« September 2003 »
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
You are not logged in. Log in


Search the site:


powered by FreeFind
Volunteer with us.

Entries by Topic All topics  
A Latest Site News
A - Using the Site
AAA Volunteers
AAB-Education Centre
AAC-Film Clips
AAC-Photo Albums
AIF & MEF & EEF
AIF - Lighthorse
AIF - ALH - A to Z
AIF - DMC
AIF - DMC - Or Bat
AIF - DMC - Anzac MD
AIF - DMC - Aus MD
AIF - DMC - British
AIF - DMC - BWI
AIF - DMC - French
AIF - DMC - Indian
AIF - DMC - Italian
AIF - DMC - Medical
AIF - DMC - Remounts
AIF - DMC - Scouts
AIF - DMC - Sigs
AIF - DMC - Sigs AirlnS
AIF - DMC - 1 Sig Sqn
AIF - DMC - 2 Sig Sqn
AIF - DMC - Eng
AIF - DMC - Eng 1FSE
AIF - DMC - Eng 2FSE
AIF - DMC - GSR
AIF - 1B - 1 LHB
AIF - 1B - 6 MVS
AIF - 1B - 1 LHMGS
AIF - 1B - 1 Sig Trp
AIF - 1B - 1 LHFA
AIF - 1B - 1 LHR
AIF - 1B - 2 LHR
AIF - 1B - 3 LHR
AIF - 2B - 2 LHB
AIF - 2B - 7 MVS
AIF - 2B - 2 LHFA
AIF - 2B - 2 LHMGS
AIF - 2B - 2 Sig Trp
AIF - 2B - 5 LHR
AIF - 2B - 6 LHR
AIF - 2B - 7 LHR
AIF - 3B - 3 LHB
AIF - 3B - 8 MVS
AIF - 3B - 3 LHB Sigs
AIF - 3B - 3 LHFA
AIF - 3B - 3 LHMGS
AIF - 3B - 3 Sig Trp
AIF - 3B - 8 LHR
AIF - 3B - 9 LHR
AIF - 3B - 10 LHR
AIF - 4B - 4 LHB
AIF - 4B - 4 Sig Trp
AIF - 4B - 9 MVS
AIF - 4B - 4 LHFA
AIF - 4B - 4 LHMGS
AIF - 4B - 4 LHR
AIF - 4B - 11 LHR
AIF - 4B - 12 LHR
AIF - 5B - 5 LHB
AIF - 5B - 10 MVS
AIF - 5B - 5 LHFA
AIF - 5B - 5 Sig Trp
AIF - 5B - ICC
AIF - 5B - 14 LHR
AIF - 5B - 15 LHR
AIF - 5B - 1er Regt
AIF - 5B - 2 NZMGS
AIF - AASC
AIF - Aboriginal LH
AIF - Badges
AIF - Cars
AIF - Chinese LH
AIF - Double Sqns
AIF - Engineers
AIF - Fr - 22 Corps
AIF - Fr - 13 LHR
AIF - Honour Roll
AIF - HQ - 3rd Echelon
AIF - Marching Songs
AIF - Misc Topics
AIF - NZMRB
AIF - NZMRB - AMR
AIF - NZMRB - CMR
AIF - NZMRB - EFT
AIF - NZMRB - NZMFA
AIF - NZMRB - NZMGS
AIF - NZMRB - OMR
AIF - NZMRB - Sig-Trp
AIF - NZMRB - WMR
AIF - Ships
AIF - Ships - Encountr
AIF - Ships - Una
AIF - WFF
AIF - Wireless Sqn
Battles
BatzA - Australia
BatzA - Broken Hill
BatzA - Liverpool
BatzA - Merivale
BatzB - Boer War
BatzB - Bakenlaagte
BatzB - Belmont
BatzB - Bothaville
BatzB - Buffels Hoek
BatzB - Coetzees Drift
BatzB - Diamond Hill
BatzB - Driefontein
BatzB - Elands
BatzB - Graspan
BatzB - Grobelaar
BatzB - Grootvallier
BatzB - Hartebestfontn
BatzB - Houtnek
BatzB - Karee Siding
BatzB - Kimberley
BatzB - Koster River
BatzB - Leeuw Kop
BatzB - Mafeking
BatzB - Magersfontein
BatzB - Modder River
BatzB - Onverwacht
BatzB - Paardeberg
BatzB - Palmietfontein
BatzB - Pink Hill
BatzB - Poplar Grove
BatzB - Rhenoster
BatzB - Sannahs Post
BatzB - Slingersfontn
BatzB - Stinkhoutbm
BatzB - Sunnyside
BatzB - Wilmansrust
BatzB - Wolvekuil
BatzB - Zand River
BatzG - Gallipoli
BatzG - Anzac
BatzG - Aug 1915
BatzG - Baby 700
BatzG - Evacuation
BatzG - Hill 60
BatzG - Hill 971
BatzG - Krithia
BatzG - Lone Pine
BatzG - Nek
BatzJ - Jordan Valley
BatzJ - 1st Amman
BatzJ - 2nd Amman
BatzJ - Abu Tellul
BatzJ - Es Salt
BatzJ - JV Maps
BatzJ - Ziza
BatzM - Mespot
BatzM - Baghdad
BatzM - Ctesiphon
BatzM - Daur
BatzM - Kurna
BatzM - Kut el Amara
BatzM - Ramadi
BatzN - Naval
BatzN - AE1
BatzN - Cocos Is
BatzN - Heligoland
BatzN - Marmara
BatzN - Zeebrugge
BatzN - Zeppelin L43
BatzNG - Bitapaka
BatzO - Other
BatzO - Baku
BatzO - Egypt 1919
BatzO - Emptsa
BatzO - Karawaran
BatzO - Peitang
BatzO - Wassa
BatzP - Palestine
BatzP - 1st Gaza
BatzP - 2nd Gaza
BatzP - 3rd Gaza
BatzP - Aleppo
BatzP - Amwas
BatzP - Ayun Kara
BatzP - Bald Hill
BatzP - Balin
BatzP - Beersheba
BatzP - Berkusieh
BatzP - Damascus
BatzP - El Auja
BatzP - El Buggar
BatzP - El Burj
BatzP - Haifa
BatzP - Huj
BatzP - JB Yakub
BatzP - Kaukab
BatzP - Khan Kusseir
BatzP - Khuweilfe
BatzP - Kuneitra
BatzP - Megiddo
BatzP - Nablus
BatzP - Rafa
BatzP - Sasa
BatzP - Semakh
BatzP - Sheria
BatzP - Surafend
BatzP - Wadi Fara
BatzS - Sinai
BatzS - Bir el Abd
BatzS - El Arish
BatzS - El Mazar
BatzS - El Qatiya
BatzS - Jifjafa
BatzS - Magdhaba
BatzS - Maghara
BatzS - Romani
BatzS - Suez 1915
BatzSe - Senussi
BatzWF - Westn Front
BW - Boer War
BW - NSW
BW - NSW - 1ACH
BW - NSW - 1NSWMR
BW - NSW - 2NSWMR
BW - NSW - 3ACH
BW - NSW - 3NSWIB
BW - NSW - 3NSWMR
BW - NSW - 5ACH
BW - NSW - A Bty RAA
BW - NSW - AAMC
BW - NSW - Aust H
BW - NSW - Lancers
BW - NSW - NSW Inf
BW - NSW - NSWCBC
BW - NSW - NSWIB
BW - NSW - NSWMR_A
BW - NZ
BW - Qld
BW - Qld - 1ACH
BW - Qld - 1QMI
BW - Qld - 2QMI
BW - Qld - 3ACH
BW - Qld - 3QMI
BW - Qld - 4QIB
BW - Qld - 5QIB
BW - Qld - 6QIB
BW - Qld - 7ACH
BW - QLD - AAMC
BW - SA
BW - SA - 1SAMR
BW - SA - 2ACH
BW - SA - 2SAMR
BW - SA - 3SACB
BW - SA - 4ACH
BW - SA - 4SAIB
BW - SA - 5SAIB
BW - SA - 6SAIB
BW - SA - 8ACH
BW - SA - AAMC
BW - Tas
BW - Tas - 1ACH
BW - Tas - 1TIB
BW - Tas - 1TMI
BW - Tas - 2TB
BW - Tas - 2TIB
BW - Tas - 3ACH
BW - Tas - 8ACH
BW - Vic
BW - Vic - 1VMI
BW - Vic - 2ACH
BW - Vic - 2VMR
BW - Vic - 3VB
BW - Vic - 4ACH
BW - Vic - 4VIB
BW - Vic - 5VMR
BW - Vic - 6ACH
BW - Vic - AAMC
BW - Vic - Scot H
BW - WA
BW - WA - 1WAMI
BW - WA - 2ACH
BW - WA - 2WAMI
BW - WA - 3WAB
BW - WA - 4ACH
BW - WA - 4WAMI
BW - WA - 5WAMI
BW - WA - 6WAMI
BW - WA - 8ACH
BW Gen - Campaign
BW Gen - Soldiers
BW General
Cavalry - General
Diary - Schramm
Egypt - Heliopolis
Egypt - Mena
Gen - Ataturk Pk, CNB
Gen - Australia
Gen - Legends
Gen - Query Club
Gen - St - NSW
Gen - St - Qld
Gen - St - SA
Gen - St - Tas
Gen - St - Vic
Gen - St - WA
Gm - German Items
Gm - Bk - 605 MGC
GW - 11 Nov 1918
GW - Atrocities
GW - August 1914
GW - Biographies
GW - Propaganda
GW - Spies
GW - We forgot
Militia 1899-1920
Militia - Area Officers
Militia - Inf - Infantry
Militia - Inf - 1IB
Militia - Inf - 2IB
Militia - Inf - 3IB
Militia - Inf - NSW
Militia - Inf - Qld
Militia - Inf - SA
Militia - Inf - Tas
Militia - Inf - Vic
Militia - Inf - WA
Militia - K.E.Horse
Militia - LH
Militia - LH - Regts
Militia - LH - 1LHB
Militia - LH - 2LHB
Militia - LH - 3LHB
Militia - LH - 4LHB
Militia - LH - 5LHB
Militia - LH - 6LHB
Militia - LHN - NSW
Militia - LHN - 1/7/1
Militia - LHN - 2/9/6
Militia - LHN - 3/11/7
Militia - LHN - 4/6/16
Militia - LHN - 5/4/15
Militia - LHN - 6/5/12
Militia - LHN - 28
Militia - LHQ - Qld
Militia - LHQ - 13/2
Militia - LHQ - 14/3/11
Militia - LHQ - 15/1/5
Militia - LHQ - 27/14
Militia - LHS - SA
Militia - LHS - 16/22/3
Militia - LHS - 17/23/18
Militia - LHS - 24/9
Militia - LHT - Tas
Militia - LHT - 12/26
Militia - LHV - Vic
Militia - LHV - 7/15/20
Militia - LHV - 8/16/8
Militia - LHV - 9/19
Militia - LHV - 10/13
Militia - LHV - 11/20/4
Militia - LHV - 19/17
Militia - LHV - 29
Militia - LHW - WA
Militia - LHW-18/25/10
Militia - Military Orders
Militia - Misc
MilitiaRC - Rifle Clubs
MilitiaRC - NSW
MilitiaRC - NT
MilitiaRC - Qld
MilitiaRC - SA
MilitiaRC - Tas
MilitiaRC - Vic
MilitiaRC - WA
Militiaz - New Zealand
Tk - Turkish Items
Tk - Army
Tk - Bks - Books
Tk - Bks - 1/33IR
Tk - Bks - 27th IR
Tk - Bks - Air Force
Tk - Bks - Yildirim
Tk - POWs
Wp - Weapons
Wp - Hotchkiss Cav
Wp - Hotchkiss PMG
Blog Tools
Edit your Blog
Build a Blog
RSS Feed
View Profile
Open Community
Post to this Blog
Site Index
Education Centre
LH Militia
Boer War
Transport Ships
LH Battles
ALH - Units
ALH - General
Aboriginal Light H
Weapons
Ottoman Sources

"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess

The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre aims to present an accurate history as chroniclers of early Australian military developments from 1899 to 1920.

The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre site holds over 12,000 entries and is growing daily.

Contact: Australian Light Horse Studies Centre

Let us hear your story: You can tell your story, make a comment or ask for help on our Australian Light Horse Studies Centre Forum called:

Desert Column Forum

WARNING: This site contains: names, information and images of deceased people; and, language which may be considered inappropriate today.

Friday, 26 September 2003
5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, Wilmansrust and after
Topic: BW - Vic - 5VMR

5th VMR

5th Victorian Mounted Rifles

Wilmansrust and after

 

Wilmansrust and after.

[From: The Australasian, 5 October 1901, p. 766.]

 

The transcription follows: 

Wilmansrust and after 

A very unfortunate reticence has surrounded the disaster which befell the Fifth Victorian Contingent at Wilmansrust. The meagre details of the event itself which came through by cable in literal truth “hastened slowly.” There was some restraining hand in South Africa. Probably the censor thought he was dealing kindly with these communities. Only by degrees did we learn what had really happened. And now we are, in the same tardy fashion, hearing of equally unwelcome consequences of getting the information, but at least it is to them that the public are indebted for getting it at all. Neither the state Government nor the Defence department has any arrangement for obtaining official reports. Our men are sent to war and we hear no more about them except the unofficial news - much of it necessarily unverified - gathered and published by the daily journals. Sir John Forrest ought not to be content with such a position of affairs. A line of regular and complete communication between the Minister of Defence and the Commonwealth Contingents is a very obvious requirement.

Of the Wilmansrust disaster it is possible to take too harsh a view. It is pretty well agreed by the critics who include a number of the survivors - that the site of the camp was badly chosen, and that the "gappy" system of picketing adopted was the blunder primarily responsible for the failure to detect the approach of the enemy. There was no cordon of guards around the camp. But the commander on the occasion,  who was an Imperial officer, must bear the blame for these mistakes. The sudden rush of the Boers caught our fellows quite unconcerned and unprepared. The whole thing was over in a few minutes, but those few minutes are the one blot upon the Australian record. That there were many individual instances of cool bravery can read only be imagined and believed. It is equally easy to imagine and believe that there was more or less panic, especially as the men are declared to have been without their rifles and cut off from access to theirs. The Boers ran over the camp, and retired with the honours of a victory won at comparatively light cost to themselves. And this has hurt our pride. Perhaps we had been indulging in laudation of our representatives - a subtle form of self-flattery - pitched in an over high, rather feminine strain; and Wilmansrust brings us down, with a disagreeable "flop," to the earth again. Our pride will have to walk softly for a time. But there are considerations which should mitigate disappointment and humiliation. One is that against Wilmansrust may be set a splendid series of valorous displays. Another is that all the other branches of the British Army in South Africa have had their occasional reverses. And a third is that human nature is universally liable to panic. Not even troops who have repeatedly proved their bravery, who are thoroughly disciplined, and who have a matured experience in. active service, can claim absolute immunity. Over and over again lapses at the critical moment into nervous weakness and losses of self control have unaccountably occurred. They are part of the common lot. What we have to be satisfied with - what, after all, is the true basis of national pride - is the fact that the Australian average in regard to soldierly achievements is creditably high. Wilmansrust cannot be forgotten; but it is the average that place's a people.

The insubordination which is alleged to have followed Wilmansrust is hardly less regrettable than the disaster itself. Assuming, for the sake of argument, that the reports of it have not been exaggerated, it was unsoldierly and unpardonable. Let it be conceded that there was gross provocation - that it was the contingents very great misfortune to come under the command of General Beatson, who is said to be prejudiced against irregular forces, and to be afflicted with a violent, temper and tongue. A general officer who could speak of the Australians as "a lot of white-livered curs" was unfit to hold any authority over them. It could not have been a pleasant duty to obey such a commander after the insult had been uttered and circulated, even though it had been apologised for. There are insults that no apology obliterates. No doubt General Beatson was irritated by Wilmansrust. That is intelligibly enough; but he must have known that no campaign escapes such incidents, and the genius of command, if he possessed it, should have told him that the Victorians were smarting under a sense of what had happened, and that sympathetically handled, they would have made the most strenuous efforts to set deeds of valour against Wilmansrust. Unfortunately the feeling of his displeasure and distrust had to be endured - a bitter punishment: But nothing justified insubordination. The news that three Victorians were tried by court-martial, found guilty, and sentenced to death (though the sentences were commuted by Lord Kitchener to terms of Imprisonment) came as a most painful shock to the people of Victoria, and indeed, of the whole Commonwealth. A soldier's first duty is absolute obedience. The moment he disobeys he plays the enemy's game. Disaster would follow upon disaster if the responsible commanders had to deal with insubordinate troops. Each soldier is part of the fighting power which the commander depends upon, and which, if trustworthy, moves and acts as he wills. Therefore insubordination is severely punishable in the armies of all nations. It cannot be tolerated anywhere. The man who is not willing to obey is essentially not a soldier.

The Fifth Contingent was as carefully picked as any of its predecessors so far as physical qualifications concerned. But it is said that in other important respects it was distinctly inferior. Particularly it had the smallest proportion of men with previous military training and experience, and it was - with individual exceptions, of course - poorly officered on both the commissioned and the non-commissioned sides. So it was a "raw" regiment in -an unusual degree. And this lack of knowledge on the part of the officers, and of discipline on the part of the men, is probably the true explanation of the insubordinate tendency. The strain of adverse circumstances was more than they could bear with perfect patience. There have been rumours that the strain was not perfectly borne by some of the other contingents; and the lesson of it all is that discipline, especially in its moral aspect, cannot with impunity be omitted from the soldier's equipment. Obedience, patience, fortitude, cheerfulness - these are fruits of discipline. Much will be gained when there is universal recognition in the Commonwealth that our defenders will need these qualities. Swagger and uncontrolled temper and self-will and resentment of authority destroy the soldier. Other things being equal, the disciplined man is the better fighter. The technical intricacies of drill are not worth much. Discipline is a larger thing; and it is to be hoped that high value will be set upon it in the defensive preparation of Australia.

 

 

Further Reading:

Wilmansrust, South Africa, 12 June 1901

5th Victorian Mounted Rifles

5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, Roll of Honour

Boer War - Victoria

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

 


Citation: 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, Wilmansrust and after

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT
Updated: Wednesday, 5 May 2010 5:17 PM EADT
5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, Serious Charges
Topic: BW - Vic - 5VMR

5th VMR

5th Victorian Mounted Rifles

Serious Charges

 

The Fifth Victorian Contingent Serious Charges.

[From: The Australasian, 5 October 1901, p. 768.]

The transcription follows: 

The Fifth Victorian Contingent Serious Charges.

Information received from South Africa reveals an unfortunate state of things in connection with the Fifth Contingent of Victorians now on service there. The contingent has, in more than one respect, seriously damaged the reputation of the Australian soldier in South Africa, for apart from the fact that until their arrival no large body of Australian troops had ever thrown down their arms to the enemy - a record of which all Australians were naturally proud and one which had been maintained at times by splendid acts of heroism, and self-sacrifice - there are statements current that cannot be ignored that these men have got thoroughly undisciplined and out of hand. That they were unfortunate in their brigade commanders is admitted, but that the mischief has been internal, too, is absolutely asserted.

The regiment had not been more than a week in the field when one of their number was court-martialled, and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment for refusing to obey the commands of a sergeant. They were, under instructions, removing stuff from a rebel farm-house, when a sergeant ordered one of the men to come away he simply said "I won't," and for these two words got 12 months. To a civilian the sentence seems out of proportion to the offence, but a direct refusal to obey orders is a most serious misdemeanour on active serve.

Since then things have got much worse, and two of the contingent at least –possibly three, though as to the third there is some uncertainty have been sentenced to be shot. The sentence in each case been commuted by Lord Kitchener, the commander-in-chief, to 12 years' penal servitude, and the men have been sent to English prisons to serve heir sentence. In other cases sentences of two and three years have been inflicted.

Wherever the blame for early misdemeanour may be allotted there appears to be little doubt that the climax in the ill luck of the regiment was reached from the moment that the here made part of the brigade, commanded by a particular Imperial officer, and in an almost equally marked degree to the hostile and offensive attitude of their brigade major.

On the eve of Wilmansrust a detachment of the Fifth Contingent had returned from a long and arduous trek, and had no sooner settled down in camp than they were ordered out ors picket duty. They at first refused to obey orders but were finally persuaded to do so. Pickets were posted with long intervals, according to the orders already mentioned. Through one of these gaps the Boers crept, under cover of darkness, took the sleeping camp by surprise, and the disaster of Wilmansrust followed. And, as a necessary consequence, there followed, too, the questions of blame and the usual recriminations. The contingent had lost all faith in and respect for their commanding officer - the commanding officer was equally contemptuous of the contingent. Instead of being, as was expected, at once sent into Middleburg to refit, they were kept to the South, constantly harassed by the enemy, and forming regular Boer laagers with the waggons every night, while all the positions were thorough entrenched, a precaution which had not been taken at Wilmansrust. Seven days later, on rejoining Sir Bindon Blood they were at once sent in to Middleburg, but, in the meantime, the friction with their commanding officer had reached extreme tension.

On the march one day, and in the presence of the Australian officers - Major Harris and Captain Anderson are specifically named - the brigadier in the course of a conversation observed, "I tell you what I think the Australians are a fat, round - shouldered, useless crowd of wasters." Major Harris retorted, "I'm sorry to hear you say that and I intend to take down our words.” “Do that by all means," said the brigadier, "and you can add if you like that in my opinion they are a lot of white-livered curs." The statement was carried to Major M'Knight, who saw the brigadier, and asked for an apology. This, it was, understood, was given, the officer explaining hat he spoke in the heat of temper, and did not quite mean all he said. Some of the men had in the meantime come under the lash of his scorn. Some four days after Wilmansrust they were camped at a large farmhouse, where a lot of pigs were running about. The men asked for permission too kill some of them for fresh meat and the officer immediately in command had given them permission to do so. Pig-sticking, though a recognised branch of military sport, and often a very essential thing on service when rations are short and the great problem of something to eat always present - is not, of course, a very dignified thing in warfare. The free-speaking and always arrogant brigadier chanced to ride by while the men were trying to bayonet the pigs, and at once said, "Yes, that's just about what you men are good for. When the Dutchmen came along the other night you didn't fix bayonets and charge them, but you go for something that can't hit back." Some days later in Middleburg half-a-dozen men were sitting round the fire at talking of these matters, when one of them (Steele) said, "We'll be a lot of fools if we go out with him again,” meaning the brigadier. The words were overheard by a lieutenant of the contingent, who repeated them. The charge was made within the regiment, and Steele, being tried for inciting to mutiny, was found guilty, and sentence to be shot - a sentence afterwards commuted to imprisonment.

That the men had good reason to complain of their brigadier is clear, but they took an inexcusable way of showing it on service. Complaints had already made to Sir Bindon Blood, and, whether he thought that they were justified, or that, under all the circumstances, it was impossible to hope for good work, the contingent was taken from their former commander, and part of it sent to Newcastle and afterwards to Utrecht, where it seems to have shared in a minor disaster.

Wilmansrust left its aftermath in another direction. Some time after the disaster Major M'Knight was relieved of his command, and sent on other duty of an inferior kind. No reason for the change was suggested, and nothing of the results of the inquiry made public; but, the fact that rankled with the Australians was that their own officer, who was only second in command on the night of the disaster, was in some measure degraded; while Major Morris, who was in direct command, and senior to M'Knight, still retains command of the Horse Artillery battery. There may be circumstances unknown fully justifying the action in each case, but in their dissatisfied and captious – if not disorganised – mood the men of the contingent find in it another cause for complaint.

There is evidence of fault on both sides. A returned officer, in speaking of the Fifth Contingent, says; - “There is no disguising the fact they are not a good lot, and are, or were, disorganised. I saw them do things on active service for which, in our own defence force and in peace time, they would have been instantly cashiered."

 

Further Reading:

Wilmansrust, South Africa, 12 June 1901

5th Victorian Mounted Rifles

5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, Roll of Honour

Boer War - Victoria

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

 


Citation: 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, Serious Charges

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT
Updated: Tuesday, 4 May 2010 12:12 PM EADT
Thursday, 25 September 2003
2nd Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria, Contents
Topic: BW - Vic - 2ACH

2nd ACH (Vic)

2nd Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria

Contents

 

 

Items:

Outline

2nd Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria, Outline

Nominal Roll

2nd Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria, Nominal Roll

 

 

Roll of Honour

2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria, Roll of Honour
Lest we forget

 

 

Further Reading:

2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria

Boer War, 1899 - 1902, Australian Forces, 2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse Victoria, Roll of Honour 

Boer War, 1899 - 1902

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

 


Citation: 2nd Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria, Contents

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT
Updated: Monday, 3 May 2010 11:10 PM EADT
Wednesday, 24 September 2003
2nd Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria, Outline
Topic: BW - Vic - 2ACH

2nd ACH (Vic)

2nd Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria

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. 307.

 


The Second Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse. Victorian Units.

This Battalion was raised after Federation, to represent Australian troops, upon the same principles as the first battalion. It consisted of three Victorian units (or companies), one from South Australia„ and one (half-company) from Western Australia, together with the battalion staff.

Preference was given to men who had had experience in the war, but candidates were also eligible who were acquainted with country life in Australia, also the management of horses, and were good shots. As a matter of fact, almost the whole of the staff, the company officers, and the N.C.O.'s and men had served in previous Contingents. Some had belonged to South African regiments. Married men ware not selected except for N.C.O.'s of exceptional merit.


Clothing, Etc.

Uniform consisted of F.S. jacket, pants, puttees, F.S. hat, F.S. cap, greatcoat, together with boots and a full kit of underclothing, necessaries, etc.

Equipped with rifles and bayonets, and bandolier belts; fully horsed and provided with saddlery. Vide Appendix II (Murray).

Regimental transport was also provided.


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.


Establishment.

Detail of a company :-1 major or captain, 4 lieutenants, 1 company Sergeant major, l company quartermaster-sergeant, 1 farrier-sergeant, 4 sergeants, 3 shoeing-smith, 1 saddler, 2 buglers, 6 corporals, 97 privates; total, 5 officers, 6 staff sergeants and sergeants, 5 artificers, 2 buglers, 103 rank and file; total, 121, with the like number of horses.

Add battalion staff:- 4 officers, 3 staff-sergeants, with 8 horses. Total of staff and three companies - 20 officers, 21 staff-sergeants and sergeants, 15 artificers, 6 buglers, 309 rank and file; in all, 371, with 401 horses, including 30 spare.

A chaplain accompanied the battalion.


Departure And Return.

The staff and Victorian unite left 12th February, 1902, comprising-21 officers, 351 others, with 401 horses, One died, 2 officers, 77 others were struck off in South Africa; 19 officers, 273 others returned.
 

 

Further Reading:

2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria

2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria, Roll of Honour

Boer War, 1899 - 1902

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

 


Citation: 2nd Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria, Outline

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT
Updated: Monday, 3 May 2010 11:11 PM EADT
Tuesday, 23 September 2003
2nd Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria, Nominal Roll
Topic: BW - Vic - 2ACH

2nd ACH (Vic) 

2nd Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria

Nominal Roll

 

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. 309 - 316.

 

2nd Australian Commonwealth Horse (Victoria)



562 Private Edward ABSALOM

480 Private Phipps Alexander ADAMS

660 Private Jesse Frederick ALBON

494 Lance Corporal John ALLSOPP

458 Private Andrew Frederick ANDERSON

631 Lance Corporal Clifford Harry ANDERSON

483 Private David ANDERSON

707 Private Leslie ANDERSON

693 Private John ARNOLD

457 Private William ASKER

 

550 Private George BAILEY

459 Private William BAIRD

429 Private Thomas BALDWIN

560 Private Thomas BANNISTER

676 Private Charles Henry BAPTIE

639 Private James BAPTIE

675 Private Thomas Richard BAPTIE

488 Private Edward BARKER

Lieutenant James Fox BARNARD

605 Private Angus BEGGS

Lieutenant Harry Henderson BELL

589 Private William BELL

431 Private George BELLMER

486 Private Louis Henry BERTRAND

695 Private Harry Peter BEYER

433 Private Henry BLAIR

728 Private Walter John James BLOOMFIELD

696 Private Alfred John BOLLEN

559 Private William BONNETT

575 Corporal Abed Michael BOURKE

553 Private William Arthur BOWLER

502 Company Sergeant Major Reginald Cummins BOYES

430 Saddler David James BRADFORD

651 Private George BRAIN

709 Private John BREEN

421 Private Charles BRIGGS

658 Private Charles BROOKS

515 Corporal John BROOKS

462 Private Walter James BROWNE

641 Corporal George Richmond BRUCE

432 Private Angus McLeod BUCHANAN

613 Private Harold Mortimer BURKITT

733 Private Albert BURROWS

566 Private Albert John BUTCHER

679 Private Percy Vivian BUTLER

539 Private Thomas Charles BUTT

442 Private William Archer BYRON

Lieutenant Thomas Stewart CAHILL

572 Private George Edwin CALK

590 Private Edward Arthur CALLAWAY

646 Private John CAMERON

622 Private Archibald Lachlan CAMPBELL

419 Private Timothy John CANTWELL

510 Private Frederick CAPP

456 Farrier Sergeant David John CAREY

491 Private Robert CARNIE

492 Private Samuel Henry CARSONS

603 Private Herbert CARTER

645 Private James McCracken CHALMERS

427 Private Victor CHIRON

596 Private Charles CHRISTENSEN

640 Private John CLARK

479 Trumpeter Reginald Valentine CLARKE

745 Private Robert Duncan CLEVERLEY

461 Private Frank Eardley COCHRAN

593 Private John COCHRAN

746 Private Ferdinand John COE

511 Private George CONDY

624 Private Francis Bernhardt CONWAY

606 Private James CONWAY

594 Private Charles Frederick Mills COOK

416 Private William James COOK

687 Private Harry Ernest COOKE

460 Lance Corporal Herbert James COOKE

578 Private Edward Garden COOPER

674 Private Reginald John COOPER

428 Lance Corporal Caesar Stephen CORLETT

516 Private Frederick COUSTLEY

558 Private Frederick CRAWFORD

584 Private William CROOKE

535 Private William CURTISS

426 Private Daniel Henry DALEY

424 Private Robert James DALTON

556 Private William James DALTON

555 Private John Hugh DAVIES

Lieutenant Albert Thomas DAY

554 Private Thomas Ewan DE WARDT

557 Sergeant Leslie DEEGAN

574 Shoeing Smith George Edward DENNIS

425 Private Ernest Norman Vere DITCHBURN

517 Private Ambrose DIXON

653 Private Frank Leslie DOBSON

735 Private Michael DREW

642 Private James Robert DUFF

490 Sergeant Francis Edward DUREAU

513 Sergeant Harry EDE

599 Private Edward Patrick ELLIGATE

552 Private Frederick Mortimer ELLIS

731 Private William George EMMETT

698 Private Donald Wallace EUNSON

470 Shoeing Smith Archibald Douglas FAIRLIE

744 Private Arthur FARRANT

505 Private Gustavus Henry FECKNER

718 Saddler John FERGUSON

455 Private John FISHLOCK

423 Private Edward FITZPATRICK

543 Private John FITZPATRICK

681 Private Mathew George FITZPATRICK

422 Private Herbert FORD

454 Corporal James Peter FOX

667 Private William FREEME

688 Private George Edward FRYER

478 Private Arthur Joseph GARDINER

727 Private John Fraser GARDINER

712 Private William GARDNER

Lieutenant Richard Reginald GARLAND

585 Private Oswald Ventry GAYER

563 Private James GEDDES

452 Private Thomas GEDDES

Lieutenant Thomas Hyland GERMAINE

420 Private Frederick John GILES

742 Lance Corporal George Craig GOODWIN

713 Private Adolphus GORDON

601 Private FR GRANT

678 Trumpeter James Gordon GRAY

610 Private William Henry GRAY

654 Private Arthur Ernest GRIGG

521 Private James Wallace GRIGGS

665 Private David GROVES

632 Lance Corporal John Henry HAMILTON

549 Private Charles Stewart HAMMOND

638 Private Samuel HANKS

514 Private Charles George HARLEY

600 Private Sedgwick Percy HARPER

450 Private Thomas William HARRIS

451 Farrier Sergeant Mark HAWKER

748 Shoeing Smith William Henry HAYDON

648 Private Edward George HAYES

647 Private Harry James HAYES

738 Private Matthew HAYES

715 Private Henry HAZEL

580 Private James HEANEY

703 Private William Theodore HERALD

449 Private Henry HERBERT

410 Private George HERON

548 Trumpeter John William HERSCHELL

538 Private Frederick HEYWOOD

417 Private Walter Herbert HILBRICK

750 Private Aubrey George Denniston HOAD

Lieutenant Francis Joseph HOLMES

418 Private Albert HOOLEY

714 Trumpeter Frank HORTLE

561 Private George HOWARD

582 Corporal Arthur Walter Joseph HUGHES

485 Private James Lawrence HUGHES

581 Corporal Lewis HYLAND

692 Private Herbert Francis Kearney IEVERS

447 Private Gilbert Arthur IRVINE

493 Trumpeter John JEFFERYES

635 Private Richard Broughton JEFFREYS

475 Corporal Thomas JENNER

725 Private Alexander JOHNSTONE

591 Corporal John JORDAN

547 Private Robert JORDAN

710 Private John KELLY

576 Private William Irvine KELLY

673 Private Samuel Teale KERR

592 Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant James Ernest KIDGELL

434 Private Walter Litchfield KING

468 Private Frederick Thomas LAMB

499 Private Hugh LEE

415 Private Maurice LEE

Lieutenant Harry LOCKETT

445 Private Joseph LODER

Vet. Lieutenant Bertram Benjamin LOEL

495 Company Quartermaster Sergeant Herbert LOVE

719 Private Alfred John LOVELACE

544 Private Ernest Gustive John LURMAN

567 Private John LYONS

438 Private Thomas George MADDEN

619 Private Arthur MAHONEY

532 Private Thomas Gardiner MALLETT

577 Private Henry MARTIN

743 Private Joseph Ernest MASON

520 Private Frank Reginald MATHEWS

541 Corporal Robert Stephen MCALPIN

439 Private John Campbell MCCALLUM

534 Private John MCCANCE

542 Shoeing Smith James MCCLELLAND

411 Private William John MCCOY

519 Private Alexander MCDONALD

588 Private Angus MCDONALD

721 Private Hugh MCDONALD

598 Private Alfred James MCGINTY

621 Lance Corporal Robert MCGROUTHER

Chaplain John MCINERNEY

649 Private Thomas John MCINTYRE

739 Private Daniel Thomas MCKEE

564 Lance Corporal Henry Devine MCLAY

697 Private Norman MCLEAN

Lieutenant Colonel Duncan MCLEISH

611 Lance Corporal Duncan MCPHERSON

412 Lance Corporal William MCPHERSON

670 Private Edward MCRAE

512 Private Daniel MEAGHER

413 Private William MERCHANT

414 Saddler Percival Benjamin MILES

569 Private Herman MILLER

722 Private Robert MILLER

546 Private Frederick Thomas MILNE

609 Private William Alfred MITCHELMORE

545 Private William James MOON

579 Private Arthur Thomas MOORE

737 Private Francis Richard MOORE

741 Private William MOORE

500 Private William Ernest MORRELL

636 Private Henry Sproule MORRISON

466 Corporal Joseph Ignatius MULCAHY

543 Private Claude Bland MUNRO

482 Private Herbert Richard MURPHY

650 Private Arthur Ernest NEWSON

694 Private John Thomas NEWTON

705 Private William Oscar NORMAN

659 Private Henry O'BRIEN

671 Private John James O'BRIEN

662 Private Hugh Alexander O'DONNELL

729 Private Neil OLHOLM

637 Shoeing Smith John Thomas Joseph O'LINN

701 Private Charles Henry OLIVER

537 Private William Edmund O'TOOLE

643 Private George Robert PALMER

717 Private Charles PARKER

484 Lance Corporal Stanley Hamilton PARROTT

436 Private David Simpson PATTINSON

568 Private Andrew Cameron PAUL

726 Private Reuben PAYNE

734 Private Frederick James PEARCE

504 Private Joseph Kirkby PEARSON

551 Private Robert James PEDDER

Captain Henry William PENDLEBURY

463 Company Quartermaster Sergeant Jacob PERRY

508 Private James PILKINGTON

531 Private Peter PINDER

685 Corporal Thomas PITT

583 Private Robert Henry POOR

623 Private Albert Thomas PORTER

633 Private Walter John POTTON

604 Private Francis Herbert POULTER

Lieutenant James POWELL

720 Private William POWELL

Lieutenant Alfred Howard PRESS

533 Sergeant Joseph Howells QUINEY

536 Private Robert QUINN

448 Private John Michael QUIRK

518 Private Joseph Edward QUIRK

629 Private Roy Moore RALPH

473 Private Charles REES

751 Warrant Officer James RICHARDSON

Lieutenant Ernest Alfred ROBERTS

608 Private William Aitkin ROBERTS

708 Private Robert ROBERTSON

408 Private William Joseph ROBINSON

446 Private Albert Frederick ROFE

474 Private Frank ROGERS

444 Private Llewellyn Edward ROGERS

690 Private Harry Morgan ROSE

409 Private Charles William ROUSE

626 Private Charles Thomas ROUTLEY

506 Private William RUDD

625 Private John Trewin RUNNALLS

614 Private William Benjamin RUSSELL

525 Sergeant Edwin Christie RYAN

595 Private James Cue RYAN

496 Private James Joseph RYAN

587 Sergeant Michael Francis RYAN

586 Private Joseph Francis SABELBERG

Lieutenant David SANDFORD

597 Private Frederick Owen SANDS

465 Private Albert Henry SANSON

530 Company Sergeant Major Henry George SAVAGE

612 Private Alfred SCOTT

GR SCOTT

655 Private Thomas SCOTT

407 Private Percy SELBY

406 Staff Sergeant Edwin Sutherland SEYMOUR

749 Private James Dudley SEYMOUR

628 Private Archibald Samuel SHAW

401 Private Harold SHAW

509 Corporal William Thomas SHEEHAN

663 Private James William SHREEVE

724 Private Ferdinand James SIDES

736 Private Thomas SKENE

684 Private George SKILLECORN

487 Corporal Charles Reginald SKIRVING

618 Private James Joseph SLATTERY

664 Private Benjamin SMART

704 Private George Barnet SMITH

669 Private Joseph Andrew SMITH

477 Lance Corporal Thomas Ignatius SMITH

732 Private William Ambrose SMITH

405 Private Francis Sydney SMYTH

570 Private Samuel SOMERVILLE

476 Private Alfred SOUTH

404 Sergeant Charles William SPEERS

691 Shoeing Smith JS SPENCER

682 Farrier Sergeant Thomas SPENCER

507 Company Sergeant Major William SPOONER

441 Sergeant Alfred John STACEY

464 Private Thomas Alexander STEELE

503 Private Alexander STOCK

443 Private Simon William STRAHAN

615 Private St. Clair STRONGE

526 Private James Ziba SUMMER

501 Private Joshua David SUSSEX

706 Private Charles SUTCLIFFE

740 Private George SUTHERLAND

656 Private William SWAN

602 Private Robert SWAYN

657 Private George SWEETING

616 Private John Edwin TAYLOR

487 Private Arthur Edward THOMAS

677 Private William THOMAS

672 Private Percy William THOMSON

Lieutenant Walter Henderson THOMSON

529 Sergeant William TIDYMAN

617 Sergeant Alfred John TINKER

Major Edwin TIVEY

440 Private William TOMLINSON

700 Private Sydney TOMPSITT

668 Shoeing Smith Thomas TOOGOOD

528 Private Ralph Stephen TOY

607 Private Henry TRAPP

702 Private Keith TRAVERS

435 Private Henry TREADREA

666 Private Carew TREVAN

680 Private William Charles TREVASCUS

644 Private William Merriman TREW

689 Trumpeter Frederick Victor TRICKEY

489 Corporal Frank Reid TUBB

711 Private Robert TURNER

634 Private Harold Eric TURNLEY

402 Corporal James TWEEDIE

403 Private John Anderson TWEEDIE

527 Private Frederick UCHTMAN

540 Private Henry John VALPIED

573 Private James Arthur VALPIED

661 Private James VANLAWICK

565 Sergeant George Fairfax VE'ALL

437 Sergeant Alexander WALKER

481 Private William Henry WALLIS

524 Private John Walker WATERSTON

630 Private James Joseph WATTS

467 Private William Henry WEBB

469 Corporal Thomas William WEIBYE

723 Private Augustus William WEIRE

716 Private Thomas Henry WELLS

627 Private Eric Laurenny WERE

699 Private Louis James WHEELER

730 Private Thomas WHITE

472 Private Francis James WILLIAMS

523 Private George Sutherland WILLIAMSON

522 Private William WILLIAMSON

683 Private William Henry WILSON

652 Private Joseph WISHART

471 Company Quartermaster Sergeant Sydney WOODLAND

747 Shoeing Smith Samuel Mullen WOODS

620 Private Arthur Francis WOOLCOTT

686 Private Alfred William WRIGHT

571 Private George Mountford WRIGHT

 

 

Further Reading:

2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria

2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria, Roll of Honour

Boer War, 1899 - 1902

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

 


Citation: 2nd Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria, Nominal Roll

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT
Updated: Monday, 3 May 2010 11:12 PM EADT

Newer | Latest | Older

Full Site Index


powered by FreeFind
Let us hear your story: You can tell your story, make a comment or ask for help on our forum.

Desert Column Forum

A note on copyright

The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre is a not for profit and non profit group whose sole aim is to write the early history of the Australian Light Horse from 1900 - 1920. It is privately funded and the information is provided by the individuals within the group and while permission for the use of the material has been given for this site for these items by various donors, the residual and actual copyright for these items, should there be any, resides exclusively with the donors. The information on this site is freely available for private research use only and if used as such, should be appropriately acknowledged. To assist in this process, each item has a citation attached at the bottom for referencing purposes.

Please Note: No express or implied permission is given for commercial use of the information contained within this site.

A note to copyright holders

The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre has made every endeavour to contact copyright holders of material digitised for this blog and website and where appropriate, permission is still being sought for these items. Where replies were not received, or where the copyright owner has not been able to be traced, or where the permission is still being sought, the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre has decided, in good faith, to proceed with digitisation and publication. Australian Light Horse Studies Centre would be happy to hear from copyright owners at any time to discuss usage of this item.

Contact

Australian Light Horse Studies Centre

eXTReMe Tracker