Permanent Force Artillery 1893-1901
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
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
