Topic: BW - NSW - A Bty RAA
"A" Bty RAA(NSW)
"A" Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, New South Wales
Outline
Map illustrating the activities of the "A" Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, New South Wales in South Africa, 1899 - 1900.
[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, pp. 48 - 52.
"A" Battery, Royal Australian Artillery
This unit was formed entirely of officers and men belonging do the Royal Australian Artillery, New South Wales; the officers and men of the Field Battery already in existence being taken as the nucleus, and the strength made up from the Garrison companies.
In point of personnel it was, probably; in point of discipline it was certainly, the meat highly classed detail that left Australia for the war. The Royal Australian Artillery, New South Wales, under their "Naval and Military Forces Act of 1871" were subject to the Imperial Army Act and Regulations, and to the Kings (the Queens) Regulations for the Army; therefore the code under which they were trained was a complete replica of that of the Royal Artillery. Thus the men were embarked under a perfect system of organisation.
The battery was equipped with six 15-pr. B.L. guns; with their wagons, etc, and supplied in all respects as a complete unit of its arm. It was the only Australian Field Battery sent to the front.
References to Orders.Inspection of buttery, GO, NSW, 144/99Pay and allowances, GO, NSW, 88/00Embarkation, GO, NSW, 146/99Personnel, GO, NSW, 149/99
Clothing
This consisted of the brown F:S. uniform, chord pants and puttees; with helmets.
Establishment
The following was the establishment approved:-One Commanding Officer;4 Subalterns (1 Acting Captain);1 Battery Sergeant-major;1 Battery Quartermaster Sergeant;6 Sergeants;1 Farrier Sergeant;4 Shoeing Smiths;2 Collar Makers;2 Wheelers;2 Trumpeters;6 Corporals;6 Bombardiers;76 Gunners;63 Drivers.Total Field Battery, 175.
The actual Captain of the Battery was Captain H Dangar, who was at the time of departure in South Africa as a Special Service officer. It was expected, that he would join the battery there, which he did.
Pay and separation allowance were at the usual rates.
Embarkation and Return.
The battery embarked at Sydney on the 30th December, 1899, in the transport Warrigal, comprising 7 officers (including Captain G. A. Marshall, A.M.C., and Rev. E. C. Beck, C.E. Chaplain, with relative rank of Major); and 170 non-commissioned officers, artificers, and rank and file, with 148 horses; 6 guns, 6 wagons, 11 carts. Arrived at Cape Town 5th February, 1900. Two of the men died in South Africa.
Captain Dangar joined at Cape Town on 6th February, and remained with the battery for some months.
On the 15th March, 1901. Lieutenant R: G. King, with a draft of 43 sergeants and sank and file, and 19 horses, left Sydney and proceeded to South Africa, where he joined the battery, and was posted for duty, with the section under Captain Antill, serving with Colonel Williams’ column in Transvaal.
The battery having completed about 13 months' arduous service, was ordered home, and the various sections (which had been detached for special duty indifferent parts of the country), having re-united, the embarkation took place on the transport Harlech Castle on 12th August, 1901, arriving at Sydney on 18th September ; having called at Albany, Adelaide, and Melbourne on the passage.
Service
"A" Battery, soon after its arrival in South Africa, joined General Settle's column, which was then engaged in clearing the districts of Prieska, Kenhardt, and Goodania, in north-western Cape Colony.
In December, 1900, the left section joined Colonel Crabbe’s column, then operating on the Orange River, and remained with him until March, 1901, taking part in the chase after De Wet in the Hopetoun district. Was instrumental in capturing De Wet's guns north of Pompean Pan in February. Also attached to Colonel GrenfeIl's column in Graff Reinet district, operating against Commandants Malan and Kritzinger.
The battery was subsequently employed in the Transvaal with Colonel Williams' and Colonel Remington’s columns, and took part iii the operations against the commandoes then in the field.
It was unfortunate that the battery, from beginning to end, was split up, and be hardly served at all as a complete unit. Colonel Smith observes in his diary, 25th October, 1900:- " My battery now has its right section at Vryburg, its left at Prieska, and the centre here (Upington), thus covering a front of 360 miles." The sections, however, individually did especially good service.
Further Reading:
"A" Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, New South Wales
"A" Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, New South Wales, Roll of Honour
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: "A" Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, New South Wales, Outline
Posted by Project Leader
at 12:01 AM EAST
Updated: Tuesday, 12 July 2011 10:40 PM EADT
