TO ALL COMMAND GROUPS, ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS, SECRETARIES, ASMs, SBs AND SUPPORTERS

TO RFDC SYDNEY TEAM

TO RFDC CITIES FOR INFO

Dear All

NATIONAL & NSW LAUNCH RFD 2012 - SAT 26 NOV 11

The Launch was an outstanding success and our thanks to all who took part and to all who helped in the organisation of the day. The venue was excellent and very historic to think that in October 1899 the NSW Colonial Government and Premier made the decision to allow the Lancers who had been in England training to disembark in Cape Town and serve in the Boer War. On the 26^th of November 2011 we paraded for the first time in Parliament House in the same building that the decision was made and the current Premier launched RFD 2012 which will acknowledge the 110^th Anniversary of peace being declared to end the Boer War.

It was a Reservists’ war and fought with Reservists from all Colonies/States - after 1 Jan 1901. They were still there when the Nation was formed on 1 January 1901. There was a small number of regular members including A Battery NSW Regiment RAA.

The National Chairman of the National Boer War Memorial Association, Colonel John Haynes, said it was the best high level support and exposure the NBWM Association had received since the Association was started over 3 years ago.

We were very pleased to have among our senior VIPs, the VCDF, Air Marshal Binskin, representing the CDF, the Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Gilmore representing the Chief of Navy, Major General Paul Brereton who is Australia’s senior Reservist, Major General Slater the new Forces Commander representing the Chief of Army, and Air Commodore Gary Martin representing the Chief of the Air Force together with a representative of the Prime Minister who read her Message of Support and a representative of the Leader of the Opposition and, of course Mr Barry O’Farrell, Premier of New South Wales and members of the NSW Parliament.

Once again thanks to the Standard Bearers for their high standard of dress and drill and their support to their Association and the day. All who attended were awarded their new recognitions lapel badge and wore it proudly on the day.

We have held back our report to you so that all the relevant photos and video could be added to the web site for all to see. At the formal dinner we were so impressed by the performance of Soldiers of the Queen, first sung for the Lancers before they left England in October 1899, that we asked that it be recorded for our web site. That has just been put on.

See www.rfd.org.au (Click on the 2012 Live Option)

There is an excellent short 4 page history on the Boer War that was given to all attendees and is now on the web site.

CHANGE OVER OF RFD SYDNEY PARADE RSMs

A short ceremony was held with the change over of the RFDC Pace Stick and RSMs before the parade marched in to Parliament House. WO1 Harry Crampton has finished over 3 years in the role and now moves to RFDC RSM. Major John Hanley RFD Ret’d who retired from the Reserve in December 2010 takes over the role. WO1 Harry Crampton has been requested to be the RSM in Hobart for their next year until a local RSM can be found. It will be the first time Tasmania has run a parade modelled on the Sydney/Melbourne parades.

THE THEME FOR NEXT YEAR

As mentioned before, the theme for 2012 is the 110^th anniversary of the end of the Boer War fought by Reservists. We will use the day to acknowledge our veterans of that war and their descendants and also use it to highlight the service of former and serving Reserve members. It will be an exciting and interesting theme which was shown on the Launch.

The Boer War web site to which our site links – click on the reference at the bottom of the side panel on the Home page of the RFD site to enter their site, -, has over 900 descendants registered throughout Australia. There are about 400 of them in NSW. We are developing plans to produce a commemorative medallion for sale to assist their fund raising and highlight the 110^th anniversary. We will also invite the descendants to take part in our celebrations throughout Australia and have the medallions presented on the parades in a similar manner to that done this year. In Sydney because of the high numbers expected the presentations will be completed before the parade marches on.

You may like to check if you have a Boer War veteran in the family and register on the site – see:

http: bwm.org.au/site/Ancestor_Search.asp 

An update report for RFDC cities will follow on Monday on progress so far with the Medallion and method of distribution.

2012 PARADE

We have received good feedback on the medallion presentation and other aspects of this year’s parade however this has been overshadowed by the length of time of the parade. We apologised to all in our email shortly after the parade.

The one thing we have not been able to control is the inspection on foot by the reviewing officer (except when we used the electric car which took 4.5 mins but was not favoured by many because it was seen as  being impersonal).

Therefore we have made the decision that in future we will not have an inspection of the parade.

This should save 15/20 mins of standing time.

HELP NEEDED

We would appreciate some volunteers to help in the lead up to the parade and on the day and in particular someone to help and assist in the overall management of the project.

Next year we have an excellent theme to promote Reserve service and at the same time invite former and serving members to join Associations as the search goes out for more descendants and we would like someone to help with our media committee.

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. We were so pleased with the acknowledgement we were able to give this year to the spouses.

 Regards

John

LTCOL John Moore OAM RFD ED Ret'd

National Executive Officer &

NSW Deputy Chairman

RESERVE FORCES DAY COUNCIL

Ph 02 9983 9387

Mob 0403 160 750

www.rfd.org.au

HONOUR ROLL OF STANDARD BEARERS AWARDED

 THE RFDC RECOGNITION LAPEL BADGE

The following members have been awarded a Lapel Badge after achieving the performance level required. The badges are also awarded in recognition of the commitment, dedication and extra time they contribute to successful parades and launches.

Parade Commander – LTCOL Wayne Butler Parade RSM WOI Harry Crampton OIC Standard Party Capt Michael Carrodus

As at 20 Nov 11

 

NSW Involvement in the Boer War

 

BACKGROUND TO THE COLONY OF NSW’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE BOER WAR 1899-1902

RESERVISTS IN ACTION OVERSEAS

 

In the late 1890’s QLD, NSW, TAS, VIC, WA and SA had raised and paid for their own defence forces. These were principally Militia (“Reserve”) but permanent artillery units had been raised, mainly to man the coastal fortifications.

 

When the possibility of war between Britain and the two Dutch South African Republics became inevitable a joint conference of Australian colonial military commandants agreed to offer Britain a contingent of 2,500 troops – cavalry, infantry, mounted infantry and artillery.  The outbreak of war on 11 October 1899 was a signal for enthusiastic volunteering throughout Australia. Members of the militia and permanent forces were recruited as well as ‘Citizen Bushmen’ contingents. The latter were largely officered by men with some previous military experience. The contingent from Australia arrived in South Africa December 1899.

 

On 14 July 1899 Queen Victoria approved a proposal that the permanent artillery of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland should be designated the New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland Regiments of the Royal Australian Artillery. This took effect on 24 August 1899

 

A Battery was one of four permanent artillery Batteries (three were called Companies as they were garrison units) and belonged to the New South Wales Regiment Royal Australian Artillery. A Battery was the only Artillery unit from Australia to serve in the war.

 

NSW TROOPS THE FIRST INTO ACTION

 

In late 1898 the NSW Lancers were in training at Rookwood and decided that more cavalry training was required of their members. Their CO then organised for a squadron of their members to go to England at their own personal cost of ₤20-0-0, a considerable sum at that time. They left for England 3 March 1899.  On the 10 October 1899 the squadron left England to return home. They were farewelled at the Albrahama on 9 October 1899 at a civic function where ‘Soldiers of the Queen’ was sung for the first time.

 

Before departure they cabled the NSW Colonial Government and offered their services to fight in South Africa. During the voyage the Boer War commenced on 11 October 1899. On arrival in Capetown the approval had been received. The contingent of 72 disembarked; 29 did continue on to Sydney, where for the most part they concluded personal business then returned to South Africa to join their comrades. The Lancers were in action with borrowed horses only 14 days after being in the country.

 

It was the NSW Colonial Government (the Premier at the time was William John Lyne – later Knighted KCMG) that made the decision and sponsored the first contingent to take part in the Boer War

 

During the Boer War, the Australian Colonies became a Federation. 16,175 Australians served in the war, there were 1,918 casualties including 251 who died in battle, 267 died of wounds or disease and 43 missing.  104 awards were made to soldiers for bravery and special service in the field, including six Victoria Crosses (Australia’s first VC was awarded to Captain Neville Howse a Doctor from Taree NSW of the NSW Army Medical Corps) and three nurses were awarded Royal Red Cross Medals. New South Wales contributed 6,110 officers and other ranks.

 

The Boer War marked the birth of an Australian military reputation. There is no doubt the British first saw the Colonial contributions as a token (in total 440,000 British troops served in the Boer War) of Empire support but soon came to value their presence. Lord Roberts, then commanding the British Force said 'They were intelligent and they had what I want our men to have, more individuality.’

 

Undoubtedly the experience gained in South Africa contributed materially to the success of Australian troops in World War I, for the majority of senior officers and instructors in the early stages of the AIF had seen their first action against the Boers. Names such as Chauvel, Cox, Howse, Elliot and Glasgow all citizen soldiers who went onto serve with distinction and gained senior rank in WWI.

 

 

 

2.

 

Today the battle honours awarded to NSW Units for distinguished service in the War are shown on the Guidons and Colours paraded on special occasions by these Reserve Units:

 

·        1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers,

·        12th/16th Hunter River Lancers, and

·        Battalions of the Royal New South Wales Regiment

 

In addition the Royal Australian Artillery and Royal Australian Army Medical Corps were presented Banners in 1904 by ‘His Most Gracious Majesty the King Emperor … in recognition of services rendered to the Empire in South Africa’.

 

Similar honours were awarded to units from other States.

 

110TH ANNIVERSARY

 

On 31 May 1902 the Treaty of Vereeniging was signed in Melrose House Pretoria bringing about the end of hostilities.

 

Reservists serving overseas

 

Next year will also be the 70th Anniversary of when the 39th Battalion of the Militia (Reservists) gallantly delayed the Japanese advance along the Kokoda Track. We also need to recognize the contribution our Reservists are making  in the three services serving overseas.

 

THE THEME FOR 2012

 

In 2012 we will use the 110th anniversary of the end of the Boer War as the theme for our parades and celebrations, and promote the contribution of all Citizen Soldiers who became the first troops to serve under the Federation of the Commonwealth after 1st January 1901. We will also recognise that Reservists in the three services are currently serving overseas.

 

We believe this is a significant occasion to acknowledge throughout Australia. The soldiers who served overseas came from all of the colonies and some after Federation.

 

 

RFDC 25 AUG 11

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