Topic: BW - NSW - 3ACH
3rd ACH (NSW)
3rd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse New South Wales
Embarkation Orders
District Order 111, Embarkation of the 3rd ACH (NSW).
Embarkation Issues
Embarking large numbers of troops was a complicated process requiring many different elements. The ship had to be suitable for the purpose which meant usually modifying a vessel to accommodate men and horses. Each man and horse needed rations and accommodation. Every man had his own kit which had to be stowed. Then there was all the Regimental material and stores required to keep a regiment in the field. Everything needed to be stowed in such a manner as to be readily available should it be needed. Then there were the accountability issues. Since government funds by way of budget vote were employed in this venture, every item of government expenditure needed to be accounted for by the officers. The following order gives the depth of accountability required by the various officers in maintaining the orderly departure of the troops.
New South Wales District Order 111, issued 26 March 1902 gives the details as to the process to be followed in embarking both the 3rd ACH (NSW) and a squadron of Carrington Horse. The District Order is self explanatory and is transcribed below:
Military Forces of the Commonwealth.
New South Wales,
District Orders,
By
BRIGADIER-GENERAL H. FINN, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS, VICTORIA BARRACKS,
Sydney, Wednesday, March 26th, 1902.
D.O. 111
(a) The undermentioned details forming portion of the 3rd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Troops and detachment Carrington Horse for Service in South Africa will embark on the Transport "Manhattan" on the 1st prox., at the Eastern side of Woolloomooloo Bay.
SS Manhattan departing Sydney with the 3rd ACH
[Sydney Mail, 12 April 1902, p. 929.]
| Item | Officers | NCOs & Men | Horses | |
| Battalion Staff | 6 | 3 | 9 | |
| 3 Companies | 15 | 348 | 363 | |
| Paymaster | 1 | |||
| Detachment Carrington Horse | 3 | 197 | 12 | |
| Total | 25 | 548 | 384 |
(b) The embarkation generally will take place under the superintendence of the Acting AQMG. (Colonel JED Taunton), assisted by Captain King, Staff Officer in charge of Embarkation.
Lieutenant Christian will assist the Acting AQMG as Staff Officer in charge of the wharf and will apply to the A.A.G. for such assistance as may be required in accordance with King's Regulations 1901, para. 1527.
(c) The Commanding Officer will make all the necessary arrangements for the embarkation of the Units under his Command. He will arrange for the saddlery, stores and heavy baggage, being sent on board the day previous; light baggage, kits, &c, must be placed on board not later than by 11 a.m. on the day of embarkation.
The shipment of baggage in excess of quantities allowed by Regulations is forbidden.
The Commanding Officer will detail a detachment consisting of a sufficient number of men, under an Officer to accompany the baggage and stores and place them on board. Attention is drawn to para. 1525 King's Regulations.
The Commanding Officer will prepare a statement in detail of the baggage to be shipped, specifying the nature, size and number of packages, and whether "Wanted" or "Not Wanted" on the voyage, to reach the Embarking Staff Officer before the arrival of the baggage. "Wanted" and "Not Wanted" baggage should if possible be sent down in separate wagons.
Baggage will be carefully arranged on the wharf by Units under the supervision of the Regimental Quarter Master before embarking it.
(d) The horses will be led down by the men and will leave Camp, Centennial Park, to arrive alongside the ship as under:-"A" Company, 3rd Battalion, 8.30 a.m."B" Company, 3rd Battalion, 9 a.m.
"C" Company, 3rd Battalion, 9.30 a.m.
The O.C. Detachment Carrington Horse will detail a sufficient number of men to lead their horses down with "C" Company.
Officers Commanding Companies (or their representatives) accompanied by a N.C.O. will be on board an hour before the arrival of their men to assist in the order of embarkation.
They will ascertain which mess tables are told off for their Company, and instruct the N.C O. to point them out to their men. Mess Roll cards correctly filled in must be handed to the Staff Officer for Embarkation prior to marching the men on board.
The Officer Commanding Battalion will furnish the Officer superintending the embarkation with descriptive return of horses by Companies and he will be responsible that the establishment is not exceeded.
On arrival alongside the ship one man of each section will hold the horses while the other three put on the ship's halers. The men will lead their horses on board, and assist the receiving party in placing them in the stalls allotted, each man standing to his horse till all his Company is on board. All horses to be tied up quite short to prevent their chewing the halter ropes.
An Officer per Company will receive the horses on the stable deck, and point out their stalls. Stable guard mast be told off as soon as the men are embarked, who will be responsible that the horses are kept on a short rope.
When all the horses, sea kits, &c., have been put on board, the "Fall in" will be sounded when the men will "fall in" told off by messes and will sit down at their mess tables, and remain quiet until permitted to move. Company Officers will he present on the mess deck to see men into their places, and exercise general supervision over their respective Companies.
N.B After the embarkation no troops will be permitted to leave the ship, and no civilians will be allowed on board.
The Commanding Officer will arrange that labels are attached to saddlery for the purpose of identification - Basil leather will be issued on demand prior to embarkation, for this purpose. For the care and preservation, attention is drawn to para. 1667 K.R.
The O.C. 3rd Battalion Australian Commonwealth troops will arrange with the O.C. detachment of Carrington Horse for his men to leave Camp not later than by 11.45 a. m., and on arrival alongside the ship they will be drawn up in "quarter column" in messes, and marched on board to their respective messes.
(e) The Officer Commanding will make out complete return of all stores, etc., in his charge, and furnish the same in triplicate to the S.O. in charge of embarkation an soon as they are on board; one to be retained by the O.C., one to master of ship, and one to be forwarded to he Chief Staff Officer.
As soon as all men, horses, etc., are on board, a detailed return of them will be made out by the Senior Officer on board and given, in duplicate, to the Staff Officer in charge of embarkation, by whom it will be verified.
(f) Staff Officers in charge of embarkation will forward all returns to the Chief Staff Officer within 24 hours after the vessel has sailed.
(g) The Commanding Officers will, prior to embarkation, furnish the master of the ship through the senior with the following returns:
(a) A nominal list of Officers, according to seniority, shewing the appropriation of the cabins.(b) A nominal list of all Warrant Officers and Staff Sergeants.(c) A nominal list of the NCOs and men on board.(d) A list of temperance men aboard, showing those who wish to receive tea and sugar.(e) A return of all ammunition and explosives which may accompany the troops aboard.(f) List of Stores on board.(g) A return of all horses on board. A copy of this return will also be furnished to the Staff Officer for Embarkation of horses for transmission to the Chief Staff Officer.
(h) Each Officer should have in his possession, if possible, a copy of the King's Regulations and Orders for the Army Act.
(i) All Officers will sign the necessary mess certificate provided by the master. Any complaints which Officers desire to make with regard to the messing will not be made on these certificates, but should be forwarded, through the Commanding Officer, in the same manner as complaints upon other matters. Officers are forbidden to give testimonials of character to any person on board ship carrying troops.
(j) For all duties connected with embarkation and aboard ship, King's Regulations on the subject will, as far as possible be adhered to. In this connection special attention is drawn to para 1551, et seq.
(k) Officers Commanding troops on board of the transports proceeding to South Africa will hand all spare forage, an arrival at the Cape, over to the Imperial Authorities.
(l) The O.C. 3rd Battalion Australian Commonwealth troops, will on marching off the troops on the 1st prox., request the O.C. detachment of Carrington Horse to arrange to clean up the Camp lines, fill in and make tidy latrines, refuse pit, tent trench's, for the striking of the tents; and for all Camp Equipage being placed undercover in the Store Tents and handed over to the Camp Commandant.
See also: 3rd ACH (NSW), The Manhattan Military Incident Embarkation Desertions
Further Reading:
3rd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse New South Wales
3rd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse New South Wales, Roll of Honour
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: 3rd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse New South Wales, Embarkation Orders
Posted by Project Leader
at 12:01 AM EAST
Updated: Monday, 10 May 2010 12:59 PM EADT
