5th ACH (NSW)

5th Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse New South Wales

Outline

Lieutenant Colonel James William Macarthur ONSLOW, Commanding Officer for the 5th ACH.

[Town & Country Journal, 24 May 1902, p. 21.]

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. 184 - 185.

Fifth Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse.

This consisted of four squadrons, with the following establishment:

Staff—

1 Lieut-colonel,

1 major,

1 adjutant,

1 quartermaster,

1 medical officer,

1 veterinary Officer,

1 regimental sergeant-major,

1 quartermaster-sergeant,

1 O.R. sergeant.

Total:- 6 officers, 1 warrant-officer, 2 sergeants, with 9 horses.

Squadron of 4 troops -

1 major or captain,

4 subalterns,

1 squadron sergeant-major,

1 squadron quartermaster-sergeant,

4 sergeants,

1 sergeant-major,

3 shoeing-smiths,

1 saddler,

2 trumpeters,

6 corporals,

97 privates.

Total one squadron:-

5 officers, 6 sergeants, 5 artificers, 2 trumpeters, 103 rank and file—in all, 121, with an equal number of horses.

Total of battalion of 4 squadrons:-

26 officers, 1 warrant-officer, 26 sergeants, 20 artificers, 8 trumpeters, 412 rank and file; in all, 493, with 493 horses.

(1) to those then serving in existing military units in each of the districts named;

(2) to those who had served in South Africa;

(3) to civilians possessing the most valuable military qualities.

Enrolling officers were required to ascertain that the applicant fulfilled the required conditions, and that he was a suitable representative of the district troops; upon which he was furnished with a certificate and directed to present himself at the place of concentration of the squadron upon a given date. Candidates were then medically examined, tested in horsemanship and ride practice; and finally, if passed, enrolled and attested.

Upon this principle:-

"A" Squadron represented New South Wales Lancers and troops in localities covered by this regiment;

"B" Squadron - New South Wales Mounted Rides and troops in such localities;

"C" Squadron - Australian Horse and troops in localities covered by half this regiment;

"D" Squadron - Australian Horse and troops in localities covered by half this regiment.

The four “troops” into which each squadron was divided were thus recruited:-

"A" Squadron (Lancers)

1st Troop:-

Sydney squadron, enrolled at Sydney;

2nd Troop:-

Camden - Berry squadron, enrolled at Berry;

3rd Troop:-

Maitland, Singleton, and Newcastle squadron, enrolled at Newcastle;

4th Troop:-

Parramatta, Richmond, and Windsor squadron, enrolled at Parramatta.

"B” Squadron (Mounted Rifles)

1st Troop:-

Tenterfield, Inverell, Lismore, and Casino squadron, enrolled at Tenterfield;

2nd Troop:-

Bathurst, Molong squadron and Forbes half-squadron, enrolled at Bathurst;

3rd Troop:-

Picton - Camden squadron, enrolled at Camden;

4th Troop:-

Bega and Canterbury half - squndrons, enrolled at Canterbury.

 

"C" Squadron (Australian Horse)

1st Troop:-

Armidale, Glen-Innes squadron, enrolled at Armidale;

2nd Troop:-

Tamworth - Gunnedah squadron, enrolled at Tamworth;

3rd Troop:-

Scone, Belltrees, and Muswellbrook squadron, enrolled at Scone;

4th Troop:-

Mudgee, Lue, and Rylstone squadron, enrolled at Mudgee.

 

"D" Squadron (Australian Horse)

1st Troop:-

Goulburn squadron, enrolled at Goulburn;

2nd Troop:-

Braidwood - Araluen squadron, enrolled at Araluen;

3rd Troop:-

Bungendore and Michelago squadron, enrolled at Bungendore;

4th Troop:-

Gundagai, Cootamundra, and Murrumburrah squadron, enrolled at Murrumburrah.

Qualifications and Pay

Qualifications were:— Height, not less than 5 feet 3 inches; chest measurement, not less than 34- inches; age, not under 20; to pass medical examination; ride and shoot well; single men only, except in ease of senior N.C.O.’s of exceptional merit, who, if enlisted, were warned that their widows and children had claims on Patriotic Fund only, and not on Imperial funds, for pensions.

Pay and field allowances an for former Contingents.

Preference for horses was given to those bought by men who enrolled. Qualification: standard 15 to 15.3; age, 5 to 12 years.


Reference to Orders.

Pay and allowances .. District Order 159, of 9th April, 1902

Formation .. District Order 159, of 9th April, 1902

Equipment .. District Order 159, of 9th April, 1902

Enrolment .. District Order 159, of 9th April, 1902

Establishment .. District Order 159, of 9th April, 1902

Clothing and Equipment .. District Order 159, of 9th April, 1902

Embarkation .. District Order 159, of 9th April, 1902

Clothing, etc

Uniform consisted of brown FS jacket and pants, puttees, and hat. Equipped with bandoliers, and saddlery, and fully horsed.

[Town & Country Journal, 31 May 1902, p. 38.]

Service

The battalion embarked on transport Columbian at Sydney, on 22nd May, 1902, and disembarked on 18th June, at Durban. It comprised 22 officers, 465 other ranks, with 490 horses; 91 were struck off in South Africa, and 22 officers, 374 others, returned.

This splendid battalion had no chance of displaying its capabilities, the war having ended before its arrival. During its short stay in South Africa, half the battalion was stationed at Newcastle, Natal, and the other half at Durban, and subsequently at Gilletts, Natal.

The battalion again embarked at Durban on the transport Manchester Marshal on 1st July, and at Sydney on 1st August, 1902, having called at Albany, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Hobart on route.

Further Reading:

5th Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales

5th Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales, Roll of Honour

Boer War, 1899 - 1902

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EAST

Updated: Wednesday, 14 March 2012 10:20 AM EADT

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Boer War - Victoria

Contingents sent, 1899 - 1902

Contents

Items

Outline

Boer War - Victoria, Contingents sent, 1899 - 1902, Outline

Details

Boer War - Victoria, Contingents sent, 1899 - 1902, Details

Roll of Honour

Boer War - Victoria, Contingents sent, 1899 - 1902, Roll of Honour

Lest We Forget

Further Reading:

Boer War - Victoria

Boer War - Victoria, Contingents sent, 1899 - 1902, Roll of Honour

Boer War, 1899 - 1902

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EAST

Updated: Sunday, 2 May 2010 5:12 PM EADT

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South African (Second Boer) War, 1899-1902

Australian Participation - Full Index

Embarkation Roll: PEA to PLE

The following is an alphabetical roll of all Australians known members of the many military formations which embarked overseas during the South African (Second Boer) War, 1899-1902.

Each man is detailed on this reference list with the following information:

Service Number;

Rank on Embarkation;

First Names;

Family Name;

If applicable, any false name employed; and,

Service unit.

Notes

Note 1: All soldiers’ names are linked to the specific unit and date when embarkation occurred.

Note 2: There are duplications of some names in the following list. The reason for this is that the soldier embarked on more than one occasion. This was the simplest way of resolving the problem of multiple entries for a single individual.

Embarkation Roll: PEA to PLE

 

1216 Private Leslie Osbourne PEARSE, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles.

432 Trumpeter Charles PEARSON, 4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen.

3679 Trooper Herbert William PEARSON, 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen.

504 Private Joseph Kirkby PEARSON, 2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

469 Private Joseph Kirkby PEARSON, 4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen.

145 Trooper William Clarence PEARSON, 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen.

524 Private James Alfred PEART, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

1618 Trooper Albert W PEASE, 3rd Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales.

116 Private Edward Alfred PECHEY, 4th West Australian Mounted Infantry.

338 Private Arthur Frederick PECK, 8th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Tasmania.

2940 Trooper William Edward PECK, 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles.

1057 Private Charles PECKHAM, 2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, South Australian.

19 Private Charles Frederick PEDDER, 1st Tasmanian Mounted Infantry.

305 Private Joseph PEDDER, 2nd Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen.

RJ PEDDER, South African Light Horse.

551 Private Robert James PEDDER, 2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

85 Private Christian Severn PEDERSEN, 6th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

3211 Trooper Anthony PEDERSON, 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles.

2378 Driver John James PEDERSON, 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles.

1507 Saddler William Gage PEDLER, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles.

2087 Trooper Hugh PEDROTTA, 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles.

552 Private Arthur Richard PEEK, 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

Lieutenant John Harold PEEK, 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles.

761 Trooper John Harold PEEK, NSW Lancers.

21 Trumpeter Rupert de Lacey PEEK, NSW Citizens' Bushmen.

1255 Trooper W PEEL, Bethune's Mounted Infantry.

15 Private Victor Stanley PEERS, 1st Tasmanian Mounted Infantry.

1255 Trooper William PEET, Bethune's Mounted Infantry.

1198 Private Albert Edward PEGG, 1st Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Tasmania.

114 Private Albert Edward PEGG, 1st Tasmanian Mounted Infantry.

219 Private Arthur Charles PEGG, 2nd Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen.

717 Trooper Edward PEGG, 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

165 Private Henry PEGG, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry.

644 Private Henry PEGG, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

2032 Trumpeter Wroughton John PEGUS, 3rd Australian Commonwealth Horse, Tasmania.

216 Private Charles Thomas PENDLEBURY, 4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen.

Lieutenant Henry William PENDLEBURY, 1st Victorian Mounted Infantry.

Captain Henry William PENDLEBURY, 2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

2763 Private Henry Albert Ernest Raymond PENGILLY, 4th Australian Commonwealth Horse, South Australia.

127 Private William PENHALIGON, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry.

319 Private EW PENHALLURICK, 6th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

2056 Private Charles Francis PENNEFATHER, 3rd Australian Commonwealth Horse, Tasmania.

415 Private K PENNEFATHER, 6th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

441 Private V PENNEFATHER, 6th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

213 Private William Henry PENNO, 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles.

2236 Trooper Charles Maxian PENNY, 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles.

2360 Private Lytton William PENNY, 4th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

518 Private Ralph Brunker PENNY, 6th West Australian Mounted Infantry.

1991 Trooper William Henry PENNY, 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles.

165 Trooper Henry PENO, 3rd Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales.

264 Private George PENT, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

813 Lance Corporal William Christie PENTLAND, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles.

351 Private Ernest PENTZIN, 6th West Australian Mounted Infantry.

457 Private Otto PEPPLER, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

8 Private Gilbert Otto PEPPLIR, 7th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Queensland.

Captain Arthur William Bernard PERCEVAL, 1st Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Tasmania.

324 Trooper Frederick John PERCIVAL, 5th Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales.

1553 Trooper Thomas PERCY, 3rd Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales.

796 Private Ralph Joseph PERDRIAU, Army Medical Corps, NSW.

339 Private Alfred Garnett PERGER, 8th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Tasmania.

31703 Trooper Frank PERINI, 2nd Scottish Horse.

Captain Alfred Edward PERKINS, Army Medical Corps, NSW.

3226 Trooper Francis Sydney PERKINS, 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen.

140 Private John Joseph PERKINS, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

Lieutenant Raymond PERKINS, 1st Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen.

2206 Private Robert George PERKINS, Scott's Railway Guards.

432 Private Samuel PERKINS, 7th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Queensland.

53 Private Stanley Millbank PERKINS, 2nd West Australian Mounted Infantry.

427 Trooper Joseph PERKS, 8th Australian Commonwealth Horse, West Australia.

112 Private Arthur PERRETT, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

2915 Gunner Augustus PERRIN, A' Bty. Royal Australian Artillery.

2205 Trooper Benjamin George PERRIN, 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles.

5000 Trooper Patrick PERRIN, 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen.

69 Trooper Patrick PERRIN, NSW Citizens' Bushmen.

1053 Trooper James PERRITT, 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

125 Private James PERRITT, 'A' Sqn. NSW Mounted Rifles.

476 Trooper Harold Athleston PERROTT, NSW Citizens' Bushmen.

643 Trooper Alfred James PERRY, 6th South Australian Imperial Bushmen.

155 Trooper Alfred Samuel PERRY, 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen.

187 Private Douglas Herbert PERRY, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

2717 Trooper Edward PERRY, 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen.

272 Corporal Edward John PERRY, 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen.

272 Private Edward John PERRY, NSW Imperial Bushmen.

1508 Trooper George PERRY, 3rd Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales.

463 Company Quartermaster Sergeant Jacob PERRY, 2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

353 Private Jacob PERRY, 4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen.

2716 Trooper Lawrence PERRY, 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen.

408 Private Percy PERRY, 3rd Victorian Bushmen.

48 Private Thomas PERRY, 4th West Australian Mounted Infantry.

764 Private Wilfred Henry PERRY, NSW Imperial Bushmen.

Trooper PERRY, Kitchener's Fighting Scouts.

120 Private Harold PERRY-KEENE, 2nd Queensland Mounted Infantry.

818 Company Sergeant Major John Frederick PERSKE, 1st Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Queensland.

200 Private John Frederick PERSKE, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

455 Private A PESKETT, 6th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

598 Private Richard PESTELL, NSW Imperial Bushmen.

620 Trooper Thomas PESTELL, NSW Lancers.

206 Private Thomas PETCH, 5th West Australian Mounted Infantry.

274 Saddler EC PETERS, 6th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

1412 Private Ernest Francis James PETERS, NSW Imperial Bushmen.

117 Private Ezich PETERS, 1st Victorian Mounted Infantry.

540 Private John James William Errol PETERS, 3rd Victorian Bushmen.

1266 Private John Julius PETERS, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles.

156 Private Robert Brookes PETERS, 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles.

2245 Staff Sergeant Robert Bruce PETERS, 4th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

Nursing Sister PETERS, Army Medical Corps.

302 Farrier Charles Frederick PETERSEN, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

155 Private Louis PETERSEN, 2nd Tasmanian Bushmen.

158 Private William John PETERSEN, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

Private BMJ PETERSON, Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry.

100 Private HF PETERSON, 6th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

3205 Trooper James PETERSON, 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen.

72 Trooper William Henry PETHER, 2nd South Australian Mounted Rifles.

3202 Lance Corporal William Henry PETHER, 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen.

334 Trooper Albert Benjamin PETRIE, 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen.

Andrew PETRIE, Bushveldt Carbineers.

121 Private James Ellis PETRIE, 1st South Australian Mounted Rifles.

886 Trooper Andrew Bannantyne PETTIGREW, NSW Lancers.

173 Private John PETTIGREW, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry.

41 Private Alfred PETTIT, 1st Victorian Mounted Infantry.

337 Private George PETTIT, 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles.

929 Private George PETTIT, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles.

105 Trooper Percival Arthur Charles PETTITT, 2nd South Australian Mounted Rifles.

2706 Private Randolph George PETTITT, 4th Australian Commonwealth Horse, South Australia.

350 Private Frederick PETTMAN, 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles.

616 Private William PETTY, 3rd Victorian Bushmen.

59 Private George William PEVERIL, 4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen.

1364 Private Joseph V. PFEFFER, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles.

32 Trooper Frederick Conrad PFFAUM, 2nd South Australian Mounted Rifles.

391 Private Adolphus Ernest Alfred PFUNDT, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

2859 Gunner David PHEENEY, A' Bty. Royal Australian Artillery.

359 Private James PHEGAN, 2nd Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen.

156 Private Edward Thomas PHELAN, 2nd Tasmanian Bushmen.

1080 Private Michael PHELAN, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles.

295 Trooper Patrick PHELAN, 5th Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales.

200 Private Thomas Pickworth PHELAN, 8th Australian Commonwealth Horse, South Australia.

2753 Private William George PHELAN, 4th Australian Commonwealth Horse, South Australia.

354 Trooper Edgar PHELPS, 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen.

844 Trooper John PHILBROOK, 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

30 Private Adolph PHILIPOFSKI, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry.

4 Farrier Sergeant Benjamin Charles PHILLIFANT, 4th South Australian Imperial Bushmen.

Lieutenant PHILLIP, Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry.

31820 Trooper AL PHILLIPS, 2nd Scottish Horse.

1657 Trooper Albert PHILLIPS, 3rd Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales.

225 Private Allan L PHILLIPS, 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

1225 Private Arnold PHILLIPS, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles.

586 Trooper Arthur George PHILLIPS, 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

263 Private Arthur James PHILLIPS, 4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen.

140 Farrier Sergeant C PHILLIPS, Bethune's Mounted Infantry.

830 Private Charles Francis PHILLIPS, 1st Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Queensland.

209 Private Charles Francis PHILLIPS, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry.

384 Private Edward PHILLIPS, 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

985 Private Fennel PHILLIPS, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles.

1000 Private Francis Percy PHILLIPS, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles.

131 Lance Corporal George Henry PHILLIPS, 5th West Australian Mounted Infantry.

284 Private Harry PHILLIPS, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

274 Trooper JW PHILLIPS, 6th South Australian Imperial Bushmen.

721 Private Louis Eleazer PHILLIPS, 3rd Victorian Bushmen.

2133 Lance Corporal Percy George PHILLIPS, 3rd Australian Commonwealth Horse, Tasmania.

366 Private Percy George PHILLIPS, 8th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Tasmania.

731 Trooper Percy Walter PHILLIPS, 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

2194 Trooper Peter PHILLIPS, 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles.

1304 Private Reginald Stewart PHILLIPS, Army Medical Corps, Commonwealth.

1304 Private Reginald Stuart PHILLIPS, Army Medical Corps, NSW.

1473 Shoeing Smith Richard PHILLIPS, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles.

236 Private Sidney PHILLIPS, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

444 Private Thomas Matthews PHILLIPS, 8th Australian Commonwealth Horse, West Australia.

202 Sergeant Thomas William PHILLIPS, 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen.

254 Trooper Thomas William PHILLIPS, 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen.

250 Private William Henry PHILLIPS, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

39831 Squadron Sergeant Major WW PHILLIPS, 2nd Scottish Horse.

Corporal PHILLIPS, Commander in Chief's Body Guard.

270 Private John PHILLIPSON, NSW Imperial Bushmen.

Lieutenant Colin John Campbell PHILP, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

Lieutenant Colin John Campbell PHILP, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

2439 Driver Ernest Alfred PHILP, 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles.

Sergeant JD PHILP, Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry.

302 Private William Thomas PHILPOT, 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles.

165 Trooper Frederick PHILPOTT, 1st Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales.

84 Private Richard Jeffery PHILPS, 8th Australian Commonwealth Horse, South Australia.

262 Trooper William PHINN, 1st Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales.

90 Private Edward PHIPPS, 7th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Queensland.

573 Trooper George Edward PHIPPS, 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

Lieutenant William Henry PICKBURN, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

418 Private Alfred PICKERING, 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

185 Private Charles Morrison PICKERING, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry.

263 Trooper John Basil PICKERING, 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen.

340 Private Frederick Albert PICKETT, 8th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Tasmania.

202 Private John Allen PICKETT, 8th Australian Commonwealth Horse, South Australia.

336 Trooper William Rowland PICKETT, 1st Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales.

241 Private William PICKLESON, 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

240 Private Arthur Henry PICOT, 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

1063 Trooper F PIDDING, Bethune's Mounted Infantry.

512 Trooper George Busby PIDDINGTON, NSW Citizens' Bushmen.

154 Trooper Percival Joseph PIDGEON, 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

2361 Corporal Charles Joseph PIERA, 4th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

101 Private John Joseph PIERCE, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry.

841 Private Stanley Hope PIERCE, NSW Imperial Bushmen.

2762 Private James Benjamin PIERSON, 4th Australian Commonwealth Horse, South Australia.

2708 Private John Edward PIERSON, 4th Australian Commonwealth Horse, South Australia.

93 Private John Stewart PIERSON, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

594 Private Hercules John PIESLEY, NSW Imperial Bushmen.

3340 Trooper William Henry PIGGOTT, 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles.

527 Private Charles William PIKE, 4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen.

1287 Private Edward PIKE, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles.

24 Private William George PIKE, 1st Victorian Mounted Infantry.

Lieutenant PIKE, Cape Garrison Artillery.

Captain Henry L PILKINGTON, 2nd West Australian Mounted Infantry.

J PILKINGTON, South African Light Horse.

508 Private James PILKINGTON, 2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

341 Private William Charles PILKINGTON, 8th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Tasmania.

323 Private James Edward PILL, 7th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Queensland.

2740 Farrier Sergeant Benjamin Charles PILLIFANT, 4th Australian Commonwealth Horse, South Australia.

4033 Trooper Alfred PILLINER, 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen.

24 Sergeant Richard Henry PILMER, 3rd West Australian Bushmen.

92 Trooper William George PILSBURY, 1st Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen.

531 Private Peter PINDER, 2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

176 Private Peter PINDER, 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles.

374 Private David PINE, 6th West Australian Mounted Infantry.

Captain Phillip William Grant PINNOCK, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry.

76 Private SC PINSTNEY, 1st South Australian Mounted Rifles.

332 Trooper Herbert Alfred PIPE, 5th Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales.

314 Trooper Harry Aubrey PIPER, 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

448 Private A PIRIE, 6th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

206 Private Robert Hill PIRIE, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry.

375 Private James William PITCHES, 4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen.

90 Private Robert PITMAN, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

1210 Private William Herbert PITSTOCK, 1st Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Tasmania.

342 Private Arthur Henry PITT, 8th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Tasmania.

Trooper C PITT, Brabant's Horse.

242 Private Charles Henry PITT, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

891 Gunner Oswald Saunders PITT, 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles.

179 Private Robert Samuel PITT, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry.

119 Private Roland Philip PITT, 1st Tasmanian Mounted Infantry.

685 Corporal Thomas PITT, 2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

1263 Private Thomas PITT, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles.

76 Private Walter Frank PITT, 'A' Sqn. NSW Mounted Rifles.

2222 Private Edward William PITTARD, 4th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

343 Private AT PITTS, 6th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Victoria.

387 Lance Corporal Edward John PIZEY, 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen.

Trooper David PLANT, Roberts' Horse.

145 Private Augustine Dennis PLASTO, 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

156 Trooper Frederick Wm. PLATE, 4th South Australian Imperial Bushmen.

740 Lance Corporal Adam PLATT, 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

289 Trooper Adam PLATT, 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen.

325 Private John PLAYFOOT, 7th Australian Commonwealth Horse, Queensland.

461 Trooper William George PLAYFORD, 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

268 Trooper Edward Andrew PLEADER, 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen.

10 Trumpeter Ormond William PLEASENTS, 1st Victorian Mounted Infantry.

 

Further Reading:

Boer War, 1899 - 1902 

South African (Second Boer) War, 1899 - 1902, Australian Forces, Roll of Honour 

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EAST

Updated: Wednesday, 24 November 2010 6:28 AM EAST

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3rd ACH (NSW)

3rd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse New South Wales

The Manhattan Military Incident, Embarkation Desertions

The Manhattan Military Incident

[The Hobart Mercury, 5 April 1902, p.4.]

The Manhattan Military Incident

Possibly one of the major breaches of military discipline was know as The Manhattan Military Incident. It occurred on the night of 1 April 1902. The men were on board the SS Manhattan and had been given advance pay. From the men of the 3rd ACH and Carrington Horse, some 25 left the ship and went into Sydney. Ten men returned in a drunken condition but 15 remained in Sydney when the Manhattan left Sydney Harbour.

The breach of discipline was so large that the Commanding Officer of the 3rd ACH was sacked on the spot and replaced by a Victorian. 

Below is the transcript of the Hobart Mercury article which, at the time, best summed up the story.

The Manhattan Military Incident.

Lieut.-Colonel Wallack, who has been relieved of the command of the 3rd Battalion, left for Melbourne to-night.

The police have been supplied with the ' description of about 25 men, who deserted from the troopship, after drawing advance pay, but, it is now stated, that fully a dozen of them succeeded in getting back to the troopship after the shore officials had left.

A Military Sensation.

Carouse of Sydney Contingenters.

Officer In Charge Relieved Of His Command.

General Hutton Angry.

"For God's Sake Don't Tarnish The Name Of Australians."

("Argus," April 3.)

Sydney, Wednesday.

A sensation has been created in military circles, in foot, throughout the city, by the decisive action taken by Major General Hutton in relieving Colonel Wallack of the command of the Third Battalion of the Federal Contingent. The officers and men boarded the transport yesterday, and were not supposed to go ashore again. Early this morning rumours were flying abroad that by some means or other the men had managed to get ashore, and were drinking heavily in Sydney. Unfortunately, there was a good deal of truth in the rumours, and when Major-General Hutton boarded the transport Manhattan shortly after noon his quick eye detected something wrong with the battalion. The men were drawn up on deck, and there was an unsteadiness about them which angered General Hutton very much, and caused him to speak in severe tones. Long before he made his official speech it was explained that several of the men were missing from the contingent, having deserted during the night. There were also a few missing who had neglected to catch the transport at Woolloomooloo Bay. The contingenters were paid on board after embarkation, and it is understood that a very large number of them, assisted by their friends, got over the side of the transport into watermen's boats during the night, and made their way into Sydney. Even while General Hutton was on board the transport men were being helped on to the transport in a state of intoxication, and among those already on board there were a few who had taken more liquor than was good for them.

A sensation was caused on board by the announcement that Colonel Wallack, C.B., the officer in command of the battalion, had been relieved of his command, Major Clarke, second in command, was sent for by the G.O.C., and ordered to take command until the transport reached Adelaide, where she would take on board a new commanding officer, probably Major Wallace, of Melbourne, who was to have commanded the next battalion. A tender, conveying Lieut. Robbins, R.N., was at once sent to the Imperial transport authorities to secure the requisite permission for the steamer to put in at Adelaide on her way to Durban. Brigadier-General Finn, State Commandant, bade tho troops good-bye, and read a short farewell message from the Governor-General. The State Minister for Public Works, Mr. O'Sullivan, in the course of a short speech, bade the troops good-bye, and read a letter, from the State Lieut.-Governor, Sir Frederick Darley, wishing them God speed.

Meanwhile, Major-General Hutton had been standing by making observations, and there was fire in his eye and vigour in his voice as he stepped forward to make a few remarks. He said:- "Colonel Walleck, Major Brown, and you men of the Australian Commonwealth Horse and Carrington Contingent, - I am by no means satisfied with what I hear. I always think that when I look at soldiers in the face and they are called at attention and they don't stand absolutely at attention, there is something not quite right. Now recollect this, soldiers, there's the discipline of the barrack square, or outward form of discipline which ends short of the battlefield, and there's true discipline, the discipline of the men themselves, which remains always. It is not your horsemanship, remember; it is not your marksmanship, but it is the strong individuality of your individual characters that makes you Australians so valuable as soldiers. That individuality is worth nothing without discipline - not the discipline of pipe-clay or close heels, but the discipline you maintain among themselves. Now you officers recollect this, please. Your position as officers and leaders of men does not depend upon your uniform, it does not depend on your lace or stars, or on your shoulder-straps. It depends on your own strong will and experience, and the great care with which you look after your men, and the cool intrepidity with which you lead them into action. Now, something has happened within the last 24 hours that I heartily regret, and I feel Australia will be ashamed of, and I feel sure that you men here will also. I understand there are some men who had enlisted into this battalion who last night, after receiving their pay, deserted from His Majesty's service. Men guilty of desertion, of course, are liable to be tried by court martial, and punished, and I hope we shall get hold of and make an example of these men in this connection. Regarding the soldierly behaviour and discipline of Australian troops, I may say that in all my experience in South Africa I never had a single case of court-martial, nor, so far as I am aware, any serious lapse of discipline, and that in a force of 6,000 men. The word "attention" -is this, and that applies to your horses as well as yourselves. Every man's thoughts and ideas and actions centred on his leader, and it was the same with the horses. When, therefore, you get into a tight place and bullets are whistling all round you, then is the time when you are called to attention, and that is the time you want to stand thoroughly to attention. That is the reason why we leaders of men want you to be immovable; it is all towards your behaviour in action." The Major General then pointed out in characteristic language the absolute importance of perfect steadiness under arms. He said; "I trust that you officers and men realise your grave responsibility, and will maintain the high name for gallantry, good order and discipline in the field which are the proud attributes of Australian troops in South Africa. You have not got to make your name as Australian soldiers, you have to maintain it. Whatever you do is for the honour mid credit of Australia."

General Hutton after making reference to the shooting of Australian officers in South Africa, concluded thus: - I wish you good luck in South Africa, but for goodness sake remember you take with you both the honour and renown won already by Australians and for God's sake don't tarnish it."

The transports sailed for Durban shortly after 2 o'clock.

The suspected deserters

The following list has been produced detailing the names of the suspected deserters. No specific list was produced by the Department of Defence for publication so it has been produced through a process of elimination. All members who were accounted for through various orders, transfers, casualty and all other noted events, either gazetted or reported, the balance being, by process of elimination, those who never made it to South Australia and thus never returned to Australia or were demobilised in South Africa or went to Britain. Since there is no other explanation for their absence from any list, by default, there is every possiblity that they are the deserters from the 3rd ACH mentioned in the newspaper reports. The men from Carrington Horse who deserted cannot be located as readily and thus are not part of this list.

This list

1434 Trooper Charles BARKER

1436 Trooper James CASTRAY

1748 Trooper Daniel CAVANAGH

1462 Trooper Benjamin D FRASER

1821 Trooper William H NEWHAM
 
1619 Trooper Patrick J QUINN

1687 Trooper FM REYNOLDS

1496 Trooper Thomas W SMITH

 

Epilogue

The unanswered question to this day is: how did these men achieve this circumstance? Bear in mind that the ship was well guarded to prevent this very event from occurring while at harbour.  Most ships lost one or two men who were able to slip over the side of a ship through stealthy means. But here there were 25 men. The sheer number was too difficult to conceal. How did they get past the guards? That question still remains unanswered.

Further Reading:

3rd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse New South Wales

3rd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse New South Wales, Roll of Honour 

Boer War, 1899 - 1902

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EAST

Updated: Monday, 10 May 2010 1:00 PM EADT

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Boer War - Victoria

Contingents sent, 1899 - 1902

Outline

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. 211 - 213.

Victoria Prefatory.

On the 28th September, 1899, and following days, a Conference of Military Commandants was held at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne. This had been convened at the invitation of the Government of Victoria for the purpose of submitting a scheme for the consideration of the various Governments, by which, should they decide to do so, a United Australian Military Contingent could be organized for service in South Africa in the event of a war with the Boers.

President:

Major-General Sir Charles Holled Smith, K.C.M.G., Commandant, Victoria.

Members:

Major-General G. A. French, C.M.G., Commandant, New South Wales. Major-General Hunter, Commandant, Queensland. Colonel G. H. Chippindall, Commandant, Western Australia. Colonel W. V. Legge, Commandant, Tasmania. Colonel J. Stuart, Commandant, South Australia.

Secretary:

Colonel J. C. Hoad, A.A.G., Victoria.

It was decided (inter alia) that in the opinion of the Conference the necessary Acts should be passed without delay by each of the several Colonies to enable their respective Military Contingents to act, either as a combined force or otherwise, for service outside Australia.

Further, that pay should be recommended on the following scale:-Gunners and privates, 4s. 6d. per diem ; acting bombardiers, 5e.; bombardiers, Bs. 6d.; corporals, 7a.; sergeants, 8s.; coy. sergeant-majors, 8s.; staff sergeants, 10s.; warrant officers, 11s. 6d.

And that a force of about 5,000 of all ranks should be sent, divided as follows -New South Wales 745, viz. - Horse Artillery 120, Cavalry and Mounted Rifles 300, Infantry 265, Department Corps and Engineers 60. Queensland-Mounted Rifles and Machine Gun Section, 278. South Australia 140, namely-mounted Rifles 40, Infantry 80. Tasmania-Infantry 160. Western Australia - Infantry, 160. Victoria, 543; thus disposed-Mounted Rifles 198, Infantry 345. General Staff, 30, to be made up amongst the Colonies.

No result followed, however, other than that when the war broke out, an Australian Regiment was formed (for details of which see let Victorian Contingent). This was an administrative, not a consolidated battalion.
Victoria passed the following enabling Acts:-63 Vict. No, 1619 (Victorian Military Contingent Act), enabling forces to be raised under Defences and Discipline Acts, and to come under Imperial Army Act of '81, when serving with Her Majesty's regular troops. £30,000 was appropriated for this purpose. 63 Vict. No. 1627 appropriated £35,000 for the purposes of a second Contingent; 63 Vict. No. 1656 appropriated £30,000 for a third Contingent; 64 Vict. No. 1698 appropriated £45,000 for further Contingents. 63 Vict. No. 1640 authorized contributions by Municipal Councils, banks, and other bodies towards military Contingents, or any members thereof, or their relatives, or in aid of the Patriotic Fund.

Camp Of Instruction.

The Camp of Instruction where the various Contingents were stationed, under Colonel Otter and other selected and experienced officers and staff-sergeants, prior to being despatched to the theatre of war, was at Langwarrin. There the men, after having been tested and enrolled, were drilled, trained, organized, disciplined, clothed, equipped, and supplied with horses. When the celerity with which the battalions were raised and sent away is considered, it may readily be judged that more than ordinarily strenuous exertions •must have been made by all concerned, including the Commissary and Veterinary Departments and the embarkation officers, whose duty it was to see that all was in readiness on board the transports.

Not a great deal of instruction was required for the earlier Contingents, because the officers and men were mostly drawn from the local regiments ; but in the case of the Bushmen's and successive battalions, usually several weeks became necessary to make something like soldiers of these very raw levies before they could be embarked for the front.

No horses were brought back from South Africa. Contingents handed them over into Remount depots prior to embarkation for Australia.

Further Reading:

Boer War - Victoria

Boer War - Western Australia, Contingents sent, 1899 - 1902, Roll of Honour

Boer War, 1899 - 1902

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EAST

Updated: Sunday, 2 May 2010 5:15 PM EADT

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