This page contains details of the Australian forces for the contingents
coming from:
New South Wales
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
West Australia
Victoria
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| 1st New South Wales |
2nd New South Wales |
Queensland Mounted
Infantry Officers |
Queensland Mounted
Infantry |
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| South Australians |
Tasmanian & Victorian
Contingents (Melbourne) |
Victoria Contingent
departure |
Victoria Contingent
officers |
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| West Australians |
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There are also details about the conditions of
service for Australian contingents and a table containing the
awards to Australian units.
All Australian participants in the Boer War can be checked at the
Australian War Museum web site.
Mentions
for the New South Wales Contingents
Mentions
for the Queensland Contingents
South Australia furnished her quota to the troops sent by Federated Australia
in 1902 (see Commonwealth Horse). A squadron under Captain De Passey
sailed on 20th February, and having landed at Durban, was employed near Laing's
Nek, and thereafter was railed to the Western Transvaal, where, as part of the
Australian Horse, it took part under De Lisle and Thorneycroft in some great
drives. The second contribution was a squadron under Captain A E Collins,
which sailed on 1st April 1902; while the third was two squadrons under Captain
A E Cook, which sailed on 26th May.
Mentions for the Tasmanian Contingents.
Tasmania furnished its quota to the Commonwealth regiments. One
detachment, 63 strong, sailed from Hobart on 14th February 1902, and were in
time to do some good but trying work in the last great drives. The next
contribution, 121 strong, sailed at the end of March, and another, 120 strong,
about 22nd May.
Mentions for the West Australian Contingents.
West Australia furnished contributions to the Commonwealth Troops (see that
heading). Only the first
squadron were in time to take part in the closing drives.
Victoria
Contingents
Mentions for the Victoria Contingents.
Other
Contingents/Units in which NSW and Victorian troops served include: 5th and 6th
Australian Contingent, Royal Australian Artillery, Australian Army Medical
Corps, Doyle's Scouts and the Intelligence Department.
The first Victorian quota of the Commonwealth Horse, numbering 360
officers and men, sailed on the St Andrew on 12th February 1902. On
arrival they were present at some of the closing scenes in the Western
Transvaal. The colony's section of the second Commonwealth contingent
sailed on the Templemore on 27th March, and that of the third Commonwealth
Horse, over 400, on 19th May. Victoria contributed about 300 recruits
to the Scottish Horse.
The Colonial Office issued this note about service in the Boer War on 3rd
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.
Awards to Australian units
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|
VC |
CB |
CMG |
DSO |
DCM |
RRC |
MID |
Total |
|
New South Wales |
1 |
8 |
1 |
24 |
16 |
1 |
96 |
141 |
|
Queensland |
0 |
5 |
3 |
8 |
13 |
0 |
60 |
89 |
|
South Australia |
0 |
3 |
0 |
8 |
10 |
1 |
42 |
64 |
|
Tasmania |
2 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
0 |
34 |
48 |
|
West Australia |
1 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
8 |
0 |
59 |
75 |
|
Victoria |
1 |
3 |
2 |
12 |
13 |
1 |
75 |
107 |
|
Total |
5 |
23 |
6 |
62 |
65 |
3 |
366 |
524 |
Click here for Australian casualties.
