Darebin’s Boer War The South African Conflict : 1899 - 1902 Compiled for Darebin Heritage by Brian Membrey Our cover illustration shows the First Victorian Regiment marching at the corner of Spring and Bourke Streets en route from Victoria Barracks to embark at Port Melbourne for Cape Town, Saturday, 28 October, 1899. The Regiment was a mixture of Mounted Rifles and Infantry (unlike latter Contingents that were all mounted troops). The number of volunteers far outnumbered the 250 places available for the Victorian force - remarkably, five Preston men were included amongst those that were selected. CONTENTS "FIVE FROM PRESTON IS PRETTY GOOD" ............................................................................... 1 The Three Musketeers............................................................................................................ 1 Major William Braithwaite ..................................................................................................... 2 ON RIFLE CLUBS AND RANGES ............................................................................................... 6 The Use of the Umbrella in Modern Warfare ........................................................................... 6 The Volunteer Corps Act ........................................................................................................ 6 The Great Battle of Werribee .................................................................................................. 7 The "Effective System" ........................................................................................................... 8 Our Local Army ..................................................................................................................... 8 The Northcote Division........................................................................................................... 8 Theophilus J. Sumner ........................................................................................................... 9 The East Collingwood Rifles ................................................................................................... 10 The Victorian Mounted Rifles ................................................................................................. 10 RESURRECTION OF THE RIFLE CLUBS ................................................................................... 14 The Conference ...................................................................................................................... 15 The Preston Rifle Club ........................................................................................................... 15 A New Rifle Range .................................................................................................................. 17 Decline .................................................................................................................................. 17 And Revival ........................................................................................................................... 18 A National Rifle Range ........................................................................................................... 19 Meanwhile in Northcote ......................................................................................................... 20 THE LEADER'S "WAR CORRESPONDENTS" .............................................................................. 21 Baptism of Fire ...................................................................................................................... 23 On Christmas Pudding .......................................................................................................... 24 Rensburg Drift ....................................................................................................................... 25 The Wounded ........................................................................................................................ 27 The Troops Return ................................................................................................................. 27 Wilmansrust .......................................................................................................................... 28 On Picquet ............................................................................................................................. 30 "Soldiers of the King" : A Discordant Voice ............................................................................. 30 The Final Welcome Home ....................................................................................................... 32 The End................................................................................................................................. 32 A Final Blast .......................................................................................................................... 33 THE HONOUR ROLLS ............................................................................................................... 34 Unveiling of the Tablet ........................................................................................................... 34 Preston : A Full Roll Call ........................................................................................................ 37 Northcote : What The Leader Saw .......................................................................................... 38 Northcote : The Full Muster ................................................................................................... 40 Heidelbergshire ...................................................................................................................... 43 AND IN THE GREAT WAR ......................................................................................................... 43 Those That Served ................................................................................................................. 43 Preston .............................................................................................................................................. 44 Northcote .......................................................................................................................................... 45 Heidelbergshire ................................................................................................................................. 46 Survivors of 1958 .................................................................................................................. 47 Preston .............................................................................................................................................. 47 Northcote .......................................................................................................................................... 48 Heidelbergshire ................................................................................................................................. 48 Alfred Hobart Sturdee ............................................................................................................ 48 AWARDS AND DECORATIONS .................................................................................................. 49 The Queen's South Africa Medal ............................................................................................ 49 The King's South Africa Medal ............................................................................................... 50 BOER WAR - A BACKGROUND 50 FIRST VICTORIAN REGIMENT ............................................................................................... 51 SECOND VICTORIAN MOUNTED RIFLES .............................................................................. 52 THIRD BUSHMEN'S CONTINGENT ........................................................................................ 52 FOURTH (IMPERIAL) CONTINGENT ....................................................................................... 52 FIFTH (MOUNTED RIFLES) CONTINGENT ............................................................................. 53 SECOND BATTALION AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH HORSE (Victorian Units) .................. 53 FOURTH BATTALION AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH HORSE (Victorian Units) ................... 54 SIXTH BATTALION AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH HORSE (Victorian Units) ...................... 54 COMMONWEALTH ARMY MEDICAL CORPS .......................................................................... 54 NURSING SISTERS ................................................................................................................ 55 THE MARQUIS OF TULLABARINE'S 2nd SCOTTISH REGIMENT ............................................ 55 BETHUNE'S MOUNTED INFANTRY ........................................................................................ 55 SPECIAL SERVICE OFFICERS ............................................................................................... 56 AUSTRALIAN DICTIONARY OF BIOGRAPHY ENTRIES .............................................................. 56 SOME FACTS AND FIGURES .................................................................................................... 57 TOTAL VICTORIAN CONTINGENTS ........................................................................................ 57 TOTAL VICTORIAN DISPOSITION .......................................................................................... 57 TOTAL AUSTRALIAN CONTINGENTS 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