"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 CentreLet 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:
The 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry marching down Queen Street, Brisbane.
[From: The Queenslander, 4 November 1899, p. 906.]
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. 447:
FIRST (QUEENSLAND MOUNTED INFANTRY) CONTINGENT
Like the early Contingents in other States, the first despatched by Queensland was ordered to be raised from officers and others serving in the local defence forces, namely, 250 of the Queensland Mounted Infantry, and a Machine Gun Section from the Royal Australian Artillery (Queensland). They were to be equipped strictly in accordance with the Field Service Manual for the equipment of a Mounted Infantry unit. With regard to this, however, Lieut: Colonel Ricardo, who Commanded the Contingent, stated in his report:-
"Out of 262 of all ranks enrolled, 123 were then serving in the Queensland Mounted Infantry; but 46 men, who had served, also joined; this left 93 to be recruited from outside. Of this number, 25 N.C.O.'s and men of A Battery (Royal Australian Artillery), volunteered; they ware some of the best men we had, and their example had a very good affect an the Contingent. The remainder were made up of men who said they w or had been, members of the Queensland Defence Force."
The Contingent was practically enrolled, organized, and equipped with arms, clothing, horses, saddlery, transport wagons with fittings and stores, between the 13th and 28th October - a record of the indefatigable way in which the Staff, the Comptroller of Stores, the medical and veterinary authorities, and the embarkation officers must have worked. The horses were selected and purchased by Veterinary Major Irving, P.V.O.
Establishment
Staff:-
One major,
1 Sergeant-Major;
1 quartermaster sergeant,
4 Privates;
total, 7;
with 4 riding and 4 draught horses; total 8.
Machine Gun Section (Royal Australian Artillery):-
One lieutenant,
1 sergeant,
1 corporal,
2 bombardiers,
5 drivers,
7 gunners;
total, 1 officer, 1 sergeant, 15 rank and file, with 6 riding and 14 draught horses;
total 20.
No. 1 Company:-
One captain,
3 lieutenants,
1 company sergeant-major,
4 sergeants,
1 sergeant-artificer,
3 artificers,
2 buglers,
6 corporals,
92 privates; total, 4 officers, 109 others, with 100 riding and 20 draught horses; in all 113 of all ranks, with 120 horses.
in all, 12 officers, 248 others, with 224 riding and 76 draught horses;
altogether, 260 of all ranks, with 300 horses.
Departure and Return
The SS Cornwall embarking from Brisbane with the Queensland Contingent
[From: The Queenslander, 11 November 1899, p. 957.]
The Contingent left on 1st November, 1899, comprising 14 officer's, 248 others, with 284 horses, besides machine game and wagons. Ten died or were killed, 1 officer was transferred, 1 commissioned in the Imperial Army, 7 were struck off in South Africa; 12 officers, 231 others returned to Australia.
[From: The Queenslander, 4 November 1899, p. 908.]
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. 449 - 456.
1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, Roll of Honour Topic: BW - Qld - 1QMI
1st QMI
1st Queensland Mounted Infantry
Roll of Honour
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 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry and gave their lives in service of Australia, whether as part of the 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry or another unit.
Roll of Honour
Edmund St. John Vincent BRODRICK, Died of Disease, 25 June 1900.
George Bertram CONLEY, Killed in Action, 31 March 1900.
Thomas CUMNER, Died of Disease, 20 March 1900.
William Alexander DAMROW, Died of Disease, 19 December 1900.
Supplement to the Queensland Government Gazette Published as General Order 358, 18 October 1899
After the outbreak of hostilities in South Africa, on 14 October 1899, the Queensland Government issued the following proclamation.
A Proclamation
By His Excellency the Honourable Sir Samuel Walker Griffith, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, Chief Justice of the Colony of Queensland, and Administrator of the Government of the said Colony and its Dependencies.
Whereas the Government of the Colony of Queensland lately offered, in the event of hostilities breaking out between Great Britain and the South African Republic, the services of a Contingent of Troops, consisting of 250 Officers, Non Commissioned Officers, and Men of the Queensland Mounted Infantry, together with a Machine Gun Section of the Queensland Regiment of Royal Australian Artillery, for field duty with the Imperial troops employed in South Africa; And whereas on the nineteenth day of October, instant, the Legislative Assembly of the said Colony resolved as follows:-
That this house renews the assurance of its loyalty and devotion to the Throne and Person of Her Most Gracious Majesty The Queen, and as evidence of its sympathy with Her Majesty's subjects in the South African Republic, who have for so long a period suffered burdensome disabilities and grievous injustice, desires to support the determination of Her Majesty's Advisers to secure the immediate recognition of British rights in that Republic. This House therefore views with approbation the proposal of the Government to equip, despatch, and maintain a Military Force volunteering for service with Her Majesty's Army in South Africa, consisting of 250 Officers, Non Commissioned Officers, and Men of the Queensland Mounted Infantry, together with a Machine Gun Section of the Queensland Regiment of Royal Australian Artillery.
And whereas Her Majesty has authorised a Force of Volunteers to be raised in the said Colony for the purposes aforesaid, and has directed that such Force shall, as from the embarkation thereof, be deemed to be serving with Her Majesty's Regular Forces: Now, therefore, I, Sir Samuel Walker Griffith, the Administrator of the Government aforesaid, do hereby proclaim and declare that a Military Force of Volunteers shall be and is hereby authorised to be raised and enrolled for Service with Her Majesty's Army in South Africa, consisting of 250 Officers, Non Commissioned Officers, and Men of the Queensland Mounted Infantry, together with a Machine Gun Section, there detailed establishment whereof is more particularly described in the Schedule hereunder set out.
Given under my Hand and Seal, at Government House, Brisbane, this nineteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, and in the sixty third year of Her Majesty's reign.
By Command, James R Dickson.
God Save the Queen!
The Schedule referred to in the Proclamation.
The Schedule
Distribution
Staff
Machine Gun Company
No. 1 Coy, MI.
No. 2 Coy, MI.
Supernumeraries
Total
Major
1
1
Captain
1
1
2
Lieutenants
1
3
3
2
9
Sergeant Major
1
1
Quartermaster Sergeant
1
1
Company Sergeant Majors
1
1
2
Sergeants
1
4
4
9
Sergeants Artificers
1
1
2
Artificers
3
3
6
Buglers
2
2
4
Corporals
1
6
6
13
Privates, Gunners, and Drivers
4
14
92
92
8
210
Total Officers
1
1
4
4
2
12
Total NCOs and Men
6
16
109
109
8
248
Horses - Riding
4
6
100
100
14
224
Horses - Draught
4
14
20
20
18
76
Grand Total - All Ranks
7
17
113
113
10
260
Grand Total - Horses
8
20
120
120
32
300
Extracted from: Queensland General Orders, Order 358, 18 October 1899.
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.
