"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.
Below is a brief historical outline from RK Peacock, Evolution of Australian Light Horse Regiments 1841-1935, Unpublished MSS, c.1936, p. 3.
The flame which kindled the fire bringing the regiment into existence dates back to the year 1841 when a Squadron of Cavalry was raised in Adelaide. During 1844 a small reorganisation was effected brining forth the Adelaide Mounted Rifle Corps, which, by 1867 was composed of four troops, vis. No. 1 Molong Troop; No. 2 Strathalbyn Troop; No. 3 Adelaide Troop and No. 4 Reedbeds Troop. In 1899 the Adelaide Mounted Rifle Corps had become the South Australian Mounted Rifles and No 3 Adelaide Troop became No. 1 Squadron, together with portion of troops at Yankalilla, Inman Valley and Victor Harbor. By 1901 the No. 1 troop at Adelaide became the active portion of the mounted rifles the remainder being styled the reserves. In the Federal reorganisation of 1903 No. 1 Squadron (active) and No. 2, 4 and 5 Squadrons (reserve) were formed into a regiment styled 16th Australian Light Horse Regiment (South Australian Mounted Rifles) with four Squadrons, also an attached squadron designated No. 5 Squadron. At the reorganisation of 1912 Nos. 2, 3 and, 4 Squadrons of the 16th, A.L.H. Regiment, together with No. 4 Squadron of the 17th. A.L.H. Regiment became the 22nd Light Horse (SAMR) whilst No. 1 Squadron of the 16th formed the nucleus of the 23rd. Light Horse (q.v.). The other changes which followed this regiment did not occur until 1918 when the 22nd. Light horse continued as the 3rd. Light Horse (South Australian Mounted Rifles) and as such it continued until the Divisional re-organisation of 1921 when part of the 3rd. Light Horse Regiment and part of the 30th. Light Horse Regiment became designated 3rd. Light Horse Regiment (South Australian Mounted Rifles).
Items
History
Nominal Roll
Regimental Structure 1903 -1920
This section explores the evolution of the Regiment from its first origins as a Commonwealth formation. Each year maps the movement of men and often locations of the various Squadrons and Troops. To get the flavour of the Regiment, it is best to begin the journey at 1903 and follow though each year till 1920.
Boer War, Soldiers' Biographies, Contents Topic: BW Gen - Soldiers
Boer War
Soldiers' Biographies
Contents
This section deals with Biographies of soldiers, while being of Australian origin, enlisted with other Imperial forces. These are their stories.
Personnel
Roll of Honour
Those who gave their lives in the course of their service are not remembered at the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour. Here they will be remembered.
British South African Police, Roll of Honour, Harold William George Marshall Topic: BW Gen - Soldiers
British South African Police
Roll of Honour
Harold William George Marshall
Harold William George Marshall
Service number:
Rank: Trooper [Tpr]
Unit: British South African Police
Service: Rhodesian Police Forces
Conflict: South Africa, 1899-1902
Date of death: 29 September 1900
Place of death: Manzimyama
Cause of death: accidentally shot
Harold William George Marshall
A brief military biography of Harold William George Marshall:
Regimental number
Date of birth
1875
Place of birth
Gundagai, New South Wales
Religion
Church of England
Occupation
Policeman
Address
Gundagai, NSW
Marital status
Single
Previous Service
Age at embarkation
25
Next of kin
Father: Mr Henry Marshall, Gundagai, NSW
Enlistment date
1897
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll
Rank on enlistment
Trooper
Unit name
British South African Police
Embarkation details
Enlisted in South Africa
Rank from Nominal Roll
Trooper
Unit from Nominal Roll
British South African Police
Fate
Accidentally shot at Manzimyama, 28 September 1900
Place of burial
Ermelo Garden of Remembrance
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial
Not Remembered on the Roll of Honour
Lest we forget
Town and Country Journal, 1 December 1900, p. 22.
The transcription follows below:
Trooper Harold Marshall
Trooper Harold Marshall was a native of Gundagai, and youngest son of the late Dr. Marshall of that town. He was accidentally shot recently while serving with the British forces in South Africa. A great friend, and one who knew him well, writes: Poor Harold's death was such a shock. I can hardly realise it yet. Some times I think that there must be some mistake he cannot be gone never to return. I have a photo of him taken just after he joined the B.S.A.P., nearly three years ago. The first eighteen months "Son" was in Africa he tried his hand at different things in Johannesburg, which he found was not the great place it was made out to be. As he couldn't get on there, he decided to go to Buluwayo, where he joined the British South African Police. On account of his knowledge of chemistry, he was given the position of medical orderly of "A" troop, at Fort Manzimyama, which office he filled until a few months prior to the war, when he was promoted to the field hospital at Gwanda, as dispenser, under a Dr. Roscoe, who when the war broke out was commandeered to Fort Tuli with Colonel Plumer's force. "Son" was then sent back to his old position at Manzimyama, where he had to do regimental work or anything at all that was to be done. He only joined the police for two years, and you already know his time was up last November. He had expected to be home for Christmas, when the war enforced a longer sojourn, and the poor boy was never destined to reach home. In his last letter to me he told me that they had just received word that none of the time-expired men were to be allowed their discharge until the war was fully terminated. He quite expected to be there another six months. He also said that it was dreadful to hear some of the poor fellows cursing the country, and waiting anxiously for news that never came. He supposed Lord Roberts was really working very hard, but he seemed to be terribly slow, and if he only knew the state of those poor fellows waiting to get home he would hurry himself more. I can't tell you much about his movements, as he never told me much. I had to read between the lines. I knew he had a very hard life, especially since the war, when he was sent out on patrol or scouring the country for men who were reported to be dead. Sometimes when he was in a dejected mood he would tell me some of the hardships connected with the life, but not often. He had a very hard time of it after Colonel Plumer's engagement at Tuli. He was among the patrol sent there to take the wounded back to Buluwayo. He had charge of them, and they had to travel, I think it was, nearly 200 miles in a bullock-waggon, and it rained in torrents nearly the whole time. He was once within seventeen miles of Mafeking, but I know no particulars. He said he would tell us all when he came home. His last letters were always scribbled off in a hurry. He said he could only just make time to write them. As I said before, he would never tell me much of what he had to endure. All his letters to me were full of his home coming, and of that life together to which we both of late looked forward so hopefully; and now it is all over. There's nothing to look forward to, and everything seems blank. May the loving and merciful One give his mother strength to bear the terrible blow. I heard from his sisters this morning. They are nearly heart broken. If only there was some farewell token it would be easier to bear; but I dare not hope for even that, as it would surely have arrived before this. I should have received two other letters. I have been waiting and wondering why they never came. The last letter I received was written on August 26. It arrived here the beginning of October; and little did we dream that the hand that penned it was even then still in death.
16th and 17th Australian Light Horse, 1903 - 1912, then renamed 23rd Light Horse
South Australian Mounted Rifles.
Pro Gloria et Honore - For Glory and Honour
Hat and collar badge for 17th Australian Light Horse
The 23rd Australian Light Horse was an amalgamation of training areas from the 16th and 17th Light Horse Regiments after the reforms of 1912.
The state of the 23rd (Barossa) Light Horse, 1 January 1914
Honorary Colonel - The Right Honourable AHT Earl of Kintore, PC, GCMG.
Head-Quarters: Adelaide
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Hancock, Tenure of command from 1 July 1912 to 30 June 1917. Major Reginald Robert Baldwin Adjutant - Lieutenant Horace George Viney, A & I Staff, 1 July 1913 Quartermaster - Captain [Honorary Major] DH Schmidt Medical Officer - Major HA Powell Major David Fulton, 1 August 1913, Area Officer North Adelaide Captain Francis Charles Siekmann, Area Officer North Norwood
Captain Thomas Anglesey Siekmann, 23 December 1913 Second Lieutenant Edward Theodore Pascoe Second Lieutenant Algernon Sheppard Lindsay, 28 October 1912 Second Lieutenant William Charles Kelly, 23 December 1912 Second Lieutenant GS Hayman, 31 January 1913 Second Lieutenant AJ Cowan, 16 February 1913
“C” Squadron -
Burra (A Troop),
Hamley Bridge (B Troop),
Riverton (C Troop), and
Kapunda (D Troop)
Second Lieutenant Lancelot Ashley Lewis, 18 November 1912 Second Lieutenant AEJ Smyth, 2 December 1912 Second Lieutenant Edmund Rees James, 31 January 1913 Second Lieutenant OH Castine, 31 January 1913 Second Lieutenant John Cave Killicoat, 16 February 1913
The number of men who went onto serve with the AIF after the declaration of war is highlighted by the links to the individual service files of each man who enlisted or was commissioned. Click on the link and the service file held by the National Archives will open for that particular individual.
Further Reading:
For the South Australian Light Horse Militia establishment, see:
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