Gunnedah in the Boer War | Blogger
Gunnedah in the Boer War
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25.01.2022 Here is a great photo essay on the dedication of the Boer War Memorial in Canberra, 31st may 2017. Congratulation to Col. John Haynes OAM and the rest of the organising committee. A job well done. wished that I could have been there but this is the next best thing. Enjoy
23.01.2022 Nice article by ex local girl Grace Turner in 'Armour' about the dedication of the National Boer War Memorial in Canberra. Well done Grace.
18.01.2022 Something a little different. This is of the last Boer War veteran in Australia when he was 108. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxA-bgg3vGY
17.01.2022 The 1st Australian Horse Continued Training When the Troop started training they conducted all-day training parades once a month. They used a vacant block of ground in Conadilly Street, Gunnedah, (this in later life became Kitchener Park) to complete their drill exercises. The volunteers in the Troop were very keen, some riding up to 64 km to town to attend parade all day then 64 km return.... The Sydney Morning Herald of the 24th November 1897 had only good things to say about Gunnedah’s Troop: The Gunnedah Half-squadron of Australian Horse held its first mounted drill here yesterday afternoon under Lieutenant Thompson, Adjutant of Australian Horse. Forty men, well mounted, mustered on the town reserve, drilled for three hours in various exercises. The men and horses showed much aptitude, and eventually worked steadily. In the evening Lieutenant Thompson delivered a lecture, which was well attended, at the school of Arts on the theory and principle of mounted and dismounted drill and the use of arms Mr T Goodwin, M L A, was in the chair. Training continued in this fashion in the communities that formed ‘E’ Squadron. Encampments From time to time an encampment would occur with the Boggabri, Gunnedah, Quirindi and Scones troops coming together to work as a Squadron. These would be held at different location with one such encampment took place on Hartfell on the Curlewis road, then owned by Gunnedah Troop’s CO Lieutenant Goodwin. The encampment commenced on a Thursday afternoon, with 25 tents pitched and the cook soon at work preparing an evening meal. All told there were 120 men at the camp. The squadron used a plain near the woolshed for drill, with the troops going through many manoeuvres. One highlight was a sham fight taking place at this same woolshed. Staff Officers also made a general inspection, these Officers included Major-General French, accompanied by Colonel McKenzie, Lieutenant Adjutant Thompson. Lieutenant Dr. H. E. Lee (Gunnedah), Warrant Officer Bond and Assistant Private Bray. From reports of the time it was a well-managed affair throughout, with much interest shown by the community. Many visitors came to view the spectacle with the owner of the local Paragon Hotel, Mrs McCosker, running a canteen and Mrs Frank Hinds a refreshment booth on site. On the Sunday morning a Church parade was held, this being conducted by Rev. E. H. Woodger, the Curate of Gunnedah, rounding out the weekends activities. Tents were struck at 2.30 p.m. on the Sunday afternoon, the Scone and Quirindi troops then returned to home base by special train. The photo is of the Gunnedah troop of the 1st Australia Horse at the Scone encampment in 1899.
16.01.2022 We entered the Boer War in 1899 as separate colonies and finished it in 1902 as a federation of states forming the nation of Australia. Whilst we had been involved in other overseas conflicts this was the first time that troops of an Australian Government had fought and died on foreign soil. For the last few years research into Gunnedah and district’s involvement in the Boer War has been quietly taking place. As a result of this research the Boer War Memorial in Kitchener Par...k, Gunnedah has been updated to reflect the extra servicemen that had been found. Boer War veterans buried in the Gunnedah’s Hunter Street Cemetery with no grave markers, have with the help of Commonwealth War Graves and Gunnedah RSL now have markers to reflect their service in the Boer War. From time to time I’ll post stories and information that I find interesting about the men that went, their units and also about the community that helped to support them in much the same way as they did again for the Great War just over a decade later. The cover picture is of the Gunnedah troop of the 1st Australian Horse in the late 1800’s. They were one of the forerunners of the Australia Light Horse that made their reputation in the First World War. I will be posting something on the 1st Australian Horse in Gunnedah soon.
12.01.2022 Getting ready for ANZAC day so we spent a little time at the local cemetery doing a little cleaning of over Boer War veterans grave markers today. Will post more tomorrow.
11.01.2022 Jack Appleby was one of the young men from the Gunnedah district that when to South Africa to fight for Queen and Empire. While there he wrote letters home when the opportunity presented itself. One of these was published in Gunnedah's Namoi Independent on the 23rd April 1900 in a section titled NEWS FROM THE FRONT. The letter was sent to Mr Oliver Devine of Boggabri and read :- Bloemfontein March 20, 1900...Continue reading
04.01.2022 One day I would like to be able to get to see this or even better have something to mark the occasion here.
04.01.2022 The 1st Australian Horse cont. Regimental Badge The 1st Australian Horse regimental badge featured a kangaroo and emu supporting a shield emblazoned with the cross of St George and five stars of the Southern Cross; coming from behind the shield is a Waratah plant. Superimposed on the shield is a crossed carbine and sword. These were secured by a boomerang with the regimental motto For hearths and homes. A scroll with the Regimental title "Australian Horse" adorned the top ...of the shield and was supported on the shoulders of the kangaroo and emu. This badge was worn on the upturned brim of their hat. The collar dogs (badges) were the Waratah from the top of the regimental badge with crossed sword and rifle with a boomerang securing them. These badges were originally black but they eventually were changed more familiar brass later.
04.01.2022 The 117th anniversary of Poor Jim. Millie, NSW, is justifiably proud of its wonderful memorial.
02.01.2022 Okay, here is the first post to do with Gunnedah in the Boer War. I'll start with a series of 5 or 6 posts about our very own military unit and see where it goes from there. I'll include pictures were every I can. So here we go.... The 1st Australian Horse in Gunnedah.... During the patriotic fervour that swept the Empire after Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations various militias were formed in the colonies of Australia. One of these was the 1st Australian Horse in the Colony of New South Wales. This volunteer unit was raised due to the drive of Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Mackay (CB). Mackay, then a Captain, obtained permission from the New South Wales Government to enlist the best horsemen from the country districts of the Colony to form this elite fighting unit. On the 28th August 1897 the first enlistments took place at Murrumburrah, near Cootamundra. By 20th November recruiting in the country district had been completed with 3,000 eager applicants - of which only 410 were selected. From these original enlistments, Troops were formed at Murrumburrah, Gunnedah, Gundagai, Quirindi, Mudgee, Scone, Michelago, Boggabri, Cootamundra, Braidwood, Lue, Wallendbeen, and Bungendore. Gunnedah’s Troop consisted of 36 men and, along with the Troops from Boggabri, Quirindi and Scone, were part of ‘E’ Squadron. Gunnedah’s Commanding Officer was Lieutenant T. H. H. Goodwinn MLA (Member of NSW Legislative Assembly) of 'Booloocooroo Station' and, along with Lieutenant L. Wills-Allen of 'Gunnible Station', was the driving force in the troop being formed and functioning. Gunnedah’s first Staff Sergeant Major was S. M. Brosnan who was latter replaced by the much loved and respected Sergeant Major Herbert Arnold - an English serviceman that had been brought out to help train the troops. The Troop was comprised of many prominent members of the community including both the Mayor, W. H. Pritchard and Town Clerk, H. Elliott. Nothing of this type had ever been seen in Gunnedah, so little was known about soldiering, so the Troop rapidly became the pride of the district.
01.01.2022 1st Australian Horse in Gunnedah continued. The Uniform. The Troop would have cut an impressive sight with their distinctive uniforms of myrtle green, a colour chosen by the Lieutenant Colonel’s wife. ... The Officers had two tunics, one ‘dress’ and one ‘general duty’. The dress tunic had black collar and cuffs trimmed in black braid with an Austrian knot. The tunic’s front was decorated with five rows of black braiding. The general duties tunic was similar to a cavalry fatigue jacket with buttoned cuffs and fastened with a single cloth belt. Worn over all of this was a Sam Brown belt. The uniform breeches were also myrtle green with two black stripes along the outside seams. They were worn with black riding boots for general duty. However, for dress circumstances they were accompanied by black gloves, pouch and shoulder belt as well as sword belt and slings. A black leather sabretache, a flat bag or pouch, was also worn suspended from the belt. The ensemble was completed by a myrtle green slouch hat with black bound brim turned up on the left side on which the regimental badge was affixed. A distinctive bunch of black cock's feathers fell over the crown of the hat, around the crown of which was worn a black puggaree or hat band. Other ranks wore the general duties jacket with black collar, the cuffs were fastened with a single black button like a shirt. A plain black shoulder belt was worn over this. Myrtle green pantaloons were worn with ankle boots and puttees, both black. This again was topped off by the green slouch hat and feathers. The Chevrons (stripes) of NCO’s were black with senior NCO’s having their chevrons surmounted by a black coat-of-arms badge. However, the Sergeant Major had a regimental badge in gilt on the lower right sleeve.
01.01.2022 Another interesting snippet.
