Australian Light Horse Studies Centre

Citation: The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia, 5th Battalion, W.A. Infantry Brigade

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Friday, 4 September 2009 7:50 PM EADT

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Saturday, 4 July 2009

The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia, Albany Volunteer Garrison Artillery
Topic: Militia - LHW - WA

Western Australian Militia

Albany Volunteer Garrison Artillery

The following is an extract from the book written in 1962 by George F. Wieck called The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia 1861-1903, pp. 65 - 66:

Albany Volunteer Garrison Artillery

Coast Defence Artillery was installed in the newly erected fort at Albany in 1893 and a detachment of Permanent Artillery was stationed there. The chief object of the installation was to protect the auxiliary coaling depot established on behalf of the Royal Navy, the cost of installation and maintenance being only partly borne by Western Australia. The garrison provided was too weak to "man" the fort during continuous action, making relief from local sources imperative. As a temporary measure members of the Plantagenet Rifles voluntarily trained as relief gunners but when that corps was disbanded on 29 April 1897 other steps had to be taken.

As a permanent solution of the manning problem it was decided to raise a corps of Volunteer Garrison Artillery. Accordingly, the Gazette of 10 October 1899 conveyed approval to raise a corps to be designated the "Albany Volunteer Garrison Artillery", with an Establishment of 51 all ranks, under the Command of Lieutenant ESP Trude.

The new corps attracted many of those who had received gunnery training when they were members of the Plantagenet Rifles so that it was very soon a valuable asset. By 1901 the corps had a strength of 40 all ranks (including a number of Bandsmen).

Later the designation of the corps was changed to No. 1 W.A. Company, Australian Garrison Artillery.

Officers of the Albany Volunteer Garrison Artillery

Lieutenant Troode, 17 October 1899

Second Lieutenant PH Meeks, 31 August 1900

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Citation: The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia, Albany Volunteer Garrison Artillery

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Friday, 4 September 2009 7:48 PM EADT

Western Australian Mounted Infantry

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Friday, 3 July 2009

The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia, Albany Volunteer Garrison Artillery
Topic: Militia - LHW - WA

Western Australian Militia

18th Light Horse Regiment (W.A.M.I.)

The following is an extract from the book written in 1962 by George F. Wieck called The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia 1861-1903, pp. 66 - 67:

18th Light Horse Regiment (W.A.M.I.)

The 18th Light Horse Regiment was created by changing the designation of the West Australian Mounted Infantry Regiment as stated in Serial 28.

It was the "18th" Regiment in the Federal sequence of numbering of mounted corps. The new designation took effect on 1 January 1903.

Previous: Albany Volunteer Garrison Artillery

Next: West Australian Highlanders

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Citation: The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia, 18th Light Horse Regiment (W.A.M.I.)

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Friday, 4 September 2009 6:58 PM EADT

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Thursday, 2 July 2009

The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia, West Australian Highlanders
Topic: Militia - LHW - WA

Western Australian Militia

West Australian Highlanders

The following is an extract from the book written in 1962 by George F. Wieck called The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia 1861-1903, p. 67:

West Australian Highlanders

Lieutenant Colonel J. Campbell (Headquarters Staff) an ex-member of the 79th Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, had long cherished the idea of raising a kilted corps in Western Australia. He found much local support and judicious inquiry revealed that the "Camerons" themselves were more than interested. Approached through the proper channels, the War Office approved and the Cameron Highland Regiment, through their Colonel, gave unqualified approval for the use of the Cameron Erract tartan to be used and for the copying of its uniform by the pro posed corps. It was a most graceful permission. It was soon decided that one Company of 60 all ranks should be raised in Perth and in March 1903 the corps came into being as the "West Australian Highlanders". Approval was given to form a Pipe Band additional to normal Establishment. The corps was administratively independent but was attached to the 4th Battalion W.A. Infantry Brigade for parade pur poses. Enlistment was for three years, the members serving without pay and paying for their own uniforms.

On 1 July 1903 the corps became "D" Company of the 1st Battalion W.A. Infantry Regiment. Several years later it lost its national character and in 1914 Highland Dress was discontinued. It is interesting to note that in 1907 a Scottish company was raised among Railway Department employees stationed at Fremantle; this one did not wear a scarlet tunic.

Previous: 18th Light Horse Regiment (W.A.M.I.)

Next: Armament

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Citation: The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia, West Australian Highlanders

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Friday, 4 September 2009 6:57 PM EADT

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Wednesday, 1 July 2009

The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia, Armament
Topic: Militia - LHW - WA

Western Australian Militia

Armament

The following is an extract from the book written in 1962 by George F. Wieck called The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia 1861-1903, pp. 68 - 70:

Armament

The Volunteers of Western Australia were destined, in common with most Australian Volunteers, to be armed with weapons which had become obsolete elsewhere. The British Army necessarily kept abreast with foreign armies as regards armament and rapidly accumulated stocks of obsolete and discarded weapons. The necessity to keep abreast did not apply so strongly in the Colonies and in any case it was a question of finance. Replacements were costly and the Colonies were glad to accept at a lower price weapons no longer standard in the British Army. Whatever came was a step-up on what they had and represented progress.

Artillery

Smooth-bore muzzle-loading guns of various types and sizes were carried by most ships arriving at Australian Ports and dumped there. Advertisements appeared offering guns for sale as suitable anchors for buoys, navigation marks, etc.

The first mention of Field Artillery occurs in connection with the W.A. Troop of Volunteer Horse Artillery formed on 1 July 1872. The Troop was armed with two 12Pr. B. L. [12 pounder breach loading] Armstrong-Whitworth guns, complete with limbers and stores. This type of gun was quite new and was then on trial in the British Army : it was not finally adopted, having to make way for the 9Pr. R.M.L. [9 pounder rifled muzzle loading.] These two guns appear to have belonged to the Enrolled Pensioner Force, although no record as to how or when they were received can be traced. The guns were unsuitable being too heavy for the type of corps but as the Commander of the corps was a "Horse Artilleryman" and no other guns were available, the guns had no choice. A photo taken about 1870 shows the guns, manned by Enrolled Pensioners, firing a Salute. They remained on issue until 1894 when they were replaced by two 9Prs; they remained in obscurity until World War II when they were used as dummy anti-aircraft guns on the local sea-front. (It is believed they are now in the loving care of a sentimental old-time gunner).

The next outbreak of artillery ardour occurred at Fremantle when the newly formed Naval Artillery Volunteers, in 1879, proudly paraded with two 6Pr. smooth-bore muzzle-loading guns (minus limbers or other form of draught). So far as can be traced these pieces left their depot on only one occasion, i.e., the 1884 Camp at Albion; they were replaced in 1889 by two 9Pr. R.M.L. [9 pounder rifled muzzle loading.] guns, valued with limbers and wagons at over £850, a gift from the War Office.

In 1902 the 9Pdrs on issue at Perth and Fremantle were replaced by 15Pdr B.L. [15 pounder breach loading] guns of the type in general use by the British Forces through the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902.

Coast or Heavy Artillery first appeared in 1893 when a Fort was erected at Albany. Mounted at that time were two 6in. R.B.L. [rifled breach loading.] guns plus some light pieces. It was to assist with the manning of these guns that the Albany Volunteer Garrison Artillery was raised in 1899.

Muskets and Rifles

In the Commissariat Store maintained by the British Government at Perth were 40-50 muskets (including "flintlocks") which that Government magnanimously (?) presented to the Colony. One hundred new Enfield M.L. Rifles received as a gift from England were issued to the Perth corps in June 1862, the Commissariat stock going to the Fremantle corps.

Whenever the Colony could afford to buy new weapons it did so and issued them to the more needy of the Perth and Fremantle corps, the displaced weapons being handed down to those more recently formed. Thus it happened that within some of the corps different types of firearms were in use at one and the same time.

The various types of firearm made their first appearance among the Volunteers on the following dates:

Enfield musket (from stock) - 1861

Enfield rifle - 1862

Martini-Henri rifle - 1874

Snider rifle - 1883

Martini-Metford rifle - 1892

Martini-Enfield rifle - 1898

Lee-Speed Magazine rifle - 1898

Previous: West Australian Highlanders

Next: Forts and Fixed Defences

Further Reading:

Citation: The Volunteer Movement in Western Australia, Armament

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Friday, 4 September 2009 6:56 PM EADT