Topic: Militia - LHW - WA
Western Australian Militia
Geraldton Rifle Volunteers
The following is an extract from the book written in 1962 by George F. Wieck called The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia 1861-1903, pp. 42 – 43:
Geraldton Rifle Volunteers
Approval to form a Volunteer Infantry corps in the Champion Bay district appeared in the Government Gazette of 10 October 1876. The new corps was designated the "Geraldton Rifle Volunteers", with Headquarters at Geraldton. Capt. J.N. Hillman was appointed to Command.
The corps was administratively independent and in all matters dealt direct with the Military Commandant. Names on the roll totalled 60 in 1876, 48 in 1883, 67 in 1892, and 51 in 1895.
Apart from its deeds of prowess on the rifle range (which were outstanding) there is little on record concerning the activities of this corps: it was located so far from the others that particularly in the earlier years it could not participate with them in the higher forms of training. A small camp of training was held in the vicinity of Geraldton in 1884 - this was the first held by the corps. As in the case of Guildford very obsolete rifles were issued and these were not replaced until years later.
A detachment, with Lieutenant S. Mitchell in Command, was raised at Northampton in 1885. In 10 the corps was included with those of Guildford, Bunbury, and York to form the 3rd Battalion Western Australian Infantry Brigade.
Further details appear in Western Australian Infantry Brigade and 3rd Battalion Western Australian Infantry Brigade.
Officers of Geraldton Rifle VolunteersCaptain JD Hillman, 26 February 1877
Captain E Shenton, 21 May 1877
Lieutenant V Birch, 2 August 1877
Lieutenant W Gale, 16 December 1879
Sub-Lieutenant H Smith, 11 April 1881
Lieutenant WD Cowan, 5 February 1884
Lieutenant W Jose, 11 August 1886
Major RH Cowan, 24 May 1888
Second Lieutenant F Wittenoom, 15 April 1889
Captain WM Buchanan, 27 July 1894
Lieutenant W Barges, 29 April 1895
Lieutenant HF Darling, 6 September 1897
Previous: 1st Battalion W.A. Volunteers
Next: Wellington Mounted Volunteers
Further Reading:
Western Australian Militia, Light Horse
Western Australian Militia, Infantry
Citation: The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia, Geraldton Rifle Volunteers
Posted by Project Leader
at 12:01 AM EADT
Updated: Friday, 4 September 2009 10:44 PM EADT
