This contingent, commanded by Major H G Vialls, Captain in the Reserve of
Officers, was taken to Beira, where they landed in April 1900. They
formed part of the force of Bushmen which, under General Carrington, crossed
Rhodesia and entered the Transvaal from Mafeking. The contingent,
small as it was, was split up, but they saw a great deal of fighting
throughout July, August, and September 1900 in the district between Mafeking
on the west and Warmbad, north of Pretoria, on the east. At Kosters
River, on 21st and 22nd July (see 1st NSW
Bushmen), there was a stiff engagement in which parties from the
different Australian colonies bore the brunt. The West Australians,
strength about 70, had Surgeon Captain F J Ingoldsby and Lieutenant Davies
and several men wounded. A few West Australians, acting under Captain
Ham, 3rd Victorians, were in Colonel Here's garrison which made a very fine
defence at Elands River, 4th to 16th August (see
Rhodesian Regiment). Another small detachment were with Carrington
when he attempted to effect Here's relief from the west; while the first
troops to march into the place as the advance scouts of Lord Kitchener's
force, which relieved the garrison from the south-east, were, as already
stated, men of the 1st West Australians.
During the last four months of 1901 and the first few months of 1902, the
3rd contingent, as part of the 3rd Australian Bushmen, commanded by Major
Vialls, saw much fighting in many parts of the seat of war, and under Vialls'
fine leadership always did well. Some of the work of the 3rd
Australian Bushmen is sketched under the
3rd Victorians.
Captain Hurst of the 3rd contingent remained in South Africa after his
squadron had sailed. In the spring of 1902, while attached to 'G'
Battery Royal Horse Artillery, then converted into Mounted Rifles, he was
severely wounded in the action of Boschbult, Western Transvaal, 31st March.
