Fremantle Artillery – WA Colonial Military

No 2 (Fremantle) Battery, Field Artillery 1879-1901

Sketches of the Fremantle Naval Artillery Volunteers taking part in the Volunteer Easter Encampment illustrated in the Australian Pictorial in 1885

This unit was first raised as an Artillery Troop on the 10^th February 1879 as the Fremantle Naval Artillery Volunteersunder the command of Lieutenant George Forsyth. Throughout the early 1880’s it received its equipment of 2x 6 Pounder Guns, 2x 12 Pounder Guns and 2x 4^1/2 Inch Mortars as well as using Carbines for light infantry exercises. It had a naval uniform, the only unit in the colony to do so. In its early years it took part in some exercises and created a Fife and Drum band. In 1885 command of the unit passed to Lieutenant F Wemyss who led the unit until 1889. By 1886 the unit consisted of 1 Officer and 38 Other Ranks. During his time as Commanding Officer the unit received 2x 9 Pounder Guns as replacements for the 6 Pounders in 1888.

On the 18^th December 1888 the unit was retitled as the Fremantle Artillery Volunteers and was transformed into Field Artillery. In 1889 command of the unit passed to Captain Edward Mayhew after a short interim period and shortly after in 1892 the command was passed onto Major James Hope who also became the Commander of the Fremantle District. Throughout the early to mid 1890’s the unit was quite small but remained an efficient part of the WADF. In 1894 the unit was recorded as having 3 Officers and 41 Other Ranks, only a small increase from 8 years before.

Half the unit pictured in 1897, at the front is Major James Hope, the Officer in the rear left is Captain George Moore and in the rear right is 2nd Lieutenant Richard Needham.

On the 24^th May 1897 the unit was again retitled as the No 2 (Fremantle) Battery, Field Artillery but was still commonly referred to by its older name. In that same year it was recorded as having 3 Officers and 71 Other Ranks, basically doubling the unit from just 3 years previously. In addition, it was soon given 2 More Guns and became a full strength Artillery battery.

On the left is 2nd Lieutenant F Imray, on the right is Captain Edward Mayhew.

The unit technically passed to federal control in March 1901 but kept its old name until the 1^st July 1903 when it became part of the Australian Field Artillery and retitled 2^nd Western Australian Battery, A.F.A. in 1908 it was transferred to the Australian Garrison Artillery and became the 2^nd Western Australian Company, A.G.A. In 1912 it was renamed to the 12^th Garrison Artillery. It does not have any official heritage link today but the 7^th Field Battery is Western Australia’s only Artillery Unit still in existence and represents all Western Australian Artillery Heritage.

Members of the Fremantle Artillery Volunteers in 1895

Guns of The No 2 (Fremantle) Battery, Field Artillery in 1902

The Non Commissioned Officers of the No 2 (Fremantle) Battery, Field Artillery in 1902

Katanning Section of the No 2 Western Australian Battery, A.F.A. in 1906

No 2 Western Australian Company, A.G.A. in 1909

During the 2nd Boer War, 15 men were accepted to serve with the Western Australian Mounted Infantry. 4 in the 1st WAMI, 4 in the 2nd WAMI, 2 in the 3rd WAMI, 1 in the 4th WAMI, 3 in the 5th WAMI and 1 in the 6th WAMI. The Men consisted of 1 Sergeant Major, 1 Corporal, 3 Buglers and 10 Privates. 2 Members of the Fremantle Artillery were wounded while part of the WAMI.

1^st WAMI

Name	Rank	Place of Birth	Occupation	Age At Enlistment in the WAMI	Volunteer Service Notes	Campaign Service Notes
64. Thomas S Golden	Pte	VIC	Grocer	21 Years	7 Months in the Fremantle Artillery
66. Walter Brown	Pte	SA	Driver	27 Years	3 Months in the Fremantle Artillery
79. George Loane	Cpl	WA	Packer	24 Years 6 Months	Previous Service In the Perth Infantry (3 Years) Permanent Artillery (2 Years) 3 Years in the Fremantle Artillery
98. Robert Wauchope	Pte	Ireland	Farmer	22 Years	2 Years in the Fremantle Artillery

2^nd WAMI

21. William Harrington	Pte	Ireland	Warder	28 Years	6 Months in the Fremantle Artillery	Slightly wounded in the Belfast Engagement 2/8/00
26. Edward McRobinson	Pte	VIC	Blacksmith	26 Years	Previous service in the VIC Mounted Infantry (1 Year), 9 Months in the Fremantle Artillery
64. Arthur C Zietsch	Pte	NSW	Storeman	22 Years	2 Years 6 Months in the Fremantle Artillery
65. Angus L Mclean	Pte	VIC		25 Years	8 Months in the Fremantle Artillery	Wounded in the Val River Engagement 5/5/00

3^rd WAMI

12. Sydney Lee	Pte	VIC	Station Hand	21 Years	2 Years in the Fremantle Artillery
90. Robert C Leslie	Pte	VIC	Prospector	23 Years	1 Year 6 Months in the Fremantle Artillery
103. Wilfred Morton	Bugler	–	–	–		Bugler Boy For South Africa

4^th WAMI

104. Warabea F Harper	Bugler	SA	Tinsmith in Fremantle	20 Years	2 Years in the Fremantle Artillery as a Bugler

5^th WAMI

299. Herbert W Lee	Lcpl Sgt (Sep 1901) Sgt Maj (Feb 1902)	England	Labourer in Perth	24 Years	3 Years in the Fremantle Artillery
310. William Goddard	Pte	Fremantle	Clicker in Perth	20 Years	3 Years 6 Months in the Fremantle Artillery
14. Percival H G Abbert	Bugler	Fremantle	Cycle Builder in Perth	18 Years	2 Years in the Fremantle Artillery as trumpeter

6^th WAMI

336. James F Murray	Pte	VIC	Blacksmith’s Striker in Perth	32 Years	2 Years in the Fremantle Artillery

COMMANDING OFFICERS

LT George A Forsyth (10th Feb 1879-18th Dec 1885)

LT F Wemyss (19th Dec 1885-30th Jan 1889)

(Had Served In the unit for 7 Months prior to taking command.)

Interim (31st Jan 1889-4th Apr 1889)

CPT Edward Mayhew (5th Apr 1889-24th Oct 1892)

MAJ James W Hope (25th Oct 1892-1st Jul 1903)

(Initially served as Captain until 1897 when he was promoted to Major.)

LIST OF OFFICERS

2LT F J Imray (29th Nov 1889-10th Aug 1892)

CPT George F Moore (20th Jun 1893-1st Jul 1903)

(Initially served as 2nd Lieutenant until 1896 when he was promoted to Lieutenant and again until 1897 when he was promoted to Captain. He Continued to be an Officer in the unit when it became part of the Australian Field Artillery until 10th Aug 1904.)

CPT Richard W Needham (9th Aug 1897-1st Jul 1903)

(Initially served as 2nd Lieutenant until 1903 when he was promoted to Captain. He Continued to be an Officer in the unit when it became part of the Australian Field Artillery until 6th Jun 1905.)

LT Archibald D Goodsir (4th Nov 1898-16th Mar 1903)

(Initially served as 2nd Lieutenant until 1900 when he was promoted to Lieutenant.)

2LT Edward A Mann (23rd May 1900-30th Aug 1902)

3 old buglers of the No 2 (Fremantle) Battery, Field Artillery, pictured in 1939 nearly 40 years after service in the unit at the annual memorial service for south Africa at King’s Park. From left to right they are Warabea Harper (Nicknamed “Tuther”), Wilfred Norton and Ralph Salmon. Norton served in the 3rd WAMI in the 2nd Boer War as a boy Bugler. Harper served in the 4th WAMI in the 2nd Boer War, Salmon served with the British Army in South Africa and all 3 of the men fought in the Great War, additionally it seems that even at age 60 they served in the Volunteer Defence Corps in WW2. Mr Norton was blinded in the Great War and by this time lived in Mount Lawley, Harper still lived in Fremantle and Salmon owned the Lattice Tea Rooms in Perth. — 3 old buglers of the No 2 (Fremantle) Battery, Field Artillery, pictured in 1939 nearly 40 years after service in the unit at the annual memorial service for South Africa at King’s Park.

From left to right they are Warabea Harper (Nicknamed “Tuther”), Wilfred Norton and Ralph Salmon. Norton served in the 3rd WAMI in the 2nd Boer War as a boy Bugler. Harper served in the 4th WAMI in the 2nd Boer War, Salmon served with the British Army in South Africa and all 3 of the men fought in the Great War, additionally it seems that even at age 60 they served in the Volunteer Defence Corps in WW2. Mr Norton was blinded in the Great War and by this time lived in Mount Lawley, Harper still lived in Fremantle and Salmon owned the Lattice Tea Rooms in Perth.