Bothaville

South Africa, 6 November 1900

Times Account, 9 November 1900

The Times, 9 November 1900, p. 3.

THE FIGHTING WITH DE WET.

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.)

PRETORIA (undated), via Charlestown, Nov. 8.

De Wet, who, since his defeat at the hands of Colonels Lisle and Le Gallais, has been lost sight of, is reported to be in the neighbourhood of Rensburg Kop.

Further details of the fight have arrived. General Snow directed the movement, and the British force marched the whole day, arriving at Rensburg Drift, where De Wet was caught in the act of crossing the Vaal. Colonel De Lisle's troops, which formed the centre, poured a terrible tire into the enemy. Our guns exploded one of the enemy's ammunition wagons and six Boers were blown to atoms. Finally the enemy were obliged to flee, leaving behind them live Krupps guns on which were engraved the words "Free State Artillery." The Boers tried to move during the night, but, being met by a galling fire from Colonel Le Gallais's column, turned in confusion to the left, where a contingent was ready for them. Unluckily a thick storm of rain came on and saved Do Wet and his force from absolute annihilation or capture. Native reports state that De Wet was carried oil the field wounded in the leg.

Further Reading:

Bothaville, South Africa, November 6, 1900

Boer War Battles, 1899 - 1902

South African (Second Boer) War: 1899-1902 - Overview 

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 11:01 PM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 5 April 2009 8:23 PM EADT

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Merivale Street

Queensland, 24 March 1919

The following is a contemporaneous account of the battle at Merivale Street taken from the pages of the Brisbane Courier.  The text from the scan is of poor quality and thus cannot be readily transcribed into text but it is legible enough to allow the contents to be satisfactorily read.

The ongoing Battle of Merivale Street, Queensland, from the account published in the Brisbane Courier, 26 March 1919.

Further Reading:

Merivale Street, Queensland, March 24, 1919

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 11:01 PM EADT

Updated: Monday, 30 March 2009 8:55 AM EADT

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The First Battle of Amman

Palestine, 27 to 30 March 1918

New Zealand Forces

Roll of Honour

The Roll of Honour contains the names of all the men from the New Zealand known to have given their lives during the First Battle of Amman, Palestine, 27 to 30 March 1918.

Roll of Honour 

 

7/1545 Second Lieutenant Henry BENSON, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Died of Wounds, 31 March 1918

7/166 Lieutenant Stanley BERRYMAN, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

16067 Trooper John McQueen BRUCE, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Died of Wounds, 31 March 1918

 

11/610 Lance Corporal Kenneth CALDWELL, Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 1 April 1918

13/3011 Trooper William Alexander CAMPBELL, Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment, Died of Wounds, 1 April 1918

Jul-28 Sergeant John Joseph CARR, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

17384 Trooper Owen CARR, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

11/1135 Corporal Victor CHOWEN, Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

10560 Trooper Claude Eric COUPER, Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

 

24856 Trooper Albert George EDMONDS, Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

 

13/605 Lance Sergeant Charles Randal (Chas Randal) FITTON, Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment, Died of Wounds, 2 April 1918

43685 Trooper Gilbert Sutherland FLAVALL, Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 1 April 1918

 

7/1021 Trooper Robert James GIBB, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

36056 Trooper William Butson GIBSON, Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

35711 Trooper Angus GILLIES, Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

12597 Lance Corporal Hugh William GRAHAM, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

13/908 Farrier Ernest GRANT, Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 1 April 1918

 

15/47 Lieutenant Abraham HALL, Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 1 April 1918

12602 Trooper Thomas Anthony HANLEY, Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 1 April 1918

7/1625 Lance Corporal Frank William HENSON, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

18221 Captain Heber Basil (Herbert Basil) HINSON, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Died of Wounds, 30 March 1918

43152 Trooper Walter HOLYOAKE, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

 

16412 Trooper John Joseph KENNEDY, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

17422 Trooper Frederick (Fred) KNOWLES, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

 

7/1182 Sergeant Francis John LEVETT, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

 

7/1101 Lance Corporal Frederick George MACKIE, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Died of Wounds, 31 March 1918

7/1319 Sergeant Owen MATHIAS, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

43107 Trooper Ernest Frank MATTHEWS, Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 1 April 1918

13352 Trooper Charles Gibson McCONACHIE, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

35867 Trooper Norman Cecil McINDOE, Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment, Died of Wounds, 28 March 1918

16429 Trooper Charles Clements McINTYRE, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

46770 Trooper Walter McNEILL, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

13/2608 Trooper Malcolm Innes McRAE, Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

18351 Trooper William Thomas MILLIKEN, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 28 March 1918

7/1870 Lance Corporal James MORRISON, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

 

11/1734 Trooper George Arthur PAGET, Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 1 April 1918

11/596 Second Lieutenant David PATERSON, Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 1 April 1918

 

35925 Trooper George ROGERS, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

 

43782 Trooper William SAMUEL, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

35382 Trooper Alfred Edward Lionel SCOTT, Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 27 March 1918

7/1783 Lance Corporal Thomas John SHARLAND, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Died of Wounds, 1 April 1918

16038 Major Charles Leslie SOMMERVILLE, Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, Died of Wounds, 2 April 1918

24934 Trooper Duncan Burrell STEVENS, Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 1 April 1918

13/1065a Trooper Rossland Cecil STRATFORD, Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment, Died of Wounds, 30 March 1918

13/2494 Corporal William Joseph SUTHERLAND, Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

 

49208 Trooper Gilbert Worsfold THROP, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 28 March 1918

43243 Trooper George Albert TOWNSEND, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

50113 Trooper Frederick TUCKER, Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 1 April 1918

 

13/867 Trooper Frederick Daniel WELSH, Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment, Died of Wounds, 30 March 1918

50340 Trooper Haswell WILLIAMS, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

12663 Trooper James Charles WILLOCKS, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

7/1307 Lance Corporal Cyrus (Cyrus Turpin) WILSON, Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

11/1746 Trooper George Henry WOOD, Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, Killed in Action, 30 March 1918

 

Lest We Forget 

Further Reading:

The First Battle of Amman, Palestine, 27 to 30 March 1918

The First Battle of Amman, Palestine, 27 to 30 March 1918, Allied Forces, Roll of Honour

The Palestine Campaign, 1917 - 1918

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: The First Battle of Amman, Palestine, 27 to 30 March 1918, New Zealand, Roll of Honour

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 27 March 2011 10:38 AM EADT

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The First Battle of Morlancourt

France, 28 - 30 March 1918

AIF

Roll of Honour, 28 March 1918

Poppies on the Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial, Canberra

The Roll of Honour contains the names of all the men from the AIF known to have given their lives on 28 March during the First Battle of Morlancourt, France, 28 - 30 March 1918.

Roll of Honour

 

Frederick James ALLEN, 4th Machine Gun Battalion, 28 March 1918

Charles ANDERSON, 4th Machine Gun Company, 28 March 1918

Edward John ANDREWS, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

John Thomson ARNOT, 13th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Norman Leo AVERY, 15th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

Terence James BAKER, 15th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Philip James BALL, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Alfred Anthony BARBER, 48th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Henry William BAXTER, 19th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

William James BAXTER, 46th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

George BEATTIE, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

George Alfred BELDEN, 48th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Morton Ernest BESWICK, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Arthur BONSER, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Leo Phillip BOROWSKI, 48th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Lawrence Rheuben BOUTLE, 41st Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Edwin Leslie BRIGGS, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Richard Gaffney BROWN, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Thomas Ernest BYERS, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

Walter Leslie CAMPBELL, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

William CAMPBELL, 49th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Norman Samuel CAREY, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

George Robert CARRUTHERS, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Reginald Claude CATTON, 43rd Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Charles William CHICK, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Bruce Graham CLARKE, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Frederick CLEMENTS, 12th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

William Frank CLOAK, 49th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Edwin Daniel COLLINGS, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Patrick Augustine CROWE, 14th Field Artillery Brigade, 28 March 1918

 

Francis John DAVIES, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Ernest William DAVIS, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Leslie Charles DENNIS, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Wilfred John DIXON, 13th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

George Harold DORE, 48th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Ronald Owen DRANEY, 49th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

Henry EAMES, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Eustace Erol EELES, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Thomas Hampton ELLIOT, 48th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Frank Clifford ELLIS, 15th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Phillip John ESMONDE, 37th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Albert William EVANS, 19th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

David Victor FINIMORE, 15th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Affleck Ferguson FLETCHER, 46th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Frank Edward FLOYD, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

James William FREW, 37th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

William Edwin FULTON, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

James Henry Benson FURR, 6th Field Company Engineers, 28 March 1918

 

Alexander Jack GALE, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Athol GARNER, 45th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Jack GARNOM, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Anthony GARRAHY, 37th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Gregory James GIBSON, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Robert GILVEAR, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Frederick George GLASSENBURY, 48th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Charles Montague GOLDSMITH, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Arthur James GRAHAM, 14th Field Ambulance, 28 March 1918

Joseph GRANGE, 13th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

William Edward Kemp GRUBB, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Christopher GUDGEON, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

Cecil Lisle HALL, 43rd Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

William HALL, 45th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Walter Maxmillian HARRIS, 27th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

John Henry HARRIS, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

John Henry HARRISON, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Theophilus Trenvil HAYES, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

John HENDERSON, 41st Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Sidney HENDRY, 49th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

George John HENRY, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

George Stanley HENRY, 45th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Walter HIGGINS, 28th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Stafford HIGGINS, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Walter Thomas HOWATSON, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Edgar Ellis HUDSON, 13th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Charles HULL, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Richard HUME, 37th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Thomas HUNTER, 42nd Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

Walter JENNER, 23rd Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Edmond Woodward JOHNSON, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Isaac Samuel James JONES, 23rd Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

John JONES, 49th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

Frank Sidney KEABLE, 4th Machine Gun Battalion, 28 March 1918

Lionel Edwin KELLY, 16th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

John KELLY, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Mervyn William KELTY, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Robert KIDDLE, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Charles Edward KING, 45th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Eric George KINGSTON, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Thomas Michael KINNERK, 4th Machine Gun Battalion, 28 March 1918

Percy Edward KIRBY, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Phillip John KIRKPATRICK, 46th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

Frederick William LANE, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Samuel Robert LANG, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Walter LAURIE, 15th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Eric Tilson LEADBETTER, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Walter George LEEDING, 15th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

John Allan LESEBERG, 37th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Christopher LITTLE, 43rd Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

John Alexander LITTLEWOOD, 45th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Hector Charles Warwick LONG, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Ronald David LONGMUIR, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

James Oliver LUGTON, 14th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Daniel LYNCH, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

Richard MARTIN, 4th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Robert Ambrose MCCULLOUGH, 48th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Angus Archibald MCDONALD, 48th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

James MCNALLY, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Hugh Lyell MILBOURNE, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Frederick Alfred MOORE, 48th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

John Herbert MORLEY, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

James Walter MORRIS, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Victor Lionel MURPHY, 15th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

Frederick Alexander NAYLOR, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Arthur NICHOLLS, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

William NICOL, 49th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Christian Valentine NOMMENSEN, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

Stanley Gordon O'BRIEN, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Robert John O'LEARY, 24th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

David William ORCHARD, 15th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

Edward James PARRISH, 49th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Andrew Henderson PEEBLES, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Thomas Gould PENDLEBURY, 46th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Patrick PETHERBRIDGE, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Valdemar Natanael PETTERSSON, 16th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Joseph John PHELAN, 45th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Arthur Raymond Benjamin PIERCE, 41st Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Philip John PINEL, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Frederick William PRATCHETT, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Edward PRICE, 1 Division Australian Motor Transport Company, 28 March 1918

Arthur PRINCE, 48th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

David Henry QUINLAN, 45th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

Rubin Cameron RADFORD, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Harold Valentine RAYMOND, 12th Field Artillery Brigade, 28 March 1918

Thomas Francis REID, 35th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

George Richard REYNOLDS, 37th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

George Frederick RICHARDS, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Edward Augustus ROBERTS, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Edward Winstanley ROBERTSON, 13th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Ernest Victor ROBINS, 2nd Tunnelling Company, 28 March 1918

William RONALD, 15th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

George ROOKE, 13th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

James Thomas ROUGHLEY, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Christopher James RYAN, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

Colin Gordon SALMON, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Charles Edward SALMON, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Edward SARGEANT, 45th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Leonard SCRIBBINGS, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Richard William SHEPHARD, 45th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Harry Thomas SIMMONS, 45th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Leslie SIMS, 49th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

John SLOAN, 15th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Percy SMITH, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Bert SMITH, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Richard SPEARING, 14th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Hugh Corneil SPEERING, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Norman Percy STEEL, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

David Robert STEPHEN, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Edward William STEVENS, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Eric Thomas STEVENS, 4th Machine Gun Battalion, 28 March 1918

William Jefferson SUMMERFIELD, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

Tom TAPP, 49th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Joseph TAYLOR, 15th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Charles Gordon TAYLOR, 37th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Alexander TAYLOR, 45th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Andrew Alexander TENNANT, 13th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

James Sutter TERRAS, 45th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Frederick George THOMAS, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

William Herbert TILLEY, 23rd Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Henry Claude TILYARD, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Stanley TUKE, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

George Andrew TURNBULL, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

Alfred Joseph VICKERS, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

John WARFIELD, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Edward James WELLS, 44th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Sydney Ernest WEST, 46th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Roy WILSON, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Allan Alexander WINKS, 47th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Arthur WOODHEAD, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

Albert John WOOLCOCK, 2nd Tunnelling Company, 28 March 1918

Ernest Ralph WOOLNOUGH, 27th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

George Simon WRIGHT, 40th Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

John WRIGHT, 41st Infantry Battalion, 28 March 1918

 

Lest We Forget

Further Reading:

The First Battle of Morlancourt, France, 28 - 30 March 1918, Contents

The First Battle of Morlancourt, France, 28 - 30 March 1918, Roll of Honour

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: The First Battle of Morlancourt, France, 28 March 1918, Roll of Honour

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Monday, 28 March 2011 8:38 AM EADT

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1st AUSTRALIAN ARMOURED CAR SECTION, AIF

THE FIRST AUSTRALIAN ARMOURED CAR SECTION

Below is a transcription from a manuscript submitted by Captain E.H. James called "The Motor Patrol". It is lodged in the AWM as AWM 224 MSS 209.

THE FIRST AUSTRALIAN ARMOURED CAR SECTION

In August 1914 when the dogs of War were let loose a number of motoring enthusiasts met together in Melbourne to talk over a scheme for building Armoured Cars for use with the Allied Armies and to form a unit to volunteer for service abroad. Cold water was thrown on the schema from almost every quarter as there was practically no information available as to what the proper design for an armoured car should be; how the guns should be mounted; what the equipment should consist of and .hat the personnel should be.

Still fools rush in where angels fear to tread and being enthusiasts they persisted. After many months of searching and enquiries from various quarters, enough information was available to enable designs to be got out. Then other obstacles cropped up. Armoured Cars were very expensive luxuries and required commodious high powered chassis to carry then. Armour plating and other expensive equipment was required. Three powerful chassis were donated for the purpose by Mr. John Young of Horsham, Mr. P. Cornwall of Coburg and Mr. Sol Green of Melbourne. Designs and specifications that were drawn up were approved and ultimately through the untiring efforts of Colonel Osborne, authority was given for the unit to be formed and got ready as soon as possible for service at the front, the Imperial Government having accepted the offer of the unit complete. The necessary personnel were soon enrolled as members of the tat. Australian Armoured Car Section and they began to get busy.

The use of the plant at the Vulcan Engineering Works, South Melbourne vas obtained and as quite a number of the section were skilled engineers they decided to make the necessary alterations to the chassis and build the armour and gun mountings themselves.

Several Melbourne firms also vary kindly gave considerable assistance by supplying valuable equipment. Conspicuous amongst these donors were the Victoria Rolling Mills, Messrs. J. A. Linacre, W. Till and W. P. Thompson & Co.

It was found that many difficulties had to be overcome, the greatest of these being the obtaining of suitable bullet resisting plate for the protection of the inmates and the vulnerable parts of the chassis. Ordinary steel plating of the required thickness would be far too heavy to be of any use at all. Many suggestions were made by individuals who were prepared to sell us all kinds of wonderful metal and processes for toughening and hardening ordinary steel plate. We insisted that there was only one test, as far as we were concerned and that was the service bullet. Many tests were made at the rifle ranges and all these bullet proof metals were found useless. We also discovered that although these merchants were positive of the qualities of their plating none of them had enough faith in it to stand behind while rifles were fired at it.

One inventor in particular was quite amusing. He had en alloy which appeared to contain a large percentage of aluminium and which ha claimed was extremely light and quite bullet proof at point blank range. He even went to the trouble of making a special helmet with which he wished the authorities to supply the troops at the front. During our tests we got one of our marksmen to try a shot at this helmet at a range of a couple of hundred yards. The bullet drilled a neat hole through the front but knocked a piece out of the back several inches square. The inventor's face was a picture when we gave him back his helmet. He apparently had no knowledge of the power of the modern 303 bullet.

Ultimately we got over our armour plate trouble as we discovered that there was a small supply in Melbourne of the special 3/32" steel plate imported from England some time previously for plating ammunition wagons. This steel is absolutely bullet proof at 500 yards and by doubling it, is proof at a much shorter range. We were fortunate in being able to purchase a supply of this and we used it in double thicknesses and in some places treble thicknesses on the vehicles. Louvres were fitted In front of the radiators. Colt Automatic gone were mounted is turrets (one on the top of each car). The turrets were revolving giving a complete arc of fire of 360^o and a spare gun was carried inside each vehicle. On tests we found our cars were capable of a speed of between 50 to 60 miles per hour with their full load.

AWM picture P02664.001

The crews went through intensive courses of machine gun instruction and as the majority were very experienced motor car drivers, the personnel were in the ideal position of being able at a moment's notice to take the place of any vacancy through casualty or otherwise. Towards the and of 1915 the authorities were satisfied that the unit was well enough advanced for embarkation although it was well into 1916 before the got away on the old transport A.13 HMAS Katuna, en route for an unknown port.

The account of this boat's peregrinations and how she took eight weeks from Melbourne to Suez sometimes drifting about in the Indian Ocean with engines broken down during the monsoons which were particularly severe, would fill a book; but ultimately men and cars ware disembarked at Port Tewfik and sent by rail to join the Australian forces in Egypt.

Previous section: No previous section.

Next section: 1st Australian Armoured Car Section - THE LIBYAN DESERT

Further Reading:

1st AUSTRALIAN ARMOURED CAR SECTION, AIF, Contents 

Australian Light Horse Order of Battle - Outline 

Australian Light Horse Order of Battle

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Citation: 1st Australian Armoured Car Section - THE FIRST AUSTRALIAN ARMOURED CAR SECTION

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Monday, 13 April 2009 11:09 PM EADT

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