Colonial Office Despatch of 3 October 1899
Secretary of State for War and Commander-in-Chief desire to express high appreciation of Her Majesty’s Government for the patriotic spirit exhibited by the people of Australia in offering to serve in South Africa and to furnish following information to assist organisation of forces offered into units suitable for military requirements:-
Firstly.
Units should consist of about 125 men.
Secondly.
May be infantry, mounted infantry, or cavalry. In view of numbers already available, infantry most, cavalry least, serviceable.
Thirdly.
All should be armed with .303 rifles or carbines, which can be supplied by Imperial Government if necessary.
Fourthly.
All must provide own equipment, and mounted troops their own horses.
Fifthly.
Not more than one captain and three subalterns to each unit. Where more than one from single colony force may be commanded by officer not higher than Major.
In considering number which can be employed, the Secretary of State for War, guided by nature of officers, desires that each colony should be fairly represented and limits are necessary if force is to be fully utilised.
Available staff is integral portion of Imperial forces.
Would gladly accept two units each from New South Wales and Victoria, and one from South Australia.
Conditions as follows:-
Troops to be disembarked at port of landing in South Africa, fully equipped, at cost of colonial Governments or volunteers.
From date of disembarkation, Imperial Government will provide pay at Imperial rates, supplies and ammunition, and will defray expenses of transport back to the colony, and pay wound expenses and compassionate allowances at Imperial rates.
Troops to embark not later than 31st October, proceeding direct to Capetown for orders.
Use the links below to view information on contingents organised State-by-State. These lists are relatively comprehensive. Any input from visitors with knowledge of Australian involvement in the war is welcomed.
Contingents by State: 1899 – 1902
New South Wales Contingents
Queensland Contingents
South Australian Contingents
Tasmanian Contingents
Victorian Contingents
West Australian Contingents
It was rather the fashion for Australian soldiers to visit professional studios to have their photograph taken prior to embarkation for active duty. Below are some portraits typical of the South African War era. If you can identify these men, please contact me.
Images courtesy of Craig Renard
ACTIONS OF AUSTRALIAN REGIMENTS
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Key to Table
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L
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Lancers
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MR
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Mounted Rifles
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MI
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Mounted Infantry
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AMC
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Army Medical
Corps |
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IB
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Imperial Bushmen
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CIT. B
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Citizen’s Bushmen
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B
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Bushmen
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ART
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Artillery
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ACH
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Aust. Commonwealth
Horse |
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CONST.
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Constabulary
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UNIT
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ENGAGEMENT
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UNIT
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ENGAGEMENT
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| 1 QMI |
Sunnyside (01 Jan 1900) Relief of Kimberley (14-15 Feb 1900) |
3 QMI |
Relief of Mafeking (17 May 1900) Koster River (21-22 July 1900) Elands River (4-16 Aug 1900) (besieged for 13 days) Rhenoster Kop (29 Nov 1900) |
| 4 QIB |
Rhenoster Kop (4-16 Aug 1900) Pompean Pan (23 Feb 1901) (Captured De Wet’s wagons and maxims) |
5 QIB |
Onverwacht (04 Jan 1902) (defended guns) |
| 6 QIB |
Koffeyfontein (13 Jul 1901) (surprised Boer laager) |
NSW L |
Belmont Hill (23 Nov 1899) Graspan (25 Nov 1899) Modder River (28 Nov 1899) Arundel (08 Dec 1899) Stormberg (10 Dec 1899) Magersfontein (11 Dec 1899) Colenso (15 Dec 1899) Slingersfontein (16 Jan 1900) Paardeburg (18 Feb 1900) |
| NSW MR |
Slingersfontein (16 Jan 1900) Paardeburg (18 Feb 1900) Houtnek (30 Apr 1900) Diamond Hill (11-12 Jun 1900) (charged enemy) Palmietfontein (19 Jul 1900) Relief of Elands River (15-16 Aug 1900) Rensburg Drift (27 Oct 1900) (captured Krupp gun) Bothaville (5-7 Nov 1900) Capture Potgeiter’s convoy (24 May 1901) |
2 NSW MR | Doornek (11 Mar 1902) |
| 3 NSW MR |
Engage Botha (25 Oct 1901) (captured documents) Support NZ’s near Vrede (23 Feb 1902) |
NSW AMC | Relief of Kimberley (14-15 Feb 1900) |
| NSW CIT. B |
Koster River (21-22 Jul 1900) Elands River (4-16 Aug 1900) (besieged for 13 days) |
NSW IB |
Relief of Elands River (15-16 Aug 1900) Vlakfontein (26 Jan 1901) Captured De la Rey’s convoy (24 Mar 1901) (including 9 guns) Palmietfontein (08 Apr 1901) (captured convoy of Kemp and Smuts) |
| 3 NSW IB |
80 km night march to Wolmaranstad (20 Aug 1901) Kaultsfont Nek (27 Oct 1901) engaged Muller’s commando) |
NSW Art. |
Chased de Wet in Hopetoun District (Dec 1900) Pompean Pan (23 Feb 1901) (Captured de Wet’s wagons and Maxims) |
| 1 VMR |
Pink Hill (12 Feb 1900) Witwatersrand (29 May 1900) 6 Mile Spruit (04 Jun 1900) |
2 VMR |
Witwatersrand (29 May 1900) 6 Mile Spruit (04 Jun 1900) |
| 5 VMR |
Wilmansrust (12 Jun 1901) (camp rushed by Boers; severe losses) Geelhoutboom (23 Nov 1901) Relief of Onverwacht (04 Jan 1902) |
3 VB |
Koster River (21-22 Jul 1900) Besieged at Elands River (4-16 Aug 1900) Rhenoster Kop (29 Nov 1900) |
| 4 VIB |
Philipstown (11 Feb 1901) (surprised enemy) Pompean Pan (23 Feb 1901) (Captured De Wet’s wagons and maxims) |
1 SA MR |
Retreat to Arundel (13-14 Feb 1900) (rearguard) |
| 4 SA IB |
Palmietfontein (19 Jul 1900) Stinkhoutboom (24 Jul 1900) (sharp clash near Vredefort) Relief of Elands River (15-16 Aug 1900) |
5, 6 SA IB |
Early morning march to capture de Wet’s convoy (06 Jun 1901) Grootvalliers Farm (29 Jul 1901) (attacked Smuts’ commando with fixed bayonets) Ride 120 km in 22 hours to relief of Bakenlaagte (30 Oct 1901) |
| 3 SA B |
Ottoshoop (12 Sept 1900) Lichtenburg (26 Sept 1900) |
1 TAS | Houtnek (30 Apr 1900) |
| 3 TAS IB |
Surrounded at Warmbad (01 Sept 1900) (retire after fierce clash) Rhenoster Kop (29 Nov 1900) Chase de Wet in Hopetoun District (Dec 1900) |
4 TAS IB |
Roodepoort (13 Aug 1901) (Commandant Erasmus captured) |
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2 Tas B
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Ottoshoop (12 Sept 1900)
Lichtenburg (26 Sept 1900) |
1 WA MI
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Stinkhoutboom (Jul 24 1900)
Relief of Elands River (15-16 Aug 1900) (WA troops first to ride in from south-east) |
| 2 WA MI |
Diamond Hill (11-12 Jun 1900) (rout Botha’s rearguard) |
5, 6 WA MI |
Brackpan (15-16 May 1901) |
| 3 WA IB |
Koster River (21-22 Jul 1900) Besieged at Elands River (4-16 Aug 1900) |
4 WA IB |
Leeuw Kop (03 July 1900) (saved guns after stiff resistance) Palmietfontein (19 Jul 1900) |
| *Aust. Regt. |
Jasfontein, Slingersfontein (09 Feb 1900) At relief of Colesburg (28 Feb 1900) At occupation of Bloemfontein (13 Mar 1900) Cross into O.F.S., advance to Fauresmith (15-27 Mar 1900) Hold last parade, Bloemfontein (06 Apr 1900) |
Bushmen |
Arrive Beira, travel across to Marandellas to join Rhodesian Field Force and reach Pretoria (Apr-June) At capture of Pietersburg (08 Apr 1901) |
| 1 Aust Horse | At Paardeburg (18 Feb 1900) | Scottish Horse | Defence of convoy at Bakenlaagte (30 Oct. 1901) |
| Sth Afr. Const. |
Thaba ‘Nchu Orange Free State (15 June 1901) |
ACH |
Arrive and take part in drives (Mar 1902) Subjected to attacks as Boers try to break through lines (10 May 1902) |
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* The Australian Regiment was formed from an amalgamation of the VMR and the SA, WA, TAS Infantry on Dec. 6 1899.
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AUSTRALIAN DECORATIONS*
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V.C.
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C.B.
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C.M.G.
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D.S.O.
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D.C.M.
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M.I.D.
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R.R.C.
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Total
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|
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N.S.W.
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1
|
8
|
1
|
24
|
16
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96
|
1
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141
|
|
VIC.
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1
|
3
|
2
|
12
|
13
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75
|
1
|
107
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|
QLD
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0
|
5
|
3
|
8
|
13
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60
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0
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89
|
|
S.A.
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0
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3
|
0
|
8
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10
|
42
|
1
|
64
|
|
W.A.
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1
|
1
|
0
|
6
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8
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59
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0
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75
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TAS.
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2
|
3
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0
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4
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5
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34
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0
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48
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Total
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5
|
23
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6
|
62
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65
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366
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3
|
524
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*This table excludes awards to troops not serving with Australian units.
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SOURCES:
Denton, Kit. Australians at War: For Queen and Commonwealth. (Sydney: Time Life, 1987).
Field, L.M. The Forgotten War: Australian Involvement in the South African Conflict of 1899-1902. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1979).
Walker, Shirley. ‘The Boer War: Paterson, Abbott, Brennan, Miles Franklin and Morant’. Australian Literary Studies 12 (1985), pp. 207-222.
