"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
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Thursday, 13 March 2003
Boer War, 1899 - 1902, Australian Forces, 4th West Australian Mounted Infantry, Roll of Honour Topic: BW - WA - 4WAMI
Boer War, 1899 - 1902
Australian Forces
Roll of Honour
4th West Australian Mounted Infantry
Poppies on the Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial, Canberra
The Roll of Honour contains the names of all the men known to have served at one time with the 4th West Australian Mounted Infantry and gave their lives in service of Australia, whether as part of the 4th West Australian Mounted Infantry or another unit during the Boer War.
5th West Australian Mounted Infantry, Outline Topic: BW - WA - 5WAMI
5th WAMI
5th West Australian Infantry Rifles
Outline
Map illustrating the activities of the 5th West Australian Mounted Infantry in South Africa, 1901-1902.
[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, pp. 418 - 419.
Fifth and Sixth (Mounted Infantry) Contingents
Although these two Contingents were separately raised and left Western Australia at different times, they agreed to amalgamate after arriving at the front, and thus to form one battalion of four or five companies, instead of remaining distinct units of two companies each (vide " Service.")
Authority for enrolment was published in December, 1900, and January, 1901. Conditions of enlistment, pay, clothing, and equipment, etc., were as for previous Contingents.
Many of the N.C.O.'s and men had served in other Contingents at the war sad a large proportion of the remainder were, or had been, members of Australian Militia or Volunteer Carps, The personnel of these Contingents was, therefore, of a superior character.
Departure and Return
The 5th Contingent left on 6th March, 1901, comprising - 14 officers, 207 others, with 239 horses. Six officers and 5 others were attached in South Africa; 1 promotion from ranks; 1 officer, 9 others were killed or died; 12 officers, 63 others were struck off in South Africa; 8 officers, 139 others, returned to Australia.
The 6th departed on 10th April, 1901. Establishment-14 officers, 214 others, with 237 horses. Two officers, and 6 others were attached in South Africa. ; 2 promotions from ranks ; 2 officers, 13 others were killed or died ; 7 officers, 48 others were struck off in South Africa ; 9 officers, 157 others returned to Australia,
Service.
The 5th Contingent left Fremantle in the transport Devon on 6th March, 1901, and arrived at Durban on the 28th. The 6th embarked on the Ulstermore, which put to sea on the 10th April, reaching Durban on the 29th. As before stated, after the 6th arrived at the seat of war, both Contingents united, forming vase strong battalion, the command of which was entrusted to Major (afterwards Lieut.-Colonel) J. R. Royston, D.S.O., who had seen the commencement of the war as a subaltern in the Border Mounted Rifles, a Natal Volunteer Corps, and had gained distinction at the defence of Ladysmith. Lieutenant A. J. B. Brown, an officer who obtained experience in the 1st Western Australian Contingent, was appointed adjutant of the combined battalion.
They served with Major-General F. W. Kitchener's Column in the Eastern Transvaal., Natal, and Orange Free State; and with Colonel Campbell's, Colonel Benson's, and Colonel Wing's Columns in Eastern Transvaal.
For a great part of the year 1901, the 5th and 6th were in the Column of MajorGeneral Kitchener, who long operated in the Lydenberg district, and generally over the Eastern Transvaal. In April, the Column, working from Lydenberg, took part in the operations of Sir Bindon Blood to the north of the Delagoa railway, and in the Middelburg district. During April, the Western Australians were several times engaged, and made some captures of prisoners and stock.
On 13th May, Kitchener's Column crossed to the south of the railway and made for the Ermelo district to take part in another sweeping movement towards Ermelo, under the direction of General Bindon Blood, and back towards the Ermelo-Bethal district. Captain Campbell was complimented by General Kitchener during operations at Form House. On the 15th, there was a severe fight at Grobelaar Recht, near Carolina, in which the 5th had Lieutenant Forrest and Sergeant Edwards and Corporal Bollinger killed, and four men wounded ; and the 6th had four men killed, Lieutenant S. S. Reid and four men wounded, one of whom subsequently died.
On the 16th, there was more fighting in which Lieutenant F. W. Bell distinguished himself, and was recommended for the Victoria Cross, which he subsequently received. The following is the official report of his conduct (London Gazette, 4th October, 1901):-
"At Brakpan, 16th May, when retiring through a heavy fire, after holding the right flank, Lieutenant Bell noticed a man dismounted, and returned and took him behind him. The horse not being equal to the weight, hall with them. Lieutenant Bell then remained behind, and covered the man's retirement till he was out of danger."
On the 23rd June, at Renshoogte, there was again fighting. Lieutenant Reid and two men were killed, and two wounded severely. During these operations a number of Prisoners, and some carts containing ammunition were taken.
In July, Kitchener's Column was back at Middelburg, and after refitting, moved north of the railway, and had some encounters in which prisoners were taken. On the 16th August, there was fighting, with further casualties. Portion of the battalion was from August to October in Colonel Benson's Column, and got in some good work in the Eastern Transvaal.
Towards the close of 1901, and in the early months of 1902, both Contingents were acting under General Bruce Hamilton in the Eastern Transvaal, and took part in many of his most successful enterprises. They had a few casualties in various actions, notably at Watervaal River, Rolspruit (where Lieutenant G. A. Mons was killed) and Roodepoort.
While with Colonel Wing's Column in February and March, 1902, the Western Australians undertook many arduous marches in the hope of getting in contact with the enemy, but they had been worsted so often that their desire was to hoop out of sight.
In the Commander-in-Chief's despatches of 8th March, 1902, Lieutenant R. Clifton was mentioned far conspicuous good service in General Bruce Hamilton's operations in Ermelo district ; and Lieutenant P.I. Daley for gallantry. It was stated that
"in pursuit of superior force of the enemy, near Kromdraai, on 28th February, 1902, he was severely wounded, but with Lieutenant M. A. Shea, D.S.O., 19th Hussars, captured seven of the enemy."
Also
"as Corporal, for gallant service on three occasions with scouts, when parties of Boers were taken. Promoted Sergeant by Commander-in-Chief."
Both Contingents embarked in the transport Columbian, which left Durban on 7th April, 1902, and arrived at Fremantle on the 29th. Disbanded on 17th May ensuing.
5th West Australian Mounted Rifles, Nominal Roll Topic: BW - WA - 5WAMI
5th WAMI
5th West Australian Mounted Rifles
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. 421 - 425.
5th West Australian Mounted Rifles
14 Trumpeter Percy Henry George ABBERT
168 Private Robert ALDAY
49 Corporal Philip S ALLEN
146 Private Harold ANGOVE
142 Private Arthur Henry ASHMEAD
314 Private Archibald Samuel BACCHUS
274 Private Albert George BACKMAN
122 Private Harvey Inkpen BAILEY
139 Lance Corporal Edward Vincent BAMBRICK
290 Private Luke BANNON
277 Private James Lee BARDSLEY
279 Private Crispin BATTYE
233 Private Henry BENBOW
109 Private Samuel Absolom BICKLEY
166 Private Charles BISSETT
115 Corporal William Frederick BOLLINGER
179 Private Walter BOWERS
309 Private Joseph BREEDING
288 Private Charles Headlam BREWER
177 Private Samuel Francis BRICKLEY
227 Private Septimus BROOMHEAD
193 Private Archibald BUCHAN
275 Private Henry BULLOCK
167 Private Henry BURROWS
203 Private Michael CAHILL
258 Private Ivan Clifford CAMPBELL
252 Lance Corporal William CARROLL
128 Private William Henry CHAPMAN
191 Private George CLARKE
Lieutenant GS CLIFFORD
319 Private Hector William COLE
304 Private James Francis COLEMAN
Captain Edward Mallan COLLICK
135 Private George Henry COLLINS
147 Private Jeremiah COLLINS
185 Private William Walter CONNOLLY
219 Private Frederick COUNSELL
259 Private Frederick CRAMP
225 Private Seymour CRONEEN
Lieutenant Bingham CROWTHER
212 Private Edward CUREDALE
313 Private John Graham DALE
239 Private James George DALLISTON
211 Private Frederick DANCE
Captain Herbert F DARLING
Lieutenant A DAVIES
236 Private Walter H DAVIS
224 Lance Corporal Leonard Mitchell DAY
311 Private Harry Norman DE BUDE
136 Private John DELANEY
170 Private John DICKENS
302 Private Frederick DIXON
157 Private Christopher DOAK
138 Private James DONOVAN
Lieutenant Harold M DOWNES
281 Private William John DUNSTAN
271 Private Thomas Edward DWYER
197 Private Samuel DYKE
111 Sergeant Frederick Francis EDWARDS
292 Private William EGAN
181 Private James Winton ELLIS
175 Private Charles ERWOOD
80 Private William FARRELL
287 Private Alexander FINLAYSON
159 Private Dudley FINNEY
256 Private Cecil FISHER
134 Private William FLETCHER
Captain Joseph Ignatius FLYNN
Lieutenant Harold Dundee FORBES
Lieutenant Anthony Alexander FORREST
196 Private Cunningham Campbell FORREST
117 Sergeant Levi FRANCE
278 Corporal James Augustus FREEMAN
251 Private Montague FROST
201 Corporal Richard Joseph FURLONG
285 Private George David FYFE
200 Private William GANDY
218 Private John GILMORE
310 Private William GODDARD
235 Private Robert James GOODWIN
321 Private John Brown GORRIE
130 Farrier William James GRAHAM
112 Corporal Gerald GRAVE
127 Private Edward James GRAY
298 Sergeant Arthur GREEN
Lieutenant Cottinghame GRIFFITH
150 Private Louis Napoleon HALES
301 Private Samuel HAMILTON
149 Private Arthur HAMMOND
243 Private Robert James HANCOCK
264 Private Kenneth Edward HANSON
250 Private Ockey Michael HARKEN
265 Private Patrick HARRINGTON
116 Private John Noble Douglas HARRIS
217 Private John HAYDEN
232 Private John Byron HAYES
153 Private Harry HAYNES
155 Private Ronald HILL
312 Private Henry Grattan HORGAN
297 Private Charles Walsh HORSBURG
228 Private Herbert HUGHES
273 Private George HUTCHINSON
145 Private Francis William ILES
318 Private John Gordon IRVING
284 Private George JAMIESON
245 Private James Patrick JOHNSON
238 Private Edward JONES
308 Private Walter Thomas JONES
272 Private Francis JULIUS
282 Sergeant Martin Bulmer KAY
261 Private Walter KELLY
253 Private Henry Robert KEMBLE
151 Private Finlaw St. John KENNEDY
162 Private James Cornelius KENNEDY
214 Sergeant John Edgar KIDD
263 Sergeant Thomas Arthur KIDD
240 Private Francis Angus KIELY
316 Private Rowland KIRTON
268 Private George KNAPTON
247 Private Robert LAWRIE
207 Private Robert Maitland LEAKE
299 Lance Corporal Herbert William LEE
317 Private John LEISK
237 Lance Corporal Alexander LOVE
174 Private Frederick William MALTEY
158 Private Augustus MANSFORD
267 Private John Stuart MANTON
186 Private James MARSHALL
187 Private William MARSHALL
283 Private Lionel James MARSTON
144 Private Alexander John MCAFFEE
183 Private William Ernest MCCAFFERY
124 Private Angus MCDONALD
154 Lance Corporal Thomas MCFARLANE
160 Private Richard Lawrence MCGIE
184 Farrier Robert Henry MCGREGOR
264 Corporal Farquhar Hugh MCKINNON
126 Private William John MCLAREN
173 Private Peter Hamilton MCMAHON
202 Private Henry MCNAY
123 Company Sergeant Major Samuel George MCWHIRTER
Boer War, 1899 - 1902, Australian Forces, 5th West Australian Mounted Infantry, Roll of Honour Topic: BW - WA - 5WAMI
Boer War, 1899 - 1902
Australian Forces
Roll of Honour
5th West Australian Mounted Infantry
Poppies on the Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial, Canberra
The Roll of Honour contains the names of all the men known to have served at one time with the 5th Western Australian Mounted Infantry and gave their lives in service of Australia, whether as part of the 5th Western Australian Mounted Infantry or another unit during the Boer War.
Roll of Honour
Robert ALDAY, Killed in Action, 1 February 1902.
William Frederick BOLLINGER, Died of wounds, 18 May 1901.
James George DALLISTON, Killed in Action, 1 February 1902.
William John DUNSTAN, Died of Disease, 19 February 1902.
Frederick Francis EDWARDS, Killed in Action, 15 May 1901.
Anthony Alexander FORREST, Killed in Action, 15 May 1901.
Richard Joseph FURLONG, Missing in Action, 15 May 1901.
Arthur HAMMOND, Killed in Action, 1 February 1902.
Robert Henry MCGREGOR, Died of Disease, 20 May 1901.
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