"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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1st Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales, Outline Topic: BW - NSW - 1ACH
1st ACH (NSW)
1st Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales
Outline
Map illustrating the activities of the Australian Commonwealth Horse in South Africa, 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. 166 - 167.
1st Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales.
After the Commonwealth had been established and the Australian Defences handed over to the Federal Government, it was decided to send further Contingents of Mounted Rifles to the war; and that battalions of a representative character should be formed, with squadrons from the different States. Then the first of these was made up of three units from New South Wales, one from Queensland, and one from Tasmania.
The establishment of each unit authorized was 121 of all ranks. Pay at cavalry rates for all ranks, viz., basis of 1s. 2d. for privates till date of embarkation, and from date of embarkation 5s. per diem for privates; other ranks at the rate allowed to Imperial (Australian) Contingents. Officers were granted an allowance of £30 to provide uniform, equipment, and saddlery. Vide also 2nd A.C.H., Victoria.
The men selected were required to be good shots and good horsemen; men of previous service having preference, if medically fit. Only single men were taken, and unmarried officers had preference, other conditions being equal.
The system of selection and purchase of horses was left to State Commandants, as with previous Contingents. Officers were allowed two horses; and 10 percent spare horses were to be sent with each unit.
The battalions were in the first instance known as “__ Battalion Commonwealth Contingent," but this was altered to "Australian Commonwealth Horse."
Details of Establishment.
Staff:-
1 Lieutenant Colonel,
1 Major,
1 Adjutant,
1 Quartermaster,
1 Medical Officer,
1 Veterinary Officer,
1 Regimental Sergeant-Major,
1 Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant,
1 Orderly Room Sergeant.
Each company (or squadron):-
1 Major or Captain,
4 Subalterns,
1 Company Sergeant-Major,
1 Company Quartermaster-Sergeant,
1 Farrier-Sergeant,
4 Sergeants,
3 Shoeing-Smiths,
1 Saddler,
2 Buglers,
6 Corporals (including paid Lance-Sergeants) at the rate of two per battalion),
97 Privates, including 4 paid Lance-Corporals.
Reference to Orders.
Formation - G.O. 1/02
Establishment - G.O. 1 and 2/02
Pay and allowances - G.O. 1, 3, and 4/02
Conditions of service - G.O. 1/02
Allotment of pay - G.O. 1 and 10/02
Clothing - G.O. 1 and 2/02
Equipment officers - G.O. 4/02
Officers - G.O. 10/02
Paymaster - G.O. 24/02
Nomenclature - D.O. 239 of 22nd April, 1902
Personnel (N.S.W. units) - G.O. 39/02
Adjutant - G.O. 34/02
Embarkation - G.O. 31 and 32/02
Clothing etc.
Uniform consisted of F.S. jacket, pants, puttees, and hats.
Equipped with M.L.E. rifles, bayonets, bandoliers, and saddlery, and fully horsed.
Departure and Return
The 1st Australian Commonwealth Horse (New South Wales units) embarked at Sydney on the transport “Custodian” on 18th February, 1902, and disembarked at Durban on 19th March, 1902. It comprised 21 officers and 354 of other ranks, with 372 horses. Of these, 4 died, and 20 were struck off in South Africa. Twenty-one officers and 330 others returned by transport “Drayton Grange” which left Durban on 11th July, and arrived at Sydney on 11th August, 1902, having called at Albany and Melbourne on the way.
OPERATIONS.
This battalion proceeded on 19th March, 1902, by train from Durban to Newcastle, and thence to Klerksdorp on 10th April, arriving at the latter place on the 13th. Joined Column under the command of Colonel De Lisle, which formed part of Thorneycroft’s brigade.
This Column was inspected by Lord Kitchener on 22nd April, who expressed himself as pleased with the appearance of men and horses.
The Column was employed clearing the district north of Klerksdorp, and took part in a drive which commenced on 7th May, moving westward to the Kimberley - Mafeking railway blockhouse line. In this, 251 prisoners, including General De la Rey's brother, were captured, also 300 horses, 144 rides and bandoliers, 6,000 rounds ammunition, and a large quantity of stock.
Colonel De Lisle, who was leaving for England, handed over his command to Colonel Williams. The Column then returned to Klerksdorp, reaching that place on the 21st May, where the regiment remained until the declaration of place, when they were ordered to Elandsfontein to prepare for return to Australia.
The regiment proceeded by rail to Newcastle on 29th June, and to Durban on 9th July, for embarkation.
Promotions.
Major J. H. Lee to Lieutenant Colonel, 5th June, 1902.
War Service.
The service which officers were untitled to reckon was:
Operations in Western Transvaal and British Bechuanaland, April to May, 1902, Queen's Medal with three clasps was awarded in most cases to officers who had not served before, but many of thorn had done so.
The majority of the N.C.O.'s and man had also served in previous details.
1st Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales, Nominal Roll Topic: BW - NSW - 1ACH
1st ACH (NSW)
1st Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales
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. 168 - 174.
1st Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales
183 Trooper Garnet ABEL
325 Corporal John McNabb ABEL
239 Trooper Mathew AKHURST
138 Shoeing Smith William ALEXANDER
356 Trooper John ALICK
168 Trooper Sidney ALLASON
57 Trooper Peter ALMOND
225 Trooper Archie AMOR
267 Trooper David James ANDERTON
268 Trooper Thomas ANNETTS
310 Corporal William Thomas ANNISON
Lieutenant James APPS
112 Trooper Archibald C ATKINS
162 Trooper Frederick AUSLING
13 Trooper Edward AYSHFORD
3 Trooper Arthur BAKER
73 Saddler Thomas BAKER
251 Trooper Bert BARBER
Vet.Officer Estevan BARBETA
199 Trooper David L BARNARD
248 Trooper Jabez BARRETT
171 Trooper Henry W BARSLEY
1 Lance Corporal James BARTLETT
386 Trooper Alexander BEATTY
375 Trooper James BEATTY
391 Trooper Maurice J BEHAN
149 Trooper Charles BIDDLECOMBE
209 Trooper George BLACKMAN
350 Orderly Room Sergeant Harry N BOAM
59 Lance Corporal Harry A BOHLSON
213 Trooper Harry BOLTON
217 Trooper Ernest E BOSWELL
218 Company Quartermaster Sergeant Adolphus BOWLER
2 Lance Corporal George W BOWLING
148 Corporal Alfred E BRADDOCK
193 Trumpeter George BREARS
313 Corporal Benjamin William BRIDGE
44 Squadron Sergeant Major Charles M BRITTSWORTH
178 Lance Corporal Albert H BROWN
340 Trooper Harry William BROWN
206 Trooper Robert T BROWN
208 Trooper William BROWN
367 Trooper Patrick James BYRNE
120 Trooper Timothy P CAHILL
210 Trooper Thomas H CALLAN
347 Trooper Jack Leslie CAMPBELL
258 Trooper James CAMPBELL
334 Trooper Frank CARSONS
100 Trooper George H CHAMPION
107 Trooper Robert CHARLES
43 Trooper Albert G CHARLETON
318 Trooper Charles CLARK
4 Trooper Thomas COBAN
247 Trooper Daniel COLLINS
270 Trooper Henry COMBEN
185 Trooper Ernest H COULCHER
COUSENS
222 Trooper William CROOME
296 Trooper James Robert CROSS
241 Trooper Arthur C CROUCHER
377 Trooper George A CROWLEY
374 Trooper Thomas G CUNNINGHAM
Lieutenant Hubert CURR
343 Trooper William Joseph CURRIE
147 Sergeant Thomas CURRY
46 Lance Corporal William DALTON
163 Saddler Colin R DANSEY
76 Trooper Archibald DAVIDSON
321 Shoeing Smith Percy DAVIS
317 Trooper Sydney DAWES
5 Trooper Walter H DAWSON
298 Trooper Percy Loftus DENMEAD
261 Trooper Archibald DONALDSON
110 Trooper J DONALDSON
315 Trooper John Joseph DOPSON
230 Sergeant Edward H DUFFY
74 Trooper Norman A DUMONT
6 Farrier Sergeant Edward DWYER
103 Trooper John RJ DWYER
370 Trooper Frank William Austin EAGAR
117 Warrant Officer John R EDNEY
7 Trooper George ELLEY
191 Saddler Howard EVANS
151 Trooper Sidney EVANS
40 Trooper Walter E EVANS
105 Trooper Thomas E FARDELL
109 Corporal Roger B FEEHILY
91 Trooper JP FEENEY
45 Corporal Edward FENTON
Lieutenant Carlo Ferruccio FIASCHI
361 Trooper Charles FINERAN
118 Trooper Edward FISK
93 Trooper John FLEETWOOD
113 Trooper Frederick J FOAT
380 Trooper George FOGARTY
177 Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant William FOLEY
89 Trooper Arthur FORD
Captain Arthur E FORREST
104 Trooper Alfred FRANKLIN
271 Trooper Robert FREER
189 Lance Corporal Sydney FROST
67 Trooper Cecil G GALL
47 Corporal Frank J GALL
389 Trooper Edward K GALWAY
234 Trooper William GEER
41 Trooper Montague S GILDEA
302 Trooper Alfred Percy GILES
331 Trooper Alfred Henry GILLEN
Captain J GILLIES
295 Trooper Thomas D GLANHAM
8 Trumpeter Edward S GLASSCOCK
99 Trooper William GLASSON
172 Lance Corporal Alfred GLENN
263 Trooper Ernest GLESSNER
294 Trumpeter Sydney GOODFELLOW
Lieutenant Harry George GRACE
Captain James GREEN
50 Trooper John GREEN
235 Shoeing Smith George GREY
324 Trumpeter Lairman Ashby GREY
77 Trooper Frederick W GROVE
92 Trooper Richard GUNN
9 Trooper Thomas N GUNTER
227 Trooper Samuel HACKETT
224 Trooper John E HADDEN
164 Trooper Frank HAGNEY
272 Trooper Arthur HALEY
14 Lance Sergeant Joseph G HAMILTON
364 Trooper William HAMILTON
246 Trooper Frederick HANDY
322 Lance Corporal Herbert Edward HARPER
333 Trooper Arnold Joseph HARRIS
Lieutenant Geoffrey Hamlyn Savincount HARRIS
332 Trooper William David HARRIS
381 Trooper Herbert William HART
358 Trooper Thomas Francis HART
346 Trooper William John HART
190 Trooper Percy HAYBITTLE
11 Trooper Sidney HEALEY
60 Trooper Eden H HERON
311 Sergeant Christopher HETHERINGTON
252 Trooper T HICKSON
221 Trooper Charles HILL
304 Trooper Frederick HODGES
339 Trooper Reuben Levy HOEY
116 Trooper William H HOLLAND
83 Trooper Lewis H HOLM
Lieutenant Richard John HOLMES
273 Trooper Edward HOPKINS
54 Company Sergeant Major James William HOPKINS
228 Trooper Charles HORNBY
12 Corporal James H HULBERT
170 Trooper John E HUMPHREYS
256 Trooper John C JACKSON
96 Trooper John H JACKSON
64 Trooper John S JACKSON
378 Trooper John JOHNSON
15 Trooper R Morrison JOHNSON
Lieutenant Sedbar Bradshaw JOHNSON
264 Trooper Percy H JOHNSTON
382 Trooper LR JOHNSTONE
97 Trooper Henry KAY
392 Trooper Searle F KAY
274 Trooper Thomas KENNEDY
338 Trooper Walter Osmond KNIGHT
349 Trooper Thomas Watson KNOWLER
265 Trooper Charles Henry KOHN
197 Trooper Cecil KREMER
337 Trooper Charles Albert LACHMUND
49 Trooper Malcolm J LAMB
387 Trooper John E LAYCOCK
345 Trooper Maurice Connell LAYCOCK
385 Trooper James Freeland LEACOCK
275 Trooper Edward Charles LEAMAN
135 Corporal George S LEAPE
Major John Henry Alexander LEE
136 Trooper James LEEKE
351 Trooper George LEWIS
39 Trooper George B LINFOOT
276 Trooper George Edward LITTLEWOOD
78 Trooper Hugh LONG
257 Trooper William F LONG
169 Sergeant Frank LORENZO
101 Trooper Edwin LOVE
327 Corporal Lawrence Arthur LOVEDAY
17 Trooper Robert J LUXTON
394 Trooper Patrick M LYNCH
383 Trooper PJ LYNCH
394 Trooper PM LYNCH
Lieutenant Colonel James Sanderson LYSTER
255 Trooper George S MACKAY
94 Trooper Duncan MAGUIRE
156 Trooper James MALONE
335 Trooper Francis Joseph MANGAN
143 Company Sergeant Major Horatio MANSFIELD
278 Trooper Ernest Edward MASCORD
279 Trooper George MASON
312 Trooper Henry MASTON
277 Trooper Angus MATHESON
196 Sergeant James Hamilton MAUND
18 Trooper Alfred MAYNE
240 Trooper Narcissi MCALISTER
238 Trooper William MCALLUM
150 Sergeant Archibald MCALPINE
125 Trooper Alexander MCANDREW
114 Trooper William MCCARTHY
141 Trooper William MCCARTHY
19 Sergeant James MCCONNELL
121 Trooper George MCDONALD
146 Trooper William V MCJANNETT
314 Trooper Donald MCKENZIE
354 Trooper William John MCKINNON
357 Trooper John MCLEAN
300 Trooper Neal MCLEAN
134 Sergeant William MCMAHON
68 Shoeing Smith William T MCMILLAN
299 Trooper Hugh Duncan MCPHEE
396 Trooper Harold MEAGHER
119 Trooper George MEALING
106 Trooper H MEALING
144 Farrier Sergeant Joseph MEANEY
379 Shoeing Smith Joseph Angus MEEVE
281 Company Quartermaster Sergeant Christian MILLER
Boer War, 1899 - 1902, Australian Forces, 1st Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales, Roll of Honour Topic: BW - NSW - 1ACH
Boer War, 1899 - 1902
Australian Forces
Roll of Honour
1st Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, New South Wales
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 Australian Commonwealth Horse (NSW) and gave their lives in service of Australia, whether as part of the 1st Australian Commonwealth Horse (NSW) or another unit during the Boer War.
Roll of Honour
William CROOME, Died of Disease, 14 August 1902.
John GREEN, Died of Disease, 14 August 1902.
George S MACKAY, Died of Disease, 15 May 1902.
Edward J O'BRIEN, Died of Disease, 10 March 1902.
Thomas Kells TAPLIN, Died of Disease, 12 July 1902.
Phillip Henry WICKERSON, Died of Disease, 12 June 1902.
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