Topic: BW - Qld
Boer War - Queensland
Contingents sent, 1899 - 1902
Outline
Queensland Prefatory.
The following appeared in the Queensland Government Gazette of 19th October, 1899
“A Proclamation.
[LS] S.W. Griffith Administrator
“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 betaking 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 authorized 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 authorized 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, including a Machine Gun Section, the 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, ii/ the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred sad ninety-nine, and in the sixty-third year of Her Majesty's reign.“By Command"
James R. Dickson.
"God Save The Queen!"
This was the inception of the Queensland Contingents to the seat of war; the First, Second, and Third of which were paid by the Colonial Government upon the following scale :- Officers, as in other Australian Contingents; N.C.O.'s and men -S taff sergeants, 10s. per diem; company sergeant-major, 9s.; sergeant, 8s.; corporal, 7s.; artificer, 6s.; bugler, gunner, private, or driver, 4s. 6d.
Equipment comprised uniform (khaki cloth F.S. jacket, cord pants, puttees„ field service hat, and cap), greatcoats, boots, and a full kit of underclothing, fatigue suits, necessaries. etc. Fully horsed, and supplied with saddlery, M.E. rifles and bayonets, bandolier and cartridge belt with supporting braces. It was provided, further, that all horses and saddlery would remain Government property. As matters turned out, however, they were headed over to the Imperial remount depot. Regimental transport was provided.
Pensions and compassionate allowances to widows and orphans were guaranteed upon the same scale as those granted in the case of persons of similar rank in the Imperial service, according to the provisions of the Royal Warrant for Pay.
Preference in the earlier Contingents was given to men who had been trained as Mounted Infantry, driven in field artillery, or who had been accustomed to the ears of homes.
Camps of Instruction, where the Contingents were enrolled, organized, drilled, and equipped, prior to embarkation, were established, under experienced officer and sergeant instructors, at Meeandah, the Exhibition, and Lytton.
Further Reading:
Boer War - Queensland, Contingents sent, 1899 - 1902, Roll of Honour
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: Boer War - Queensland, Contingents sent, 1899 - 1902, Outline
Posted by Project Leader
at 12:01 AM EADT
Updated: Monday, 26 April 2010 4:18 PM EADT
