This contingent, 320 mounted infantry, commanded by Major W H Tunbridge,
sailed on the Duke of Portland upon 1st March 1900; arrived at the Cape on
3rd April, and was sent to Beira, where it arrived before the middle of
April. The contingent was a portion of the Australian Bushmen Corps
which in January 1900 it had been arranged to send to South Africa.
In his evidence before the War Commission General Plumer mentioned "that
before the relief of Mafeking was effected in May 1900, he was joined by a
Canadian battery and by some Queenslanders, part of the force which was
landed at Beira". These Queenslanders were 'D' Squadron of the 3rd
contingent, Captain Kellie and Lieutenants Fowles, Harris, and Annat being
among the officers. General Plumer spoke very highly of these troops,
as of all the Australians and New Zealanders who served under him, and he
had the most ample opportunities, throughout two years' campaigning, of
putting the qualities of his men to all manner of severe tests.
After Mafeking was relieved, Captain Kellie's men moved eastward with
Generals Baden-Powell and Plumer, via Ottoshoop and Zeerust to the
Rustenburg district, where they were employed during July and August.
In the fighting at Rosters River, 22nd July (see
1st New South Wales Bushmen), the
Queensland detachment had Lieutenants Walsh and Leask and 6 men wounded.
Lieutenant Leask died of his wounds at Pretoria on 20th August.
Captain H C W Hamilton, who had been left sick in hospital at Marandellas,
died there on 12th July 1900.
The larger portion of the 3rd contingent, under Major Tunbridge, also
crossed Rhodesia and entered the Transvaal from about Mafeking, but they
were not to see Kellie's squadron for a long time. The contingent,
like other regiments of the Rhodesian Field Force, was thus much split up.
Mr Green, who was at Elands River during the investment, says in his 'Story
of the Australian Bushmen' that on 19th July Major Tunbridge, with a
detachment of his Queenslanders, brought a convoy into camp. It had
been intended that Tunbridge and his men should join Baden-Powell about the
Megato Pass; but in view of the great strength of the enemy in the
neighbourhood, that was found to be impracticable. As things turned
out, it was most fortunate that this squadron remained at Elands River, as
Tunbridge and his men were a very valuable part of the garrison when the
post was attacked on 5th August, and throughout the investment, 4th to 16th
(see Rhodesian Regiment). During that
period the Queenslanders lost Lieutenant Annat, killed — he had been
previously wounded—and they had about 12 other casualties. The
subsequent history of the 3rd Queensland Bushmen is very much akin to that
of the 4th Queensland Contingent. Having been railed to Pretoria,
where they were inspected and congratulated by Lord Roberts, the Elands
River squadron joined the rest of the contingent, the column commander being
Colonel Hickman, whose troops acted with General Plumer in numerous
engagements in the country north and north-east of Pretoria, including the
battle at Rhenoster Kop on 29th November. In December Colonel Jeffreys
took over Hickman's column. A detachment under Major Tunbridge had a
sharp fight on 23rd January 1901 near Balmoral (see New Zealand Mounted
Rifles). On 3rd February Plumer's troops were railed to Cape Colony to
endeavour to expel De Wet, who had crossed to the south of the Orange with a
strong force. The work in the pursuit was most arduous, and, as will
be seen from the Mentions, this contingent saw sharp fighting. Major
Tunbridge distinguished himself in the action of 12th February 1901 (see
4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen and
3rd New Zealand).
The contingent accompanied Plumer in his chase after De Wet's commandos
through the Orange River Colony to the Brandfort district, whence they were
railed to the north of Pretoria. They then took part in the expedition
to Pietersburg, and in May were relieved from further service in South
Africa.
