The Victorian Mounted Rifles (VMR) was a regiment composed of Australian forces that served in the Second Boer War. It was first raised by Colonel Tom Price in the mid-1880s, composed of voluntary forces. It was composed of several contingents, the most notable being the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles.
A Company of the Victorian Mounted Rifles on manoeuvres in Victoria in 1889.
2nd Victorian Mounted Riflesedit
This was led by Colonel Thomas Price in the Second Boer War.
5th Victorian Mounted Riflesedit
The 5th contingent enrolled for the Second Boer War in February 1901, leaving for South Africa in mid-February. The regiment was mobilised at Pretoria between 24 March and 4 April 1901. It saw considerable action during the Second Boer War when it was used to combat the guerilla warfare tactics of the Boers.[1]Leslie Cecil Maygar was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallant acts during the Second Boer War whilst enlisted in 5 VMR.
The Regiment came into controversy after an attack on their camp at Wilmansrust. The 5th saw heavy casualties with the Regimental surgeon, and 18 NCOs and men killed; five officers and 36 NCOs and men were wounded. The Officer in Charge of the column, Major-General Sir Stuart Brownlow Beatson, K.C.B., K.C.S.I., K.C.V.O. (1854–1914), was not satisfied with the actions of the Victorian Mounted Rifles and was quoted as saying: "I tell you what I think. The Australians are a damned fat, round shouldered, useless crowd of wasters . . . In my opinion they are a lot of white-livered curs . . . You can add dogs too."[1][2] He charged three men—Troopers James Steele (1142), Arthur Richards (1272) and Herbert Henry Parry (1335).[3]—of the VMR for inciting mutiny[4] and after a summary Court Martial, he sentenced them to death.[5] This sentence was commuted by General Kitchener who was in charge of all allied forces. The reduced sentences were debated in both the Australian and British Parliaments and were eventually commuted.[1]
When the 5th VMR departed from South Africa, Lord Kitchener sent the CO this telegram:
"11 March 1902, Cape Town, Please Convey to your Australians my warm appreciation of their gallant and arduous service in this country. In the name of the Army in South Africa, I wish them good luck and God speed."[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcd. Boer War Memorial. Archived from the original on 25 March 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
^Kalgoorlie Argus, (Tuesday, 10 December 1901), p.18.
^The three men returned to Australia on Wednesday 11 December 1901: News and Notes: Returned Soldiers, The West Australian, (Thursday, 12 December 1901), p.4.
^King, Jennifer (16 February 2014). "Search for family of accused Boer War mutineer after WWI service medal found". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Commission. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
Calder, Winty (1985). Heroes and Gentlemen: Colonel Tom Price and the Victorian Mounted Rifles. Canterbury, Melbourne, Victoria: Jimaringle Publications. ISBN0-9589289-0-8.
Murray, P.L. (1911). Official Records of the Australian Military Contingents to the War in South Africa. Melbourne: Department of Defence. OCLC 13323046.
December 15, 2023
victorian, mounted, rifles, regiment, composed, australian, forces, that, served, second, boer, first, raised, colonel, price, 1880s, composed, voluntary, forces, composed, several, contingents, most, notable, being, contents, composition, references, further,. The Victorian Mounted Rifles VMR was a regiment composed of Australian forces that served in the Second Boer War It was first raised by Colonel Tom Price in the mid 1880s composed of voluntary forces It was composed of several contingents the most notable being the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles Contents 1 Composition 1 1 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles 1 2 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles 2 References 3 Further readingComposition edit nbsp A Company of the Victorian Mounted Rifles on manoeuvres in Victoria in 1889 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles edit This was led by Colonel Thomas Price in the Second Boer War 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles edit The 5th contingent enrolled for the Second Boer War in February 1901 leaving for South Africa in mid February The regiment was mobilised at Pretoria between 24 March and 4 April 1901 It saw considerable action during the Second Boer War when it was used to combat the guerilla warfare tactics of the Boers 1 Leslie Cecil Maygar was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallant acts during the Second Boer War whilst enlisted in 5 VMR The Regiment came into controversy after an attack on their camp at Wilmansrust The 5th saw heavy casualties with the Regimental surgeon and 18 NCOs and men killed five officers and 36 NCOs and men were wounded The Officer in Charge of the column Major General Sir Stuart Brownlow Beatson K C B K C S I K C V O 1854 1914 was not satisfied with the actions of the Victorian Mounted Rifles and was quoted as saying I tell you what I think The Australians are a damned fat round shouldered useless crowd of wasters In my opinion they are a lot of white livered curs You can add dogs too 1 2 He charged three men Troopers James Steele 1142 Arthur Richards 1272 and Herbert Henry Parry 1335 3 of the VMR for inciting mutiny 4 and after a summary Court Martial he sentenced them to death 5 This sentence was commuted by General Kitchener who was in charge of all allied forces The reduced sentences were debated in both the Australian and British Parliaments and were eventually commuted 1 When the 5th VMR departed from South Africa Lord Kitchener sent the CO this telegram 11 March 1902 Cape Town Please Convey to your Australians my warm appreciation of their gallant and arduous service in this country In the name of the Army in South Africa I wish them good luck and God speed 1 References edit a b c d Victorian Mounted Rifles Boer War Memorial Archived from the original on 25 March 2009 Retrieved 8 January 2009 Kalgoorlie Argus Tuesday 10 December 1901 p 18 The three men returned to Australia on Wednesday 11 December 1901 News and Notes Returned Soldiers The West Australian Thursday 12 December 1901 p 4 King Jennifer 16 February 2014 Search for family of accused Boer War mutineer after WWI service medal found ABC News Australian Broadcasting Commission Retrieved 16 February 2014 http goliath ecnext com coms2 gi 0199 3300356 Wilmansrust the battlefield trials of html dead link Further reading editCalder Winty 1985 Heroes and Gentlemen Colonel Tom Price and the Victorian Mounted Rifles Canterbury Melbourne Victoria Jimaringle Publications ISBN 0 9589289 0 8 Murray P L 1911 Official Records of the Australian Military Contingents to the War in South Africa Melbourne Department of Defence OCLC 13323046 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Victorian Mounted Rifles amp oldid 1109010721, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
