Topic: BW - WA - 4ACH
4th ACH (WA)
4th Australian Commonwealth Horse, West Australia
Outline
Map illustrating the activities of the Australian Commonwealth Horse in South Africa, 1902.
[From: Chamberlain, M., The Australians in the South African War 1899-1902, Canberra, 1999.]
In 1911, Lieutenant-Colonel P. L. Murray, produced a marvellous Boer War reference detailing all the contingents sent from Australia to South Africa, giving a brief history of the formation and finally, listing all the soldiers who saw service in South Africa with that unit. The book was called, Official Records of the Australian Military Contingents to the War in South Africa. It is now the standard reference and starting place for any person interested in pursuing information about Australian involvement in the Boer War.
Murray, P. L., Official Records of the Australian Military Contingents to the War in South Africa, p. 434.
Constituted “D” Company of the 4th Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse; "A”, and “B" Companies being Victorians, and “C" Company, South Australians.
For details of pay, establishment, clothing, equipment, &c., vide 2nd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.
Pay.
Up to date of embarkation, this was at Imperial cavalry rates. After embarkation as follows:
Colonel or lieut.-colonel, £1 5s. per diem, with 4s. field allowance; major, £1 3s., and 4s.; captain, £1 1s., and 3s.; lieutenant, 15s., and 2s. 6d.; adjutant, as for captain or lieutenant, according to rank; quartermaster, as for captain; paymaster, if captain, same; medical officer, £1, and 3s., veterinary officer, £l, and 3s.; chaplain, £1 1s., and 3s.; regimental sergeant-major, 9s.; quartermaster-sergeant, 8s. 8d.; farrier-sergeant, 8s. 6d.; farrier staff sergeant, 8s. 8d.; company sergeant major, 8s.; company quartermaster-sergeant, 8s; sergeants, 7s.; corporals (if paid lance-sergeants), 6s. 6d.; corporals and paid lance-corporals, 6s.; buglers, 6s.; privates, 5s. N.C. officers not above the rank of sergeant, acting as farrier sergeant, or farrier staff-sergeant, and privates, acting as buglers, saddlers, or shoeing-smiths, 1s. per diem extra.
Officers were allowed £30 to provide equipment, &c.
For service, vide 4th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria. Two of the Company officers had served previously (vide nominal roll); the others obtained the Queen's Medal with two clasps.
There were no casualties. For promotions, vide nominal roll. A proportion of N.C.O.'s and men had had previous service.
The Company was divided and embarked in two transports, the Templemore (which carried the Victorian and South Australian units and staff), and the Englishman. Strength - 5 officers and 115 others, with 122 horses. Embarked on 7th April at Fremantle. One officer, 47 others were struck off in South Africa; 4 officers, 69 others returned to Australia. Embarked on 11th July, in the transport, Drayton Grange, and arrived at Albany on 30th July.
Further Reading:
4th Australian Commonwealth Horse, West Australia
