"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess
The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre aims to present an accurate history of early Australian military developments from 1899 to 1920.
WARNING: This site contains: names, information and images of deceased people; and, language which may be considered inappropriate today.
The NSW Lancers, The Fighting 28 Topic: BW - NSW - Lancers
The NSW Lancers
The Fighting 28
Septimus Frank Osborne, OC The Fighting 28
"The Fighting 28"
After the NSW Lancers disembarked at Cape Town they were given ten days at Stellenbosch base camp near Cape Town. From there they were transported by train to De Aar junction arriving on 15 November 1899. It was at this point that 44 Lancers under the command of Captain Cox, were attached to General John Denton's column.
The remaining 28 Lancers under Lieutenant Septimus Osborne, making a total of 29 men, were quickly equipped and attached to the 9th Lancers to fill vacancies in that regiment, as part of Lord Methuen Force.
This small Lancer group of 29 were referred to as The Fighting 28. On 22nd November 1899, they had their first contact with the Boers at Thomas' Farm near Belmont Station some 160 km north west of Colesberg.
DAILY LIFE IN CAMP, Town and Country Journal, 10 February 1900 Topic: BW Gen - Campaign
DAILY LIFE IN CAMP
Town and Country Journal, 10 February 1900
Town and Country Journal, 10 February 1900, p. 38.
The full story is transcribed below.
DAILY LIFE IN CAMP.
CONSTANT SKIRMISHES.
EFFECTS OF SHELL FIRE.
DE AAR (SOUTH AFRICA). January 4, 1900.
Right along the western frontier the various British columns seem to have decided to mark time until the arrival of Lord Roberts, who is expected at the front next week, and no general advance may be looked for at least a fortnight.
At Modder River I found the Boers still busy shifting their guns into more commanding positions, and now and again blazing away in an apparently aimless way with their "Long Tom," while we reply with our 4.7 navel gun "Joe Chamberlain." No damage was done on either side worth mentioning. The whole of the Highland Brigade is absolutely disheartened at its constant losses and rebuffs, and it will take a brilliant victory to put the old time life into them.
Lieutenant Osborne and his men of the New South Wales Lancers have established quite a reputation at Modder. They were perpetually sent out to draw the enemy fire, and are known at the front as "The Fighting 28." At Enslin, where the bulk of the Australian troops are stationed, constant sorties are made, with the view of ascertaining the Boer position, and though nothing has been heard of them in the fighting line an yet, our men are doing very arduous and useful work, scouting, piquet and reconnaissance duty fully occupying their time. Colonel Hoad, of Victoria, command the whole of the Australian contingent at Enslin, which includes the Victoria M.A., 125; Victorian Infantry, 126; West Australian Infantry, 125; South Australian Infantry, 125; N.S.W, Infantry, 125; and Tasmanian Infantry, 87. Captain Legge and Lieutenant Logan and Dover are getting into excellent form and the men are well. There is some talk of the Australian Infantry being kept on lines of communication, and strenuous efforts are being made to mount the NSW men, who can all ride, and would prove very valuable as a mounted regiment. I believe that Sir Alfred Milner has received the suggestion favourably, much to the delight of our boys, who are anxious to be in the thick of it.
Note: HH Spooner died of enteric fever (typhoid) at Deelfontein few months after writing this article.
The Press at the War, Boer War Journalist Casualties to August 1900 Topic: BW Gen - Campaign
The Press at the War
Boer War Journalist Casualties to August 1900
Town and Country Journal, 25 August 1900, p. 37.
With the massive growth in literacy throughout the British Empire coupled with the global telegraph network, the Boer War became the first war where there was a saturation of Press coverage. The journalists were scorned by the senior officers but also found extremely necessary by their detractors to maintain the morale at "home". It was a tension that existed throughout the war between the journalist and the soldier.
Regardless of what the soldiers thought of the journalists, the men and women who went to South Africa were extremely brave. They bore the same hardships as the soldiers in the field but were exposed to greater risks. Whereas a unit, and thus a soldier, may see action rarely, the journalists, by their very vocation, must seek the action all the time to report on it, thereby putting themselves always at risk of either injury, capture or disease. The casualty rate for journalists was high, exceeding 50% of all those who went specifically to cover the war.
In a moment of reflection upon this high casualty rate, the Town and Country Journal published a list. This was no academic exercise in press naval gazing but a very real commentary on the loss felt by this newspaper, a loss shared by many others. At the top of the list was their own correspondent, Mr. H. H. Spooner, who died at Deelfontein from enteric fever. No one newspaper at the time was immune from these casualties. While soldiers were praised, the press carried on with their job of bringing the news, dying, invalided but failing to obtain similar national recognition. This is a tribute to those unsung heroes of the press corps.
The Press at the War.
CASUALTIES AMONG JOURNALISTS.
OVER FORTY VICTIMS
The following, by no means a complete list, shows how the war Correspondents have suffered is c m the severity of the campaign. The list shows a very high percentage of misfortunes, demonstrates the risks which have to be incurred by correspondents at the front in a very emphatic manner -
Mr. H. H. Spooner, Sydney "Town and Country Journal," died at Deelfontein from enteric fever.
Mr. W. J. Lambie, Sydney "Daily Telegraph," killed at Rensburg.
Mr. D. Macdonald, "Melbourne," enteric fever.
Mr. M. H. Donohoe, London "Daily Chronicle" (formerly of Sydney "Evening News"), captured.
Mr. A. G. Hales. ("Smiler"), "Daily News," captured.
Major Reay, "Melbourne Herald," enteric fever.
Mr. G. W. Stevens, London "Daily Mail," died of enteric fever during the siege of Ladysmith.
Mr. Alfred Ferrand, "Morning Post," killed at Ladysmith.
Mr. Albert Collett, "Daily Mail," killed in action, Molteno.
Colonel Hozier, "Sphere," killed near Stormberg.
Mr. Ernest G. Parslow, "Daily Chronicle," shot dead by Lieutenant Murchison at Mafeking. Murderer, penal servitude for life.
Mr. Mitchell, "Standard," captured, escaped, took enteric fever, and died.
Mr. Charles E. Hands, "Daly Mail," dangerously wounded, Maritsani.
Mr. Julian Ralph, "Daily Mail," struck by shell fragment at Belmont, and severely injured in accident.
Mr. F. W. Walker, "Daily Mail," wounded at Stormberg.
Captain Wright, "Daily Mail," wounded at dispatch riding.
Lord De la Warr, "Globe," wounded at Vryheid.
Mr. P. F. Reid (son of Sir H.G. Reid), "Echo," seriously wounded at Kheis.
Mr. E. F. Knight, "Morning Post," shot with sporting Mauser bullet at Belmont; right arm amputated.
Mr. Winston Spencer Churchill, "Morning Post," captured at Chieveley, afterwards escaped.
Lord Cecil Manners, "Morning Post," captured near Johannesburg, and liberated.
Mr. George Lynch, "Morning Herald" and "Echo," captured, released; in hospital with enteric fever; now in England.
Mr. A. Graham, "Central News,” missing since May 21; supposed captured.
Mr. A. F. Hellawell, "Daily Mail," captured.
Rev. Adrain Hofmeyr, "Daily Mail," captured.
Lady Sarah Wilson, "Daily Mail," captured.
Lord Rosslyn, "Daily Mail" and "Sphere," captured.
Mr. James Milne, Reuter's, captured.
Mr. John Stuart, "Morning Post," nearly blind after siege of Ladysmith; recovered; now ill with dysentery.
Mr. W. Maxwell, "Standard," enteric fever during siege of Ladysmith; recovered.
Mr. H. S. Lyons, "Daily Mail," invalided, enteric, Durban.
Mr. T. J. Greenwood, "Cape Argus" enteric fever, siege of Ladysmith.
Mr. L. Oppenheim, "Daily Mail," invalided, enteric.
Mr. Lester Ralph, "Daily Mail," invalided, enteric.
Mr. R.C.E. Nissen, "Daily Mail," invalided, enteric.
Mr. W. Martindale, "Central News," enteric, recovered.
Mr. Alfred Kinnear, "Central News," enteric, recovered.
Mr. Jos. S. Dunn, "Central News," twice captured, enteric, recovered.
Mr. Charles Bray, "Central News," enteric, recovered.
Mr. F. A. Stewart, "Illustrated London News," dysentery, at Durban.
Mr. W. T. Maud, "Daily Graphic," enteric fever after Ladysmith, and invalided home.
Mr. Buller, "Daily Telegraph," invalided home.
Mr: H. W. Nevison, "Daily Chronicle," in hospital with fever, recovered.
Mr. J. A. Cameron, "Daily Chronicle," enteric; permanently invalided.
Mr. Brayley Hodgetts, "Daily Express," invalided with enteric.
Nominal Roll of the 22nd Australian Light Horse Regiment, 5 October 1912
After the 1912 re-organisation of the Militia in Australia, the newly formed 22nd Australian Light Horse Regiment, finally became settled at the beginning of October 1912. Lieutenant John Gregory Prior was the adjutant who issued Routine Order No. 1, 5 October 1912. This order contained the full nominal roll of the 22nd Australian Light Horse Regiment as it existed on that date. Over three posts, the whole nominal roll will be placed upon the blog. This will add names to an otherwise nameless chapter in Australian history.
The Regiment
Head-Quarters
Adelaide
Honorary Colonel
The Right Honourable AHT Earl of Kintore, PC, GCMG.
Acknowlegdement: Many thanks to Don Pedler for his assistance in providing the copy of 22nd Australian Light Horse Regiment, Routine Order No. 1, 5 October 1912.
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