Permanent Force Artillery

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Permanent Force Artillery 1893-1901

Men of the Permanent Force Artillery in 1895.
Men of the Permanent Force Artillery in 1895.

This unit was officially gazetted in February 1893 as the Permanent Force Artillery under the command of Captain C. Hawker. It was the only combat unit to be part of the permanent force and was made up mostly of South Australians. They were the best unit in the entire WADF. Initially they did quite poorly in the Flemming Cup, coming last in 1895, 2nd last in 1896, 1897 and doing average in  1894. This losing streak, however turned into a winning streak by the dawn of the new century with the Permanent Force Artillery winning the cup in 1898, 1900 & 1902 and coming 2nd in 1899 & 1901. Gnr Sutherland (1898), Gnr Geale (1899), Gnr Waller (1900), Maj Beer (1901 & 1902) were the best marksmen.

1894
1 Captain (Harvest)
32 Men
1897
1 Captain (Crume)
30 Men

After federation the unit remained in Albany until 1911 when it moved back to South Australia.

During the 2nd Boer War, 10 men were accepted to serve with the Western Australian Mounted Infantry. 7 in the 1st WAMI, 2 in the 5th  WAMI, and 1 in the 6th WAMI. Those that served with the 1st WAMI were responsible for manning the Maxim Gun section. The men consisted of 1 Sergeant, 1 Bombardier and 8 Gunners. 1 member of the unit received an injury.

1st WAMI

Name
Rank
Birthplace
Job
Age
Service Notes
Campaign Notes
118. Thomas Copeland
Sgt
119. McWhirter
Cpl
121. Alfred Geale
Pte
Injured by Horse in Aug 1900
122. George H Paul
Pte
? Reynolds
Pte
120. Treblecock
Pte
111. Frederick S C Brown
Pte
Kent
Clerk
26
Previous Service Plantagenet Rifles, Albany (1 Year) Fremantle Artillery (6 Months) ? time in the Albany Artillery

5th WAMI

147. Jeremiah Collins
Pte Lcpl (May 1901) Sgt (Dec 1901)
Ireland
Labourer in Perth
31
3 Years in the Albany Artillery
321. John B Gorrie
Pte
VIC
Carpenter
27
Previous service in the Victoria Militia (4 Years) 2 Years in the Albany Artillery

6th WAMI

1.Bruce E Bird
Pte
Canning
Clerk in Perth
21 Years
5 Months in the Albany Artillery

COMMANDING OFFICERS

CPT James C. Hawker (1893) (<1 Year)

CPT Hector H Harvest (1893-1896) (3 Years)

MAJ William C Crume (1896-1898) (2 Years)

CPT Edward H S Calder (1898-1899) (1 Year)

CPT Hatherley G. Moor (1899) (<1 Year)

MAJ Vernon L Beer (1900-1903) (3 Years)

LIST OF OFFICERS

Majors

William C Crume (25/7/96-~October 1898)

Served as a Captain from 1896-1898. Served as a Major in 1898. Acting commander of the WADF from Oct-Dec 1898 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Vernon L Beer (26/10/00-1/7/03)

Continued to serve in the unit until October of 1903.

Captains

James C. Hawker (25/2/93-27/8/93)

From the South Australian Permanent Force. Leased to WADF for 6 months.

Hector H Harvest (30/3/93-31/10/96)

Edward H S Calder (1/11/97-31/1/99)

Previously was a captain in the Royal Artillery.

Hatherley G. Moor (12/7/99-14/10/99)

Previously was a captain in the Royal Artillery. Had previous service in the Mashonaland War of 1897. Served in the 2nd Boer war as the leader of the 1st WAMI with the rank of Major where he was killed in action at the Battle Of Palmietfontein 19/7/00. He was the highest ranking officer of the WADF to be killed while at war. He was awarded 2 War Medals.

Lieutenants

John H Hurst (20/2/99-1/7/03)

Previosuly served in the Perth Artillery from 1896-1899 as a Lieutenant. Continued to serve in the unit after it transferred to federal control. He transferred to New South Wales in 1904