22 June 2009 5:12 PM EADT

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 Pink Hill, 12 February 1900

Posted by alh-research at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Monday, 8 June 2009 12:05 AM EADT

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