Poppies on the Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial, Canberra

The Roll of Honour contains the names of all the men known to have served at one time with the New South Wales Infantry Contingent and gave their lives in service of Australia, whether as part of the New South Wales Infantry Contingent or another unit during the Boer War.

Roll of Honour  

17 Private Samuel Charles ATCHISON, Killed in Action, 20 February 1900

27 Private Henry Martin BUDD, Died of Disease, February 1900

35 Private Archibald Lochiel CAMERON, Died of Disease, 13 February 1900

44 Private John Clarence FRASER, Died of Disease, June 1900

60 Private Belton Andrew HALLEY, Killed in Action, 1 October 1900

56 Private Leslie Charles HILL, Died of Disease, 21 June 1900

83 Private Simon MCLENNAN, Died of Wounds, 3 March 1900

106 Private Frederick Victor SMITH, Killed in Action, 1 May 1900

116 Private David WILLIS, Killed in Action, 1 October 1900

 

Lest we forget

Further Reading:

New South Wales Infantry Contingent

New South Wales Infantry Contingent, Roll of Honour 

Boer War, 1899 - 1902

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EAST

Updated: Monday, 4 April 2011 11:54 AM EADT

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NSW Inf

Legge Letter 6 December 1899

Cape Town
6 December 1899

From the Officer Commanding NSW Infantry Unit
To the CSO, Victoria Barracks

Sir

I have the honour to report that, since leaving Cape Town, the regular routine of drills has been carried out, except where interrupted by bad weather.

The health of the men has been good, except some cases of high favour resulting from vaccination, and that of No. 33 Pte Coxhead, who has been reported by the Medical Officer as suffering from rheumatic fever and unable to proceed on Active Service. If possible he will be sent back to Sydney.

There has been no crime to speak of, the few cases being rather the result of inexperience.

On arrival at Port Elizabeth the SS Aberdeen was ordered to Capetown, where we arrived this morning. There has been a great amount of routine to go through before advancing to the front.

I am under orders to start tonight or early tomorrow morning for De Aar, where the rest of the Australian Infantry with us will join one Battalion under Colonel Hoad with Major Eddy as Second in Command.

The whole of the transport and stores have to be left behind with the Mounted Rifles except personal equipment, tents, blankets, WP sheets, and cooking pots, also the Maxim Gun and 1 set of harness.

A buck wagon and Scotch cart, with mules is to be supplied at De Aar.

It is needless to say that we are all disappointed at this turn, as we are prevented from gaining experience through close association with an Imperial Battalion.

The question of pay is on that is full of difficulties. The local Paymaster states that no arrangement has been made at all by the NSW Government. This means that I cannot keep faith with those men who have signed to draw more than Imperial rates in South Africa. Further I am informed that I can only draw and must draw in full for any particular period.

The result is that I cannot draw as much, as they are entitled to, for some men, while for others I must draw more than they are entitled to receive here, on account of payment to their order at home. In the latter case I can hardly make the man sign for a larger amount and receive on a smaller.

I must respectfully ask therefore to be absolved from confusion of accounts, which has been put beyond my control.

The Company Officers and the men are taking 3 day's rations and an emergency ration, and full supplies of Ball Ammunition when leaving tonight, as the line is not in a safe condition on one flank.

Respecting the pay, I beg to point out that I have in hand some £260 undrawn by some of the men. This I propose to use if necessary, although representing savings, and I trust that I may be credited with the necessary remittance monthly. I have acquainted Lieutenant's Holmes and Logan with the contents of this letter, so as to provide for contingencies.

The men appear to be keen and confident, under the circumstances, and they are the only Australians who have had experience with the Martini Lee Enfield Rifle, they ought to do well. Some very fair collective ball firing was done on the voyage.

I have etc
Signed JS Legge, Captain,
Commanding NSW Infantry Unit.


Cape Town, 6 December 1899

Captain Antill desires me to state that he posted his report before leaving regarding the pay and that he fully concurs. It is hoped that the differences between Imperial rates and the portion of the NSW rate drawn here may be remitted as requested. There is further no pay available for the period December 1st to December 8th inclusive.

Signed JG Legge, Captain.

War Diaries

All War Diaries cited on this site should be read in conjunction with the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy which may be accessed at:

Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy 

Further Reading:

New South Wales Infantry Contingent

New South Wales Infantry Contingent, Roll of Honour 

Boer War, 1899 - 1902

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EAST

Updated: Sunday, 10 April 2011 9:32 AM EADT

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NSW Inf

Legge Letter 28 December 1899

After the arrival of Captain JW Legge in South Africa, he sent a series of letters to Sydney describing the activities of the New South Wales Infantry Contingent. They are a mixture of action and issues and so allow the reader to get to know this unit in an intimate manner. The personality of Legge comes through very clearly in his commentaries. The following is a transcript of his letter dated 28 December 1899.

Camp, Enslin Railway Siding near Modder River, South Africa.
28 December 1899

From Captain Legge
Commander NSW Infantry Company

To the Chief Staff Officer, New South Wales.

Sir,

I have the honour to report the following occurrences since my last letter from Capt Town.

On 6 December 1899, in accordance with instructions received at Cape Town, I handed over to the Officer Commanding Mounted Rifles all my horses, transport, and miscellaneous stores, in order to save time as the Company had to entrain the following morning. I was informed that these would eventually be taken over by the Imperial Government, and that we should receive the necessary mule transport at De Aar. My orders were to proceed at once to De Aar and report to the Officer Commanding Australian Regiment.

On 7 December 1899, I drew three days preserved rations and sufficient ammunition to make 100 rounds per man and 4,000 for the machine gun. The Company marched in full marching order through Cape Town to the Railway Station and received a fair reception from the people en route. The train moved off at 11 am. During the journey there were many delays, and more rations had to be obtained, but eventually, after four days and three nights in the train, we arrived at Enslin, a siding on the railways about 18 miles south of Modder River, lat on the night of Sunday, 10 December 1899.

All consequent halting places on the line were occupied by troops, as many as could be provided for by the local water supply. Troops on the trains can always have hot water for tea, and washing water also, got ready at any place where there are troops by sending a wire ahead.

At Enslin we were met by Colonel Hoad, Commander what has been named the Australian Regiment, and went under canvas.

Enslin is only a railway siding near a farm owned by a Boer of the same name, and the Australians have been holding this point on the railway line, which from Modder River to Orange River is liable to attack on either flank. Every seven miles there is a camp similar to our own, and here we have even been strengthened since by 2 guns Royal Horse Artillery, a detachment Royal Engineers, and part of the "Gordons" who were rather badly knocked about at Modder River. There are many graves here of those who fought in the Graspan - Enslin engagement.

The country is undulating Veldt with may Kopjes. Four of these near the railway are held by piquets day and night, and the Veldt around the camp and well is encircled. The Australian Regiment consists of the NSW, Victorian, South Australian, West Australian and Tasmanian Companies, five in all, 125 each except Tasmania which is only 80, and also the Victorian Mounted Rifles attached, with 3 Medical Officers from Victoria, South Australia and West Australia, in all about 700.

The day after arrival we sorted out kits and sent away to Cape Town a number of things that the Commanding Officer decided would not be required by us.

In accordance with the advice of Imperial Officers in Cape Town I had arranged for an agent to act for us in every capacity, AR MacKenzie & Co. This IO found afterwards had been also done by other Colonial troops. A number of our spare stores and kits are now in charge of the above firm, and any money matters may be arranged through them also. The equipment of the Company now consists of - Arms, accoutrements, tents (outer bell only), blankets and water proof sheets, camp kettles, 1 suit of uniform 2 shirts 2 pair socks, 1 pair puttees, 2 pair boots, 1 bowl, 1 great coat, 1 hat, 1 cap and 2 flannel belts each. The rest is in Cape Town in charge of AR MacKenzie & Co., who are large forwarding and general agents.

All the troops here are in puttees, while those raised locally or in other colonies nearly all wear the felt hat.

The rest of the Australians had Martini Enfield rifles and were rearmed with Magazine Lee Metfords, but so far have not been allowed by the Commanding Officer to fire a single round to test their rifles. Of course our men, excepting the Volunteers, have done 2 years' musketry with theirs, and even the Volunteers fired at Randwick before leaving home.

Since coming here we have had plenty of work, fatigues and drill by day, and a good deal of night work. In every four days we get 24 hours outpost duty on the kopjes, and 2 nights standing to arms from 3 am till 5 am, one night only being unbroken. Several nights we have had alarms also.

The health of the Company is good. Private Coxhead was left in Hospital at the Cape with rheumatism, and Private Bright has been sent down from here to hospital at Orange River with the same complaint. There has been a good deal of dysentery and other bowel complaints, caused partly by water, and even more by sour bread supplied by the Army Bakery Column at Orange River.

As we have no medical comforts or station hospital here I am spending a little of the incidental money on fresh milk from the Kafir camp here, which I give the sick men boiled and allowed to cool, and with rice if possible. This gives them relief and takes the place of the bad bread they would have otherwise to eat. The Commanding Officer will not arrange for a Regimental canteen, so I have advanced some money for a Company canteen, where we sell groceries at a small profit, out of which we provide little luxuries for the men, such as curry etc.

On Christmas Day I issued groceries (mostly tinned provisions) free to the Company, and charged same to Incidental money. I should be glad to have this expenditure approved. Twice we were fortunate enough to obtain from a trader a barrel of beer, which was retailed to the men not exceeding 1 quart per diem.

After a few days here I came to the conclusion that the present constitution of this Regiment was very unsatisfactory for many reasons. The units themselves were none of them equal to ours in discipline or training, and in fact were in part formed of recruits and none of them were familiar with the rifle. Party feeling was rife and jealousy everywhere more especially as the Commanding Officer, Major, Quartermaster, Squadron Sergeant Major, Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant Major, Butcher, Hospital Attendants etc were all Victorians, the Adjutant alone being an Imperial Officer and he not a man of strong will (Lascelles, a Captain of the Royal Fusiliers), lately Aide de Camp to the Governor of South Australia.

This disproportion did not affect me so much as the fact that the Victorian contingent were outrageously favourites in everything, even rations, at the expense of the others, that all the officers were disunited, and the Commanding Officer seemed altogether different to Regimental Commanding Officers in Imperial Service.

I therefore, after carefully considering the situation, sent in to the Commanding Officer a very respectful letter, asking that the Company might be attached to an Imperial Regiment, and that my letter might be forwarded. At a private interview with him, in which I was invited to speak out, I frankly told him my reasons, and that I feared the result of taking such a combination into action.

After keeping the letter a day the Commanding Officer came to me and gave me the option of withdrawing it. I understood indirectly from what he said, that the NSW Company would be sent to the base. It was a very difficult position, but he undoubtedly held the stronger hand, and anything he might say would no doubt carry more weight with the General Officer Commanding than anything I could say. Rather than allow the Company to do such I finally consented to withdraw the letter, but I fully expect that when we get in a tight place it will be left for this Company to pull some of the others out.

The matter being settled however I have done my best and I think that the NSW Officers are now in a fair way to being popular all round and that they are helping to bind others together.

There is no doubt that when it comes to solid fighting some of the Companies will be very difficult in fire discipline, but I hope NSW will keep things going. Already up here the 28 Lancers under Osborne, who were detached with Lord Methuen's Column have been known as the "Fighting Twenty Eight" and I hope we may earn something of the same ourselves.

This report has been written in a very disjointed fashion, as it has to be done on several days, and with many interruptions.

Sir, Your obedient servant
JW Legge, Captain
Commander NSW Infantry Unit

PS. Our mails arrive in a very scrappy fashion, and many letters we know should come have no yet done so. If the GPO would make up bags for each unit separately and add to our "Australian Regt", then would be much more regularity. This is already done now by some Colonies. JHL.

War Diaries

All War Diaries cited on this site should be read in conjunction with the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy which may be accessed at:

Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy 

Further Reading:

New South Wales Infantry Contingent

New South Wales Infantry Contingent, Roll of Honour 

Boer War, 1899 - 1902

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EAST

Updated: Sunday, 10 April 2011 9:36 AM EADT

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NSW Inf

Legge Letter 28 February 1900

After the arrival of Captain JW Legge in South Africa, he sent a series of letters to Sydney describing the activities of the New South Wales Infantry Contingent. They are a mixture of action and issues and so allow the reader to get to know this unit in an intimate manner. The personality of Legge comes through very clearly in his commentaries. The following is a transcript of his undated letter of about 28 February 1900. 

Camp Arundel
From Officer Commanding NSW Company (Infantry)
To the CSO NSW

Sir,

I have the honour to state that I have been so pressed in time that I have had no opportunity to write of late.

During the middle of January there were a number of alarms at Enslin and we had a great deal of outpost work on the kopjes.

On the 22nd January it was definitely announced that the Australians were to be converted to Mounted Infantry, and we were hard at work testing the men in riding and practising the poor riders on mules and in stable duties with the horse lines of any mounted troops near us.

On 30th January we marched to Belmont, and entrained there on 31st January, arriving at Naauwpoort on the morning of 1st February. Here we received horses. The horses were from Madras Cavalry Regiment and were evidently not culled out as the best, as was also the saddlery, most of which was perished. We have been patching it ever since.

On 3rd February we proceeded by train to Rensburg, and were inspected "mounted" by the General Officer Commanding, General Clements, on the following morning. The General Officer Commanding was pleased with the Company and could hardly be induced to believe that we had only had one drill mounted. Of course the horses know their duty and so simplified matters considerably.

On 4th February we marched out to the Kloof Camp, west of Rensburg, on the outpost line against Colesberg, and first came under fire while entering Camp, from one of the enemy's Maxim Vicars guns, which fires a stream of shells weighing about 1½ pounds. There were no casualties. This gun is much used by the Boers and is called by our people the "pom-pom" gun, also the "Ten a penny". The effect, morally speaking, is worse even than heavy rifle fire or shrapnel, though the actual damage is generally less than either.

Since writing last time three men have been sent away to hospital with enteric fever, Privates Murray, Bradstock and Sergeant Coles. They have not yet returned.

Three men were poisoned with bad meat and sent to Naauwpoort, Corporal Buckleton and Privates Saxelby and Whiley. They have now recovered and returned to duty. Private Coxhead has returned to duty from hospital at Cape Town. Private Bright is still in hospital as reported in my last letter.

At the Kloof Camp we had a constant succession of outpost work on distant points and were often under fire, even in the Camp, from shots that passed over the outposts.

The force on the Colesberg - Rensburg line had been very much weakened to assist in forming the column which Lord Roberts was arranging for the relief of Kimberley.

The Boers consequently commenced to press us all along a front of about 15 miles.

On 9th February I had to send half the Company with Lieutenants Holmes and Logan to reinforce Slingersfontein on the other side of Rensburg.

On 10th February my half Company were on outpost on the left, nearest to the Victorian Camp at the Windmill Valley. These two outposts were driven in with loss from Bastard's Neck and Hobkirk's Farm. I was ordered round to their support, being relieved by infantry. Some guns (15 pounder) and Inniskillings from Maeders Farm also came up.

The enemy were checked and temporarily held during that day and the following, but were bringing up Pom Pom  guns, a 15 pounder which they use as a howitzer by putting the trail in a hole in the ground, and a 6 inch gun (about 40 pounder).

This we did not know until the morning of 12th February, when two of our field guns went down to a breastwork about 5,000 yards from Bastard's Nek, close to a large dam. The artillery were subjected to a heavy shrapnel fire, and as snipers were coming out, I had to take 20 men down to the dam as a covering party. The men obeyed well and we covered 1,000 yards on the flat at a gallop under shrapnel and pom-pom fire. There were no casualties among the men. Four horses were shot but not permanently damaged, my own in two places, by shrapnel bullets. We remained there 5 hours when the guns had to retire under fire, and we followed after they were out of range, again without casualties.

The ridge at Hobkirk's Farm on the left of us had been gradually forced by the Boers with rifle and artillery fire, although the Victorians fought well and saved a Company of Wiltshires.

We then held the valley with this line of mounted men skirmishing until dark while the Kloof Camp and Cole's Kop in our rear were evacuated. From 6 pm to 12 pm we then held the hills while the Infantry retired, the Victorian Mounted Rifles and our men joining the rear guard to Maeder's Farm.

As we were not in Camp ourselves much of our baggage was lost on the way or left at the Kloof Camp.

Arriving at Maeder's the retreat was continued, the South Australians and our Mounted Men being rearguard. We left them at 2 am and reached Rensburg in good order at 6 am on 13 February 1900. We had been three days and nights out without any rest, and during the last 38 hours the horses had no water and only one half feed.

The other half Company, which had done good work under Holmes at Slingersfontein as escort to guns and on outpost, joined us, and, after feeding and watering, I was sent on with my Company only to escort a Royal Engineers Park from Rensburg to Arundel. No enemy was met.

The following night Rensburg was evacuated and the whole force retired to Arundel, pursued by the Boers, who cut off two companies of the Wiltshires. Their artillery was at this time far superior to ours.

On 14th February we took part in a reconnaissance as escort to guns. Pte Murphy's horse was killed by shrapnel.

On 15th February half the Company was on outpost the other half scouting to the right rear. The Boers have worked round to a considerable extent on both flanks and do a good deal of sniping.

On 17th February we took part in another reconnaissance and were under a heavy artillery cross fire but without loss.

The duty here is extremely arduous and the men and horses are worked to the uttermost.

On 20th February we went out with a force to repel an attack upon our right rear. One Division under Lieutenant Dove was escort to some of the guns, where unfortunately Private Atchison was killed by a shell together with his horse, and Private Southey very slightly wounded.

With the other three divisions, subsequently reinforced by a Victorian Mounted Rifles Division, we were sent to occupy some kopjes in front. After crossing with the two divisions under fire and taking two ridges we received an order to retire which appears more to have been meant for us. The men retired under a heavy rifle fire and kept their heads well. Finding the order was never intended we again went across and by evening drove the Boers along 5 miles of ridges. Of course we were assisted greatly by a cross fire from our Artillery. At dusk we were with 55 rifles and 20 in reserve opposed to 200 Boers in a farm and on the opposite ridge. The rest of our men were holding the other part of the ridge already taken. Here we came to a stop and had a furious rifle duel, which the Boers finished up by firing shrapnel from an invisible gun at about 1,000 yards. They also used explosive bullets. We had good cover however and had no other loss. The whole of the Company, even the horses and horse holders on the far side of the ridge were under a dropping fire and it is really wonderful how we escaped.

As my orders were to secure all I took, I had to move from one part to another, and entrenched the firing line to Lieutenant Holmes, who acted with great dash and coolness. At dusk we received orders to return to the guns, and went back to camp with them. The Boers have not since returned to this farm and ridge, called Wolfefontein. Major Enthoven, Royal Artillery was kind enough to send over and say that "We could not have done better."

No. 17 Private Atchison (Samuel Charles) was a single man, whose mother lives at Shellhabour. He died doing his duty and was a very good lad. He has been buried near the Headquarters at Arundel.

On 21st February, we were ordered out early to the left outposts near Potgieter's Farm to support No. 4 Field Battery under Major Butcher, Royal Artillery. We were met about 3 miles to the left where the Boers were trying out their turning movement. After a reinforcement of guns on the morning of the 22nd February, our force advanced west from the outpost line two miles out another force from Camp attacked the Boers on the South, and subjected them to a heavy shell fire. Lieutenant Dove did an excellent piece of scouting on the right with his division and drove off the Boer patrols, thus rendering the advance of the guns possible.

About 3 pm the Boers retired in great haste making north, and we returned to camp at night.

The last fortnight has been extremely trying to men and horses, constantly standing to arms even when in Camp, broken rest and irregular and deficient food and water. The latter is not the fault of the Army Supply Corps but due to the rapid moves we have to make as mounted men.

I expect that we shall make another move forward in a few days.

I have the honour to be
Sir
Your obedient servant
JW Legge, Captain
Commander NSW Infantry Contingent
(Now Mounted Infantry).

War Diaries

All War Diaries cited on this site should be read in conjunction with the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy which may be accessed at:

Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy 

Further Reading:

New South Wales Infantry Contingent

New South Wales Infantry Contingent, Roll of Honour 

Boer War, 1899 - 1902

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EAST

Updated: Saturday, 9 April 2011 11:15 PM EADT

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