Topic: Militia - LHW - WA
Western Australian Militia
Albany 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, p. 44:
Albany Rifle Volunteers
Prior to 1878 no serious attempt appears to have been made to raise a Volunteer corps in the Albany district. On 8 June 1878 a petition was forwarded to the Military Commandant seeking approval to raise an Infantry corps, to be designated the "Albany Rifle Volunteers". The requisite authority appeared in the Government Gazette dated 26 June 1878. Lieut. W. Finlay was appointed to Command.
The initial enrolment was 55 all ranks; the peak of three Officers and 60 Other Ranks, plus a Band, was reached in 1881. Between these limits strength fluctuated violently and dropped seriously after 1881. When it was down to 44 a special inspection was held and as a consequence disbandment owing to "Unsatisfactory Conditions" was notified in Government Gazette dated 31 March 1885. There nothing on record concerning corps activities.
Officers of the Albany Rifle VolunteersCaptain W Finlay, 26 June 1 878
Lieutenant J Moir, 21 March 1879
Second Lieutenant WG Knight, 25 April 1879
Previous: Wellington Mounted Volunteers
Next: York Rifle Volunteers
Further Reading:
Western Australian Militia, Light Horse
Western Australian Militia, Infantry
Citation: The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia, Albany Rifle Volunteers
Posted by Project Leader
at 12:01 AM EADT
Updated: Friday, 4 September 2009 10:28 PM EADT
