Topic: BW - Qld - 1QMI
1st QMI
1st Queensland Mounted Infantry
A Proclamation
After the outbreak of hostilities in South Africa, on 14 October 1899, the Queensland Government issued the following proclamation.
A Proclamation
By His Excellency the Honourable Sir Samuel Walker Griffith, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, Chief Justice of the Colony of Queensland, and Administrator of the Government of the said Colony and its Dependencies.
Whereas the Government of the Colony of Queensland lately offered, in the event of hostilities breaking out between Great Britain and the South African Republic, the services of a Contingent of Troops, consisting of 250 Officers, Non Commissioned Officers, and Men of the Queensland Mounted Infantry, together with a Machine Gun Section of the Queensland Regiment of Royal Australian Artillery, for field duty with the Imperial troops employed in South Africa; And whereas on the nineteenth day of October, instant, the Legislative Assembly of the said Colony resolved as follows:-That this house renews the assurance of its loyalty and devotion to the Throne and Person of Her Most Gracious Majesty The Queen, and as evidence of its sympathy with Her Majesty's subjects in the South African Republic, who have for so long a period suffered burdensome disabilities and grievous injustice, desires to support the determination of Her Majesty's Advisers to secure the immediate recognition of British rights in that Republic. This House therefore views with approbation the proposal of the Government to equip, despatch, and maintain a Military Force volunteering for service with Her Majesty's Army in South Africa, consisting of 250 Officers, Non Commissioned Officers, and Men of the Queensland Mounted Infantry, together with a Machine Gun Section of the Queensland Regiment of Royal Australian Artillery.
And whereas Her Majesty has authorised a Force of Volunteers to be raised in the said Colony for the purposes aforesaid, and has directed that such Force shall, as from the embarkation thereof, be deemed to be serving with Her Majesty's Regular Forces: Now, therefore, I, Sir Samuel Walker Griffith, the Administrator of the Government aforesaid, do hereby proclaim and declare that a Military Force of Volunteers shall be and is hereby authorised to be raised and enrolled for Service with Her Majesty's Army in South Africa, consisting of 250 Officers, Non Commissioned Officers, and Men of the Queensland Mounted Infantry, together with a Machine Gun Section, there detailed establishment whereof is more particularly described in the Schedule hereunder set out.
Given under my Hand and Seal, at Government House, Brisbane, this nineteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, and in the sixty third year of Her Majesty's reign.
By Command, James R Dickson.
God Save the Queen!
The Schedule
| Distribution | Staff | Machine Gun Company | No. 1 Coy, MI. | No. 2 Coy, MI. | Supernumeraries | Total | |
| Major | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Captain | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Lieutenants | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | ||
| Sergeant Major | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Quartermaster Sergeant | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Company Sergeant Majors | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Sergeants | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 | |||
| Sergeants Artificers | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Artificers | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||||
| Buglers | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||
| Corporals | 1 | 6 | 6 | 13 | |||
| Privates, Gunners, and Drivers | 4 | 14 | 92 | 92 | 8 | 210 | |
| Total Officers | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 12 | |
| Total NCOs and Men | 6 | 16 | 109 | 109 | 8 | 248 | |
| Horses - Riding | 4 | 6 | 100 | 100 | 14 | 224 | |
| Horses - Draught | 4 | 14 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 76 | |
| Grand Total - All Ranks | 7 | 17 | 113 | 113 | 10 | 260 | |
| Grand Total - Horses | 8 | 20 | 120 | 120 | 32 | 300 |
Extracted from: Queensland General Orders, Order 358, 18 October 1899.
Further Reading:
1st Queensland Mounted Infantry
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, A Proclamation
