South Australia and the South African or
Boer War
Ten contingents departed from the Colony and State with
the last being Commonwealth forces raised in South Australia.
The military supplied six contingents, a total of 1430 men—all
volunteers.
The 1st and 2nd Contingents were financed by the SA Government
and the men received an appropriate remuneration. The
3rd
(Bushmen's) was privately (and relatively poorly) financed
and the remaining Contingents were financed by Britain.
The 1st Contingent departed Adelaide on the Medic
2 November 1899 with six officers and 121 men as infantry
but became a mounted force in South Africa. The 2nd Contingent
of six officers, 112 men, 120 horses and a machine gun departed
26 January 1900. The Bushmen’s Contingent of six officers
and ninety-three men served from June 1900 to April 1901.
The Imperial Bushmen’s Contingent comprised twelve officers
and 222 men. The balance of men served in the 5th and 6th
Contingents which formed into a regiment in South Africa.
Pictured: Great enthusiasm prevailed at Adelaide on the
departure of the colonial troops for South Africa. Before
the men embarked on the Medic, a public reception
was given at the Town Hall to the Victorian, Tasmanian,
and South Australian units. Of the scene on that occasion
we reproduce a photograph. When the Medic sailed,
a flotilla of tugs with about a thousand people on board
gave the contingent a hearty send-off.
Source: Illustrated London News, Page 293 3 Mar
1900.
No
|
Contingent
|
Departed
|
Returned
|
1.
|
1st (South Australian Mounted Rifles) |
2 Nov 1899
|
30 Nov 1900
|
2.
|
2nd (South Australian Mounted Rifles) |
26 Jan 1900
|
12 May 1901
|
3.
|
3rd South Australian Bushmen's |
27 Feb 1900
|
25 Jun 1901
|
4.
|
4th (South Australian Imperial Bushmen) |
1 May 1900
|
27 Jul 1901
|
5.
|
5th (South Australian Imperial Bushmen) |
9 Feb 1901
|
27 Apr 1902
|
6.
|
6th (South Australian Imperial Bushmen) |
6 Apr 1901
|
27Apr 1902
|
7.
|
Australian Army Medical Corps (SA) |
11 Feb 1902
|
various
|
8.
|
2nd Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse (SA) |
29 Feb 1902
|
31 Jul 1902
|
9.
|
4th Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse (SA) |
1 Apr 1902
|
24/31 Jul 1902
|
10.
|
8th Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse (SA)
A Squadron raised in Adelaide area
B Squadron 1st Troop raised in Mt Gambier area
B Squadron 2nd Troop raised in Burra area
B Squadron 3rd Troop raised in Wallaroo area
B Squadron 4th Troop raised in Pt Pirie area |
26 May1902
|
24 Jul 1902
|
A total of sixty-one men died and their names with one exception
are recorded on the South African War Memorial at the front
gate of Government House Adelaide. The exception being,
Breaker Morant who was executed by a British Firing Squad
for war crimes.
|