Colonial forces of Australia

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Until Australia became a Federation in 1901, each of the six colonial governments was responsible for the defense of their own colony. From 1788 until 1870 this was done with British regular forces. In all, 25 British regiments served in the Australian colonies.

However, following the realisation of responsible government, the Governors of the Australian colonies were required to raise their own colonial militia. To do this, the colonial Governors had the authority from the British crown to raise military and naval forces. Initially these were militia's in support of British regulars, but British military support for the colonies ended in 1870, and the colonies assumed their own defence.

The separate colonies maintained control over their respective militia forces and navies until March 1, 1901, when the colonial forces were all amalgamated into the Commonwealth Forces following the creation of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Colonial forces, including home raised units, saw action in many of the conflicts of the British Empire during the 19th century. Members from British Regiments stationed in Australia, saw action in India, the Maori Wars of New Zealand, the Sudan conflict, and the Second Boer War.

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[edit] Background

Australia was first formally claimed by Great Britain on August 22, 1770 by James Cook RN, however it was not invaded, and subsequently settled until January 26, 1788 with the arrival of the First Fleet. Frustrated in 1783 by the loss of their American colonies on the signing of the Treaty of Paris which formally ended the American Revolutionary War, the British sought a new destination for the transportation of convicts. The Fleet had arrived in Australia with over 750 convicts under the gaurd of Royal Marines, aboard 11 ships to establish a prison colony at Port Jackson.

Initially the colony was run as a prison camp under the governance of Royal Navy Captain Arthur Phillip. Until between the 1850's when the colonies were granted responsible government, and the 1870's when the last ground troops were withdrawn, British regular troops were constantly garrisoned in the colonies. During their postings to Australia, most of the regiments rotated duties at the various colonies.

[edit] New South Wales (1788)

Accompanying the First Fleet to Port Jackson was 247 Royal Marines of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Regiments. They remained to gaurd the fledgling colony of Sydney and that of Norfolk Island (established March 6, 1788 to prevent the island falling into the hands of the French) until 1790.

In 1790 the Second Fleet arrived, and the Royal marines were relieved by a new force which was created specifically for service in the colony of New South Wales. They were known as the New South Wales Corps.

On March 4, 1804, the New South Wales Corps was called into action for the first time. The Castle Hill convict rebellion, also known as the "Irish Rebellion", occurred in which Phillip Cunningham and William Johnston led a rebellion of nearly 500 mostly Irish convicts. The rebellion lasted for over a week, and martial law was declared for the duration of the rebellion. It is believed they sought to seize power and control of the colony in support of Irish independance. The New South Wales Corps marched all night to the site of the rebellion, near the modern Sydney suburb of Rouse Hill, where they engaged with 233 of the rebels in what is often called the "Battle of Vinegar Hill", killing 15 of them.

Following the events of the Rum Rebellion, the New South Wales Corps was disbanded, reformed as the 102nd Regiment, and returned to England. By 1810 the 73rd Regiment of Foot (MacLeod's Highlanders) became the first line regiment to serve in New South Wales under the Governorship of Lachlan Macquarie. They served four years in New South Wales before relocating to Ceylon in 1814.

Also formed on April 30, 1810 was the Governors Guard of Light Horse, mostly drawn from former convicts who had been of excellent behaviour during their sentences. Macquarie formed this unit, although not officially a Regiment, to prevent the events of the Rum Rebellion from re-occurring. The Governors Gaurd were mounted troops with the specific duty of being a private bodygaurd for the Governor.

The Royal New South Wales Veteran Corps was formed in 1810 for soldiers and marines who were too old "to serve to the best of their capacity", and served mainly as post gaurds, for the supervision of convicts and other government duties. It was comprised of veterans of the 102nd, and other units from veteran soldiers. By 1817 Lachlan Macquarie felt they were unable to perform even these duties, and reccommended their disbandment. This was eventually done on September 24, 1822. However, three further Veterans companies were raised in Britain in 1826 for service in New South Wales, and stayed on duties until 1833.

The Highlanders were replaced in 1814 by the 1st/46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot, known as the "Red Feather's", who would serve until 1818.

Other British units that served in New South Wales included:


[edit] Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) (1803)

The settlement at Sydney was already 15 years old when then Governor Philip Gidley King received news from Europe of the outbreak of war between France and Great Britain on May 18, 1803. Concern was also growing over the number of French explorers who were being sited in the South Pacific. The Admiralty issued him with orders to secure any strategic locations within the southern station of the Pacific Ocean which may be of use to France, and prevent them falling into French possession. He dispatched an expedition to settle at Risdon Cove, in Van Diemens Land.

A young 23 year old Lieutenant John Bowen had arrived in Sydney aboard HMS Glatton, on March 11, 1803. King considered him the right man for the job, and towards the end of August, 1803, he left for Van Diemens Land aboard the whaler Albion. Accompanying him was 21 male, and 3 female convicts, gaurded by a company of marines of the New South Wales Corps, as well as a small number of free settlers. A second supply ship, the Lady Nelson arrived on September 8, 1803, and Albion arrived on September 13, 1803, subsequently invading and then settling Van Diemens Land for the British.

At the same time David Collins departed from England in April, 1803, aboard H.M.S. Calcutta with orders to establish a colony at Port Phillip. After establishing a short lived settlement at Sullivan Bay, near the current site of Sorrento, he wrote to Governor King, expressing his dissatisfaction with the location, and seeking permission to relocate the settlement to the Derwent River. Realising the fledgling settlement at Risdon Cove would be well reinforced by Collins arrival, King agreed to the proposal.

Collins arrived at the Derwent River on February 16, 1804, aboard HMS Ocean. The settlement that Bowen had established at Risdon Cove did not impress Collins, and he decided to relocate the settlement 5 miles down river, on the opposite shore of the river. They landed at Sullivan's Cove on February 21, 1804, and created the settlement that was to become Hobart, making it the second oldest established colony in Australia.

Before the settlement at Risdon Cove had been abandoned, one of the most violent conflicts between British forces and Australian Aborigines is alleged to have occurred. The facts of this event are still disputed by historians and the descendants of the Tasmanian Aborigines, however it is alleged that on the morning of May 3, 1804, a food hunting party of approximately three hundred crested the heavily wooded hills above the Risdon Cove settlement, looking for kangaroo, in what is now considered to be part of the Oyster Bay tribe's traditional hunting grounds. It is supposed that both the Marine sentries, and the hunting party surprised each other. It is not clear how the engagement began, with differing accounts being given.

It does seem that feeling threatened by such an overwhelmingly large group, the Marines fired upon the Aborigines in an unprovoked attack. A convict by the name of Edward White claimed to have seen this. Armed with only spears and clubs, the Aboriginals were outdone by the firepower of the Marines who were armed with the Brown Bess smooth bore, muzzel loading musket, many of whom were experienced troops from conflicts in India and the Americas. It is claimed that between three and fifty of the Aboriginals were killed.[1]

Soon after the establishment of the settlement, Collins decided that a coastal defense was needed. A redoubt was dug not far from the settlement, and two ships guns were placed within.

When Governor Lachlan Macquarie toured the Hobart Town settlement in 1811, he was alarmed at the poor state of defence, and general dis-organisation of the colony. Along with planning for a new grid of streets to be laid out, and new administrative and other buildings to be built, he commissioned the building of Anglesea Barracks, which opened in 1814, and is now the oldest continually occupied barracks in Australia.

By 1818, the Mulgrave Battery had been built on Castray Esplanade, on the southern side of Battery Point upon the orders of Lieutenant Governor William Sorell. Now the colony had two basic fortifications.

The New South Wales Corps were also relieved from Van Diemens Land when they returned from New South Wales in 1810, and Marines from the 73rd Regiment of Foot (MacLeod's Highlanders), also rotated duties between Sydney and Hobart. These were likewise replaced in 1814 by the 1st/46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot, the so called "Red Feather's".

The period of 1828 until 1832 was a dark one in the history of Van Diemens Land. The rising friction and continuing conflicts over land access between the indigenous Tasmanian Aborigines and the British settlers, breaches of each others laws and morals, killings and revenge killings, led to a declaration of Martial Law by Lieutenant Governor George Arthur. British Regiments were in open conflict with the Aboriginals in what has since been dubbed the Black War. 1830 saw the fiasco of the notorious Black Line incident, in which European settlers tried vainly to round up the Tasmanian Aboriginals in an attempt to isolate them, and hopefully prevent further conflicts between the two groups. It failed miserably.

In 1838 plans were drawn up for a more elaborate network of coastal fortifications. Money did not permit all of the batteries to be established, but work was begun on the Queens Battery, located at the site of the regatta ground on the Queens Domain. The battery was set back by delays and funding problems, and was not completed until 1864.

By 1840, the newly arrived commander of the Royal Engineers, Major Roger Kelsall was alarmed to discover how inadequately defended the now growing colony was. He drew up plans for the expansion of the Mulgrave Battery, and an additional fortification further up the slops of Battery Point. Work began the same year using convict labour, and soon the Prince of Wales Battery was completed, and armed now with ten guns.

Despite the improvements of the Prince of Wales Battery, it was located in a faulty position, and didn't have the most desirable firing position. At the height of the Crimean War in 1854, a third battery, known as the Prince Albert Battery was completed even higher behind the Prince of Wales Battery. Battery Point now had three firing positions, along with the Queens Battery upon the Queens Domain.

Following the decline of British military influence in Tasmania, the Governor of Tasmania felt the need to establish military forces capable of defending the colony.

In 1859 two batteries of "volunteer" artillery, one was the Hobart Town Artillery Company, and the other was the Launceston Volunteer Artillery Company. Twelve companies of "volunteer" infantry were also raised. In 1867 the infantry companies were disbanded, and the artillery increased by one battery.

1870 saw the complete withdrawal of British forces from Tasmania, which left the colony virtually defenceless. It had also highlighted the state of decay the existing fortresses had become. It had been decided the Prince of Wales and Prince Albert Batteries were inadequate for the defence of the town. By 1878 both had been condemned, and were dismantled by 1880. In 1882 the sites were handed over to Hobart City Council for use as public space, although the tunnels and subterranean magazines remain. Most of the stonework was removed and reused in the construction of the Alexandra Battery further to the south.

The arrival of three Russian warships, the "Africa", "Plastun", and “Vestnik" in 1872 caused a great deal of alarm in the colony. Britain and it's empire had only been at war with the Russians 16 years previously. The colony was defenceless, had the Russian had hostile intent. Luckily they were on a good will mission, however, it cause a great deal of debate about the state of the colonies defences. Plans were made for the establishment of volunteer forces.

In 1878 the Tasmanian Volunteer Rifle Regiment was raised in both the north and south of the colony. These were raised as Ranger Infantry units. By 1882 the strength was 634 men. By 1885 it was 1200 men, the maximum permitted by law at a time of peace. However, by 1893, and additional "auxilary" force of 1500 had also been raised. By 1896, the Regiment had three battalions. They were 1st battalion in Hobart, 2nd battalion in Launceston, and 3rd battalion in the North West.

Construction of serious fortifications was considered as early as 1840, however no serious construction was carried out. The Kangaroo Bluff Battery was begun in 1881 and complete the following year with the arrival of two massive 14 tonne cannons from England.The first shots were fired on February 12, 1885.

In 1899 the Tasmanian Colonial Military Forces responded to the request for military assistance in South Africa. The initial request was made for two of the colonie's three Ranger Infantry units. Colonel Legge, the commander of the Tasmanian Colonial Military Forces sought to also establish a mounted reconnaissance unit, and toured the colony. He was very impressed by the shooting and riding skills of many of the colonies wealthy young farm boys, and formed a Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen unit from them. A Tasmanian colonial contingent was sent to the Second Boer War, consisting of the 1st and 2nd Tasmanian Bushmen. These mounted infantry units were primarily made up of volunteers who had good bushcraft, riding and shooting skills. The first two Victoria Crosses awarded to Australians in that conflict were earned by Private Bisdee and Lieutenant Wylly, both members of the Tasmanian Bushmen, in action near Warm Bad in 1900.

In 1901 the Australian colonies federated and formed the Commonwealth of Australia, and all of the Australian Colonial Forces came under the control of the Federal Government of Australia. The Tasmanian Mounted Infantry units were redesignated as the 12th Australian Light Horse Regiment (12LHR). The three battalions of the Tasmanian Volunteer Rifle Regiment were re-designated as part of the Citizens Military Force into Derwent Infantry Regiment (Hobart), Launceston Regiment (Launceston), and Tasmanian Rangers (North West).

Other units which subsequently saw service in Van Diemens Land (Tasmania after 1855):

Members of the Royal Engineers Corps & Royal Corps of Sappers and Miners Royal Staff Corps, Royal Commissariat Corps Royal Medical Corps and the Royal Hospital Corps, all also saw service in Tasmania between 1856 and 1870.


[edit] Swan River Colony (Western Australia) (1829)

Following it's first sighting by Dirk Hartog, on October 26, 1616, the coast of Western Australia had been explored and charted by many Europeans prior to it's eventual settlement. Most of whom felt it's resources were inadequate to support a permanant settlement.

That changed in the early 19th century, when the fear of French settlement in the area drove British authorities to establish their own colony. In 1827, Captain James Stirling sited the area surrounding the Swan River as being suitable for agriculture, and upon his return to England in July, 1828, lobbied for the establishment of a free settler colony, unlike the penal settlements of Eastern Australia.

The British Government assented, and a fleet led by Charles Fremantle, aboard HMS Challenger returned along with 3 other vessels, arriving to establish the Swan River Colony on May 2, 1829. The name of the colony was changed to Western Australia in 1832.

Following the establishment of the Swan River Colony, a detachment of Marines from 2nd/40th Foot Second Somersetshire Regiment who were garrisoned in Sydney at the time, was dispatched to the new colony. Following them, were detachments from most of the Regminets that were also serving in New South Wales. Other units which saw service in the Western Australian colonies:

Western Australia did not obtain self government until 1890, and so was not able to raise their own military forces until then.

[edit] See Also

[edit] External Links

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