Redcoats to Cams Australia’s Volunteer Part Time Military Forces
Twice the Citizen Matt Walsh
Table of content Topic Preface Introduction Australia’s Military History - When did Australia’s Military History begin The Loyal Associations - Loyal Sydney Association - Loyal Parramatta Association Australia’s Military involvement in other areas The Sudan - Suakin The Boer War and the Boxer Rebellion - The Boxer Rebellion The Boer War - NSW Field Ambulance - Chaplains - Breaker Morant Campaign Medals awarded to Australians for Service in the: - Maori War in New Zealand 1863 - The Sudan War 1885 - The Boxer Rebellion 1900-1901 - The Boer War Statistics The Militia Volunteer Units in New South Wales - 1st New South Wales Rifle Volunteers - Sydney Rifle Corps Mounted Rifles Naval Forces Volunteer Artillery Community concerns Parramatta Volunteer Rifle Corps Cavalry Troops in Parramatta Mounted Volunteer Units The Australian Horse Ashfield Volunteer Corps Major General James Gordon Legge Burwood Reserve Corps Volunteer Infantry Newcastle Volunteer Infantry Corps Nursing Service 2nd Armoured Car Regiment Corps of Australian Engineers Royal Australian Army Provost Corps ( Military Police) Other Colonies (States) - Victoria Summation Bibliography Author
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This booklet is an initiative of the Defence Reserves Association (NSW) Inc. and the Military Police Association of Australia Inc. as part of its Schools Military History Program.
Written and compiled by Matt Walsh JP. MLO ALGA (MCAE) Dip Bus & Corp Law (CPS) © 2007 Published by Matt Walsh 115 Leacocks Lane Casula 2170 Australia.
Preface When we talk to the average Australian about their knowledge of Australia’s Military History you will be told about the “Anzacs” and our involvement in World War 11 and in later years Korea, Vietnam and more recently Iraq. However, it will be unusual to be told anything about our Volunteer (Part Time) Citizen Soldiers, who in the early days of the Colony were unpaid and provided their own uniforms and paid a subscription each year to be a member of their Corps (Unit). These part time citizen soldiers have always made up a substantial part of our Defence Force. After, 1870 when the last British Regiment left the colonies, the defence of the colonies (Australia) was in the hands of our Volunteer (Part Time) Soldiers, with some support from a very small full time element. At Federation the number of military personnel transferred from the Colonies (States) to the new Commonwealth of Australia were predominately volunteer (Part Time) soldiers. In fact 16,000 were Militia, 11,292 were volunteers (Partially-paid) and the remainder were full time (Regular) soldiers making a total Military Force of 28,836. It would appear that Australia has been defended since 1800-1810 and again from 1854 through to the present time by Volunteer (Part Time Soldiers) very successfully. It is this span of time that has brought about the title used: “Redcoats to Cams” as it describes the development of the Bright Red worn by our earlier volunteers (the Loyal Associations) through to the camouflage (DCPUs) worn by our Defence Forces today.
In more recent times the members of Australia’s Part Time Defence Forces were described by Sir Winston Churchill as being:-
“Twice the Citizen”
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Introduction Since the colonisation of New South Wales (Australia) in 1788 the Military has played an important part in the development and culture of our Nation. Our first Settlers were the Military (British Navy and Corps of Marines) who were to act as jailers of our other settlers the ‘Convicts’. It could be said that Australia was a ‘Garrison Country’ from its settlement. Australia’s Military History If one was to conduct a survey and ask the question: “When did Australia’s Military History begin?” No doubt the majority of answers received would say: ‘The Anzacs- World War 1 some might even give the answer: The Boer War, whilst others might say the Sudan or the Boxer Rebellion. Unfortunately, none are correct, but they are an important part of our Military History. Well then, when did our Australian Military History begin It began with the formation of Australia’s First Part Time Military Units (our first Part Time Soldiers). On the 6th September 1800, Governor John Hunter issued a statement relating to the raising of a “Corps of Volunteers” from the citizens of the Colony. On the 7th September 1800, he issued a Government and General Order establishing two (2) Volunteers Corps of (50) fifty men each at Sydney and Parramatta. These two Companies were to be known as the ‘Loyal Sydney Association’, under the Command of Mr. William Balmain and the “Loyal Parramatta Association’, under the command of Mr. Richard Atkins.
Corporal of the Loyal Association
Officer of the Loyal association
They were enrolled on the condition that “they were not to expect pay for the voluntary offer of their services”. They were the first volunteer (Part Time) Military Unit formed in Australia, our first CMF (Citizen Military Forces) (Volunteer Militia) (Defence Reserves). They were to assist the British Troops put down the Convict Rebellion at Castle Hill (Vinegar Hill), and carried on this role of assisting the British Troops until 1810 when they were disbanded by Governor Lachlan Macquarie when he arrived with his 73rd Regiment of Foot (The Black Watch). From this time onwards Australia was to be defended by British Regiments until 1870. However from 1854 they were supported by volunteer (Part Time) Forces raised in each of the Colonies (States). -2-
Australian Military involvement in other areas The first time Australian troops were to become involved in Wars outside Australia was when in 1863 1,475 Australian volunteers were took part in the Maori Wars in New Zealand. These Australian volunteers were formed into (4) four Regiments and given the name of the Waikato Militia. The Victorian Government sent its (whole) Navy the steam Corvette Victoria of 580 tons. The initial Australian Regiments were increased in size in 1864 by a further 1,200 men. The Australian Troops were used in scouting and flanking operations a practice no doubt developed and improved from their time in the Australian bush. The Australians were to take part in one of the main battles at Te Ranga on the 21st June 1864 where the 1st Regiment of Waitko Militia engaged the enemy (the Maori). The Sudan New South Wales Volunteers were again to be involved in overseas actions following the fall of Khartoum (Sudan) on the 26th January 1885. On the 11th February 1885 the Premier of New South Wales Mr. W. B. Dalley offered two (2) Batteries of Permanent Field Artillery of 10 x 16 pounder guns and an Infantry Battalion of 500 men., they were to land at Saukin within 30 days of leaving New South Wales. The Troops were raised within two (2) months and left Sydney on the Troopships ‘Iberia’ and ‘Australasian’ on the 3rd March 1885, they arrived a Suakin on 29th March 1885. The name “Suakin” was to remain an important name in Australia’s Military History and is currently the name given to the Reserve Infantry Battalion Barracks in Pymble a suburb of Sydney.
NSW Infantry at Suakin Camp
The Australians returned to New South Wales (Australia) on the Troopship “Arab” on 17th May 1886. The Colonies of Victoria, Queensland and South Australia also offered to provide troops but they were not required. It was some fourteen (14) years later before Australians were to be involved in military action again. -3-
The Boer War and the Boxer Rebellion Australia was to provide troops to take part in the Boer War in South Africa and a small force in China (The Boxer Rebellion). The Boxer Rebellion On the 28th June 1900 the New South Wales Premier agreed to send a Naval contingent of two ships “The Walaroo” and the gunboat “Protector” together with a Naval Brigade of 260 men from New South Wales and 200 men from Victoria. The Australians were withdrawn in March 1901.
Men of the Naval Brigade in Peking (Beijing)
Men of the NSW Naval Brigade in China
The Boer War Australia was to send 3,637 men to serve in South Africa, 2,900 of these were what can be loosely termed regular troops – those who had specifically signed up to serve in South Africa and 737 “Citizen Bushman” who had had no previous military training.
Citizen Bushman training at Randwick NSW
On Parade in South Africa
The tenacity and ability of the Australian “Digger” has been recognised on many occasions. During the Boer War one of the Boer Generals De la Rey sent a messenger to the Australian lines requesting that they surrender. Their Commanding Officer Colonel Hore “replied that even if he personally wished to surrender he was commanding Australians who would cut his throat if he agreed to surrender”. In 1905 a Boer Historian had the following to say about the Australians in respect to the “Elands River Battle” “For the first time in the war we were fighting men who used our own tactics against us. They were Australian volunteers and though small in number we could not take their positions. They were the only troops who could scout into our lines at night and kill our sentries, whilst killing or capturing our scouts. Our men admitted that the Australians were most formidable opponents and far more dangerous than any British troops”. -4-
Australia was to set the standard for others to follow. New South Wales Field Ambulance The British were so impressed by the standard of the New South Wales Field Ambulance (Captain Neville Howse VC) that the British adopted it as the pattern for British Units.
Capt Neville Howse VC
NSW Field Ambulance Chaplains Australia was the first country to attach “Chaplains” to their Units- this practice was followed by the British. The first N.S.W chaplain to go overseas was the Rev. E.C. Beck from St. Clement’s Church of England Mosman who accompanied “A” Battery The Rev. Rose of St. Ann’s Church of England Strathfield was the next to go, Rev. Rose had previously served with Australian troops in the Soudan. Father Patrick of St. Bridget’s, Roman Catholic Church Marrickville travelled with the second contingent and remained with them the whole time they served overseas. Father Timoney of the R.C. Church at Mosman also served in South Africa with the troops.
Rev. E.C. Beck
Rev. Rose
Father Timoney
After the execution of “Breaker” Morant Australian troops were always under the Command (discipline) of Australians.
“Breaker” Morant
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Campaign Medals awarded to Australians for Service in the: Maori War of New Zealand 1863
The Sudan War 1885
The Boxer Rebellion 1900-1901
The Boer War
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Statistics No. of Australians in South Africa. 16,175
Killed
Wounded
518
882
Awarded Victoria Cross 6
The Militia The concept of the formation of a Militia (Military Force of citizen soldiers forming part of a volunteer part time force as distinct from a regular full time army) in the colony started in 1819 when Governor Macquarie on the 19th July 1819 requested permission from Britain to raise a part time force of 700 men made up of four Troops of Cavalry and eight Companies of Infantry. Approval was never received. Governor Macquarie proposed that the following units be established. Sydney 1 Troop of Cavalry and two (2) Companies of Infantry Parramatta 1 Troop of Cavalry and two (2) Companies of Infantry Windsor 1 Troop of Cavalry and two (2) Companies of Infantry Liverpool 1 Troop of Cavalry and one (1) Company of Infantry In 1825 Captain Edward MacArthur of the 19th Regiment of Foot also suggested the raising of a Militia without success the concept was again raised in 1840 and 1846 with no success. Volunteer Units in New South Wales The next time a volunteer Military Unit was raised in New South Wales was in 1854. In this year the 1st New South Wales Rifle Volunteers was formed. Its Honorary Colonel was the Governor Sir Charles Fitzroy The Commanding Officer was Major Thomas Wingate The Sergeant Major was Sgt. Major Baynes
Private & Officer Summer Dress 1st NSW Rifle Volunteers (1854)
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The Volunteers were to provide their own uniforms and their rifles were .704 calibre muzzle-loading with sword bayonets and were donated to the unit by Queen Victoria. When our Volunteer units were formed in 1854 they followed the British and Canadian concept and were required to provide their own uniforms and pay all other expenses of their part time training. The Government provided their arms and instruction. These early volunteer Regiments relied on the membership of the local rifle club to obtain their members and it will be found that many of these Rifle Clubs were either part of or closely related to the volunteer Regiments. One such Rifle Club (Corps) was the Sydney Rifle Corps who undertook manoeuvres in the Sydney Domain.
Sydney Rifle Corps 1855
The 1st NSW Rifle Volunteers was re-organised in October 1860 and again in 1878 and redesignated as the 1st Regiment New South Wales Infantry. In 1901 it was redesignated the 1st Australian Infantry Regiment now known as 1 Commando Regiment (RNSWR). Mounted Rifles In 1854 a Volunteer Troop of Mounted Rifles was also formed under the command of Captain J. McLerie, the Inspector General of Police. This unit was to be known as the Yeoman Cavalry Corps of New South Wales. By 1871 there were 28 Companies of Volunteer Rifles in New South Wales. Naval Forces During 1854 New South Wales also took action to establish a local Naval Force. On the 24th October 1855 an Act of Parliament Act 19 Victoria, No.22 was passed which established to establish what would appear to be a Permanent Naval Service, by the 2nd May 1863 a further Act was passed to establish a Volunteer (Part time) Naval Service to be known as the “Naval Brigade”. Four companies were established in Sydney and one in Newcastle. Between 1863 and 1864 the Naval Artillery Volunteers were formed. This unit was disbanded on the 10th July 1902. On the 1st May 1863 Francis Hixson Esquire R.N. was appointed Captain Commanding the Volunteer Naval Brigade. He was to lead the Naval Contingent to China during the Boxer Rebellion. He is considered the father of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. -8-
Captain Francis Hixson, RN, Rtd
Officer & Rating NSW Naval Brigade 1870
Rating NSW Naval Brigade 1900
The Volunteer Naval Brigades were designed to supplement the crews of the State Naval Vessels. A role not un-similar to that carried out by the current Naval Reservists. The Naval Brigades remained in service until 1907, when they were disbanded and their members transferred to the Naval Militia. This situation continued until the 10th July 1911, when the Commonwealth Government formed the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), this saw the RAN establishment being the Permanent Naval Force and the Citizen Naval Force. The Citizen Naval Force was divided into the Naval Reserve Force and the Naval Volunteer Reserve Force. Volunteer Artillery 1858 saw the raising of three batteries of Volunteer Artillery. No.1 Battery. The Sydney Artillery No. 2 Battery. The New South Wales Battery No. 3 Battery. Newcastle. In the early days the New South Wales Artillery were never issued with guns. On the 29th February 1963 the 2nd Battery was re designated the New South Wales Volunteer Artillery. By there were eight Volunteer Artillery who paraded regularly in Hyde Park and Moore Park. -9-
Gunner NSW Volunteer Artillery 1873
N.S.W. Volunteer Artillery at Drill
Community concern By the late 1850’s there was concern within the colony about the viability of the Volunteer Forces in NSW. A number of the prominent citizen’s petitioned the Government to re-examine the situation. Two aspects were raised:That the maintenance of Regular Troops in the Colony ought to be substituted by a National Militia composed of the citizens. That the true principle of military defence and that the only course that would ensure effective resistance in extreme circumstances, is to habituate the subjects of the Queen in this Colony to use arms, and to foster among all classes a loyal and practical spirit of reliance on their valour and military organization. As a result three (3) Batteries of Voluntary Artillery were raised. By 1860 the Colony had 2,000 citizens in voluntary Military Units. Unfortunately by 1863 this had reduced to 1,774. Parramatta Volunteer Rifle Corps On the 3rd September 1860 a meeting was called in Parramatta to discuss the formation of a volunteer Military Unit in the Parramatta District. If approved this would be the first Volunteer Part time Military Unit in the Parramatta district since the formation of the Parramatta Loyal Association by Governor Hunter in 1800. The meeting resulted in the formation of the Parramatta Volunteer Rifle corps as part of the New South Wales Volunteer Infantry. At this initial meeting five (5) of the local citizens said that they would join and by the middle of the month the number had increased to fifty (50).
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Nominal roll of the Parramatta Volunteer Rifle Corps Brown Walter D. MD Barnett Thomas Byrnes Henry James Greenup Edgar Brochie Greenup Richard MD Holborow William Hillier* McDougall Andrew Lewis Moore Thomas Arden Smith Gilbert Hunter Stephenson William John Stewart Neill Taylor John
Captain 1860 – Major 1871 Corporal – Lieutenant 1879 Ensign – Captain 1871 Ensign- Captain 1871 Surgeon Lieutenant 1874- Colonel 1890 Ensign –Lieutenant 1866 2nd Lieutenant Colour Sergeant- Lieutenant 1874 Sergeant- Lieutenant 1876 1st Lieutenant 1863 1st Lieutenant
* William Holborow was also involved with establishment of the Ashfield Volunteer Rifle Corps.
As an incentive to those signing up they were provided with a land grant of 50 Acres. Parramatta Volunteer Rifle Corps Land Grants Date of Enrolment 28 Sep 1860 28 Sep 1860 28 Sep 1860 28 Sep 1860 10 Oct 1860 16 Feb 1861 8 Feb 1862 21 Oct 1863 26 Sep 1864 26 Sep 1864
Rank and Names Capt Brown, Walter Cr Sgt Smith, Gilbert Sgt Barker John Sgt Caywood, Charles Pte McDonald Robert Pte Parsons John Pte Mills, Alex Pte Staden, Alfred Pte McDonald Robt. Jnr Lieut Byrnes Henry Sgt Davis, Edward Cpl Barnett, Thos. Pte Jones, Samuels Pte Langley, Fergus Pte Keepence, Henry Pte Walker, Samuel
Land Grant 50 acres Murrurundi Psh Telford, Cnty Buckland 50 acres Casino Psh Churchill, Cnty Drake 50 acres Cooma Psh Tootool, Cnty Beresford 50 acres Wagga Wagga Psh Woolumba,Cnty Mitchell 50 acres Cooma Psh Woolumla Cnty, Beresford 50 acres Oxley Psh Rutherford, Cnty Waradgery Details unknown Details unknown 50 acres Cooma Psh Woolumla, Cnty Beresford Details unknown Details unknown 50 acres Casino Psh Camira, Cnty Richmond 50 acres Gundagai Psh Bilda, Cnty Claredon Details unknown Details unknown 50 acres Mudgee Psh Boogledie, Cnty Phillip
Pte Williams, Henry
Details unknown
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The Rules and Regulations approved at this meeting were published in the government Gazette No. 235 on 14 December 1860. Government Gazette of Friday, 14 December, 1860 No 235 RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE PARRAMATTA VOLUNTEER RIFLES Colonial Secretary’s Office Sydney, 11th December 1860
Dr. Walter Brown was appointed as the Captain of the Unit. The Parramatta Volunteer Rifle Corps conducted its first Review Parade on 17th January 1861, in the Domain this is the area surrounding Old Government House (now called Parramatta Regional Park)
In 1862 the Corps was presented with a set of “Colours” by the ladies of Parramatta. Unfortunately, the Colours no longer exist. However, they have been described as being: The chief “Colours were made from a very good quality silk, which had in one corner the Jack and in the others the Motto “Defence” a Bugle and the letter PVR. Following the Presentation and Parading of the colours, they were escorted to the home of the Commanding Officer Captain (Dr.) Walter Brown, ‘Brislington’ on the corner of George and Marsden Streets. The house still exists today. Brislington House the home of Dr. Brown
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By 1863 the Corps in Parramatta was made up of one Captain, One Lieutenant, one Medical Officer, four NCOs and sixty four Privates. The next volunteer unit to be raised in the Parramatta District was on the 9th September 1878 when the 1st Corps Parramatta of the 3rd Administrative Regiment of New South Wales Volunteer Infantry was formed with its Commanding Officer being Major William Hillier Holborow The next time a volunteer unit was raised in Parramatta was in 1888 when the Parramatta Reserve Corps was formed. By 1898 it was also part of the 3rd Infantry Regiment under the command of now Lieutenant Colonel William Hillier Holborow. On the 6th March 1893 the Parramatta Rifle Club was formed and it was affiliated with H company (Parramatta) of the 3rd Infantry Regiment. In these times Rifle Clubs were used as a source of recruitment for the volunteer forces. In 1903 H Company of the 3rd Infantry Regiment was still stationed in Parramatta Cavalry Corps in Parramatta In 1890 steps were again taken to form a Cavalry Corps in Parramatta. In June of 1891 a Cavalry Corps known as “K Troop” was formed. By 1893 a half Squadron of the New South Wales Lancers was stationed in Parramatta and a number of the members of this unit saw service in the Boer War. In 1902 members of the 4th Troop based at Parramatta formed part of A Squadron of the 5th Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse. By 1903 No. 2 Squadron of the New South Wales Lancers (a partially paid) Unit together with a cadet Half Squadron were also based at Parramatta. Because the Regiment was a Militia Unit (Part Time Volunteers) it did not serve overseas during World War 1. However many of its members joined the 1st AIF and saw service overseas. The elephant head used on the Badge of the Royal New south Wales Lancers is the Crest of Lord Carrington who whilst Administrator of New South Wales (1885-1890) became the Honorary Colonel of the New South Wales Regiment Volunteer Cavalry and gave his permission for it to be included on the Regimental Badge.
Mounted Volunteer Units 1885 saw the establishment of a number of Mounted Volunteer Units in New South Wales. These were: * The Sydney Light Horse * The Campbelltown Mounted Infantry Volunteers * The West Camden Light Horse. By 1892 these units became Mounted Infantry or Light Horse and a number of the members of these units volunteered for service in the Boer War. - 13 -
Sgt. NSW Lancers
The Sydney Light Horse and other Cavalry Troops were the foundation of the New South Wales Lancers. The New South Wales Lancers being a Militia Regiment did not serve overseas during World War 1. The Australian Horse In June 1897 permission was given to establish a Regiment of Australian Horse. In April 1898 at “Milkman’s Hill in the Sydney suburb of Rookwood we saw the first Camp of the 1st Australian (Volunteer) Horse take place. By noon on the first day there were about 400 men and horses at the camp site. The Quartermasters, then had to issue the members of the new unit with their myrtle-green uniforms. They were also issued with sword frogs, carbine buckets and swords.
Officer 1st Australian Horse
The first Parade of the new unit took place within 24 hours of the beginning of the Camp. The unit was under the command of Lt. Col J.A. Kenneth Mackay assisted by his Adjutant 2nd Lieutenant P.R. Thompson. 34 Officers and men of the 1st Australian Horse volunteered to serve in South Africa. Sergeant Major Griffin of the 1st Australian Horse was the ‘first Australian to fall in the service of the Empire’. The 1st Australian Horse was the first unit to adopt the Slouch Hat as a part of its uniform - 14 -
Ashfield Volunteer Corps On the 6th July 1885 the Colonial Secretary Alex Stuart arranged for the publication in the New South Wales Government Gazette of the following Proclamation. ‘ His Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has been pleased to give authority under the 5th Section of the volunteer forces Regulation Act of 1867” for the formation of a company of Volunteer Infantry “ at each of the following places, such corps, which are to be under the Reserve System, to be subject to the above Act, and Regulations made here under, and to be provided with arms, accoutrements, uniforms and instructions, viz:- Ashfield: Bowral: Picton. At this time the ‘Reserve System’ meant that volunteers did not receive any pay for their service. Following the publication of this Proclamation a Company of Infantry known as the ‘Ashfield Reserve Corps” was established on the 6th July 1885 under the command of Captain T. Moser, who was assisted by 1st Lieutenant Stephen Mallarky and 2nd Lieutenant J.G. Wiseman. The Company was part of the 2nd Regiment of New South Wales Volunteer Infantry. The hat badge of the regiment was simple and based on that worn by the British Light Infantry Regiments since 1778.
Hat Badge worn by the Ashfield Reserve Corps In 1889 a Rifle Company was established in the adjoining suburb of Croydon part of the Ashfield District at the same time a reorganisation of all the units in the Ashfield District took place and they became part of the 1st Regiment New South Wales Volunteer Infantry under the command of Lieutenant Colonel William Thomas Farrell. This reorganisation saw a change in the hat badge being worn by the Regiment.
Hat Badge of the 1st Regiment New South Wales Volunteer Infantry A further reorganisation took place in 1893 and the company at Ashfield became ‘J Company’ of the 2nd Regiment NSW Volunteer Infantry and once again we saw a change in the hat badge being worn by the Company.
Hat Badge of the 2nd Regiment NSW Volunteer Infantry - 15 -
Major General James Gordon Legge CMG. CB. A member of one of these early Volunteer Units was James Gordon Legge who served as a Captain with the Ashfield Corps. He was to go on and serve as a Captain in the Boer War (NSW Infantry) [1 NSW Mounted Rifles “D” Squadron] he was to also serve with the ANZACs and was highly involved in the landing and the withdrawal from Gallipoli
Captain J.G. Legge Mounted Infantry South Africa later Major General James Gordon Legge CMG CB. Legge was considered to be the architect of the development of Australia’s Defence Organisations. He was responsible for the attack on Pozieres during World War 1 during the period 29th July 1916 and 4th August 1916 which was deemed a success. Burwood Reserve Corps Volunteer Infantry On the 16th July 1885 a volunteer Unit was raised in the Sydney suburb of Burwood and was designated as the Burwood Reserve Corps Volunteer Infantry. One of its members was 2nd Lt. H.J. Fairfax of the Fairfax newspaper family. Newcastle Volunteer Infantry Corps This Corps was established in December 1860 in the town of Newcastle under the command of Captain John Thomas Baker. In 1870 a young local William Arnott who had arrived in the Colony in 1884 at the age of 20 years and had established himself as a maker of biscuits joined the Corps as an Ensign. Nursing In 1899, twenty six (26) nurses volunteered to form the Colonies first military nursing organisation and were designated as the: “New South Wales Army Nursing Service Reserve” together with 30 of their sisters from the other colonies they went to South Africa to care for our soldiers during the Boer War, they were attached to the New South Wales Medical Corps.
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2nd Armoured Car Regiment In 1938 a Citizen Military Forces (part time members) Regiment was raised and its headquarters was in Ashfield. The units Commanding Officer was Lt. Col D’Arcy Francis who was well known in the area. By 1943 the Regiment had been redesignated as the 2nd Tank Battalion as part of the 3rd Army Tank Brigade and saw service in New Guinea. Although this unit was considered a Militia unit it was possible for it to be sent to New Guinea as this was an Australian territory. Samuel Hordern of the Hordern Department Store Family was a Major in this Regiment Corps of Australian Engineers Our Reserve Engineers have a very long history and one particular unit 5 Field Squadron (5Fd Sqn) of the 1st Engineer Regiment currently redesignated 5 Combat Engineer Regiment (5CER) can trace its history back to the first Engineering Company in the Australian Army in a continuous and unbroken line. The prefix “5” has been maintained unbroken as an Engineering Company/Squadron since its Gazettal as 5 Field Company Corps of Engineers in Government Gazette No. 35 of 25th July 1903. It is the oldest continuously serving Unit in the Australian Army and saw service in World Wars 1 & 2.
Badge of the Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) Royal Australian Army Provost Corps (Military Police) The Reserve (part time) component of the Military Police is a relatively new concept and came into existence with the formation of the Citizen Military Forces in 1948. Part time members were originally part of 1 Division Provost Corps and were integrated with the members of the regular Army Provost Corps. In 1965 the Part Time members were re-organised into a Reserve Division the 2nd Division. In 1974 following a reorganisation of the Corps it was renamed the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police (RACMP) and again an integration of the full time and part time members occurred. Corps Motto The Motto of Royal Australian Army Provost Corps was: “First in Last Out”. With the change of Name to” Royal Australian Corps of Military Police” the Motto changed to: “For the Troops, With the Troops” The badge of the Military Police: One of only two Corps Badges in the Australian Army which does not incorporate a Motto.
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Other Colonies (States) I t will be found that the Colonies (States) followed very closely that of New South Wales in respect to the formation of Volunteer (Part Time) Military Units. Victoria In January 1804 Victoria established a Volunteer Part Time Military Unit very similar to that of the Loyal Associations in New South Wales to be known as “Civil Officers of the Settlement” to assist the Military. They were more like that of a Volunteer Police Force however they were billeted with the Military and subject to their orders. Summation The Volunteer Part Time Member of the Australian Defence Force is an important part of the Defence of this Nation and an important supplement (support) for Australia’s Regular Defence Force in meeting their international obligations. This situation applies equally to members of the Army Reserve, the Navy Reserve or the Air Force Reserve. Throughout the history of Australia’s Part Time volunteer (by whatever name it has been known) a number of prominent people in the Colony has stepped forward to serve. Some that come to mind:William Arnott of Arnott’s Biscuits served in the Infantry in the early 1870’s. in the Newcastle area. Members of the Fairfax Family (the Newspaper family) Just to name a few.
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Bibliography Barton, G.B. The Story of South Africa Volume 2 - Coffee & Co. Firkins Peter. The Australians in Nine Wars- Waikato to Long Tan. Rigby Ltd. 1971 Sutton Ralph, Thompson Ken, Storer Bill. The Military Forces in New South Wales – an introduction- Part 1 1788-1904. 3rd edition The Army Museum Sydney Foundation- 2000. Wedd Monty- Australian Military Uniforms 1800-1982 Kangaroo Press – Kenthurst.1982. All drawings used with permission. NSW Government Archives – various documents researched by Matt Walsh. The author Matt Walsh JP. MLO ALGA (MCAE), Dip. Bus & Corp Law (CPS) was called up for National Service in 1957 and received a deferment, by late 1958 he had become tired of waiting and enlisted in his local Citizen Military Forces (CMF)Unit, 19 Company (Tipper) Royal Australian Army Service Corps (RAASC) at Ashfield. He was to later find out that this was the same unit that his grandfather had serve in during World War 1. In 1959 he was finally called up for National Service with 13th National Service Training Battalion at Ingleburn, on completion of his full time training he was posted back to 19 Coy RAASC until the cessation of National Service in 1960. In 1961 he re-enlisted in the CMF with 5 Field Squadron Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) in 1963 he transferred to 1 Division Provost Company (Military Police) and then to 2nd Division Provost Company until he took his discharge in November 1969 with the rank of Sergeant. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Defence Reserves Association (NSW), the Military Police Association of Australia, the Joint committee for the Commemoration of the Battle for Crete and the Greek Campaign, the Reserve Forces Day Council, the Ashfield RSL Sub Branch and the NSW National Serviceman’ Association, is a director of The Army Museum of New South Wales Foundation. He has bee awarded the’ Australian Defence Medal” and the Anniversary of National Service Medal’, in January 2006 he was awarded the “Australia Day Achievement Medallion ‘by the National Australia Day Council in 2007 he was appointed a “Member of the Order of Liverpool by Liverpool City Council.. In 2002 he wrote the “History of the Ingleburn Military Camp”, which now forms part of a Schools Military History Program which he developed and is being used in New South Wales Schools, in England (City of London) and the Canadian Education systems and in two Greek Schools and Schools in the Somme area of France.
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