Perth Artillery 1870-1901
This unit was first formed in July 1870 as the Union Troop of Western Australian Mounted Volunteers as a Cavalry Troop under the command of Lt Fauntleroy. However, training in the ways of Artillery began in 1871 and by 1873 it was exclusively an artillery unit being renamed to the Western Australian Troop Of Volunteer Horse Artillery and placed under the command of Cpt Weld-Blundell and soon after Cpt Philips who would lead the troop for the next 5 years. This made it the first Western Australian artillery unit. Throughout the 1870s the unit was used for ceremonial purposes and took part in training with other units.
In 1879 command of the unit passed to Cpt Haynes who would be the CO for the next 2 decades. in 1882 it ceased to be horse artillery and was redesignated as the Perth Artillery Volunteers. The 1880s saw budget cuts to the unit and each gunner was only allowed to fire once a year. In 1886 the strength of the unit was:
1 Captain (Philips) 38 Men
In the 1890s and early 1900s the Perth Artillery took part in the Flemming Cup on all occasions less 1901. The Perth Artillery was extremely bad at marksmanship coming last in 1894, 1896 and 1897 and came second last in 1895, 1898 and 1902. Their best years were 1899 and 1900 in which they were about average.
Throughout the early 1890s the unit hovered at a strength of around 40 personnel but by 1897 had risen drastically to over 90 personnel.
1889 | 1 Captain (Haynes), 1 2nd Lieutenant (Hobbs) | 40 Men |
1894 | 1 Major (Haynes), 1 Captain, (Stone), 1 Lieutenant (Hobbs) | 41 Men |
1897 | 1 Major (Hobbs), 1 Captain (H Hurst), 1 Lieutenant (J Hurst) | 88 Men |
In 1897 the unit was redesignated as the No. 1 (Perth) Battery, Field Artillery. It was heavily modernized, doubled in size and became a much more capable military unit. After 2 decades of service Major Haynes was pro BGatterymoted to command all field artillery in the WADF and as such the new CO was Major Hobbs who would lead the unit until 1908. In 1897 it had a total of 4 artillery pieces.
Please click on first image to view Gallery of the No 1 (Perth) Battery, Field Artillery
In 1901 the unit passed to federal control and by 1903 was renamed as the No 1. Western Australian Battery, Australian Field Artillery. In 1911 it was renamed to the No. 14 Battery, Australian Field Artillery. But this didn’t last long as the unit had now grown far larger and was split into 2 different units: The 14th Battery, Field Artillery and the 20th Battery, Field Artillery. It’s lineage along with all other WA artillery units is continued today by the 3rd Battery, 9th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery.
During the 2nd Boer War, 31 men were accepted to serve with the Western Australian Mounted Infantry. 23 in the 1st WAMI, 2 in the 2nd WAMI, 1 in the 3rd WAMI, 2 in the 4th WAMI, 1 in the 5th WAMI and 2 in the 6th WAMI. Some of those that served in the 1st & 2nd WAMI did a second tour with the 5th & 6th WAMI. The men consisted of 4 Captains, 2 Lieutenants, 1 Sergeant Major, 3 Sergeants, 2 Corporals, 2 Lance Corporals, 1 Bugler and 16 Privates. Members of the Perth Artillery suffered 2 killed and 7 wounded/sick. Members of the Perth Artillery received 1 Victoria Cross, 3 Distinguished Service Orders and 3 Mentioned in Despatches
1st WAMI
Name | Rank | Birthplace | Job | Age | Service Notes | Campaign Notes |
8. Frederick Bell | Pte | WA | Civil Servant | 24 Years 4 Months | 3 Years 4 Months in the Perth Artillery | Dangerously Wounded in the Battle Of Palmietfontein 19/7/00 Served again with the 6th WAMI becoming a LT and being awarded the Victoria Cross and MID |
14. David Saunders | Pte | SA | Railway Employee | 26 Years | 1 Year in the Perth Artillery | |
19. George Jones | Pte | VIC | Mechanic | 21 Years | 4 Months in the Perth Artillery | |
21. Alfred J Bessell Brown | Sgt Lt (Apr 1900) | NZ | Civil Servant | 22 Years | 3 Years 3 Months in the Perth Artillery | Later joined the 5th Contingent as as a Captain was later awarded the Distinguished Service Order and MID twice |
28. Frank Balding | Pte | VIC | Carpenter | 21 Years | Previous Service in the Perth Infantry (15 Months) 3 Months in the Perth Artillery | |
29. Charles F. Campbell | Pte | England | Civil Servant | 20 Years | 5 Months in the Perth Artillery | |
33. Barton S Lessey | Sgt | England | Detective | 29 Years 11 Months | 9 Months in the Perth Artillery | Dangerously Wounded in the Battle Of Palmietfontein 19/7/00 and was mentioned by C.O. in despatches twice |
39. Robert S Pye | Pte | VIC | Traveler | 24 Years | Previous Service in the VIC Garrison Artillery (1 Year 8 Months), VIC Infantry (1 Year) 1 Year and 6 Months in the Perth Artillery | |
40. Charles Scott | Pte | VIC | Bootmaker | 21 Years 5 Months | 1 Year 7 Months in the Perth Artillery | Severely wounded in the battle of Vet River 9/5/00 |
41. Percy Edwards | Pte | VIC | Clerk | 24 Years 10 Months | Previous Service in the VIC Field Artillery (3 Years 9 Months) 8 Months Perth Artillery | |
45. John C Yeo | Pte | VIC | Law Clerk | 21 Years | 1 Year 9 Months in the Perth Artillery | |
49. Richard Austin | Pte | VIC | Accountant | 26 Years | 15 Months in the Perth Artillery | |
51. Levi France | Pte | VIC | Stonemason | 21 Years | Previous Service in the Perth Infantry (1 Year) 2 Months in the Perth Artillery | Wounded in the Battle Of Western Australia Hill 9/2/00 |
66. John G W Vernon | Cpl Sgt (Oct 1900) | England | Electrician | 26 Years | Previous Service in the VIC Permanent Artillery (5 Years) Harbour Trust Battery G A V (1 Year) 9 Months in the Perth Artillery | |
74. James Cunningham | Cpl | SA | Printer | 22 Years | 15 Months in the Perth Artillery | Severely wounded in the Slingersfontein engagement 7/2/00 First West Australian Casualty |
75. John Barry | Sgt | SA | Plasterer | 27 Years | 14 Months in the Perth Artillery | Awarded the Distinguished Conduct medal in the Battle of Johannesburg |
83. William C Millis | Pte | NSW | Clerk | 20 years 11 Months | 2 Years 6 Months in the Perth Artillery | |
87. Edward R Campbell | Pte LCpl (Feb 1900) | VIC | Carpenter | 24 Years 7 Months | 2 Years 6 Months in the Perth Artillery | |
93. George Johnston | Bugler | VIC | Clerk | 25 Years 6 Months | Previous Service in the VIC Rangers (2 Years) 11 Months in the Perth Artillery | Was the designated Bugler for the 1st WAMI |
96. Michael Conway | Cpl | VIC | Tramway Employee | 28 Years 4 Months | Previous Service in the VIC Field Artillery (?) ? time in the Perth Artillery | Killed in the Battle Of Western Australia Hill 9/2/00 First West Australian Soldier killed in combat |
116. Thomas McFarlane | Pte | VIC | Grocer | 21 Years 10 Months | 5 Months in the Perth Artillery | Severely wounded in the Zand River Engagement 11/5/00 |
Francis W M Parker | Lt Cpt (Jan 1901) | WA | Solicitor | 23 Years | Previous Service in the Perth Mounted Rifles (?) 5 Years 6 Months in the Perth Artillery | Acting Commander of the 1st WAMI from Jul-Dec 1900 Awarded the Distinguished Service Order and MID |
J Campbell | Lt Cpt (Dec 1900) | Scotland | Civil Servant | 23 Years | 3 Years 6 Months in the Perth Artillery | Later joined the 6th WAMI Mentioned in C.O. Despatches |
2nd WAMI
4. George Slawson | Pte | VIC | Iron-Monger | 26 Years | 2 Months in the Perth Artillery | |
John De Castilla | Lt | Scotland | Officer | 33 Years | Previous service in the 1st Aberdeen Engineers (2 Years) 10 Months in the Perth Artillery | Awarded the DSO |
3rd WAMI
| Howard E Hurst | Cpt | 12 Years 11 Months in the Perth Artillery | Served as 2IC of the 3rd WAMI Mentioned by C.O. in Despatches |
4th WAMI
3. John Wood | Sgt Maj (Warrant Officer) | London | Policeman | 37 Years | Previous Service in the Royal Artillery (7 Years 6 Months) 2 Years in the Perth Artillery | Ill with Typhoid 15/7/00 |
Eustace Vernon | Lt Cpt (Apr 1902) | 2 Months service in the Perth Artillery | Later Served in 6th WAMI |
5th WAMI
| 142. Arthur H Ashmead | Pte | NSW | Draughtsman in Perth | 25 Years | 17 Months in the Perth Artillery |
6th WAMI
339. Arthur Blanck | Pte | South Australia | Carpenter in Perth | 21 Years | 2 Years in the Perth Artillery | Died Of Wounds at Middelburg as a result of the Battle Of Carolina 18/5/01 |
494. Harry G Wright | Lcpl | England | Prospector in Bridgetown | 35 Years | Previous Service in the Fremantle Artillery (2 Years) 1 Year in the Perth Artillery |
COMMANDING OFFICERS
Lt Cornelius C Fauntleroy (28/9/70-7/7/73) (3 Years)
Cpt Henry J Weld-Blundell (20/6/73-12/5/74) (1 Year)
Cpt George B Philips (12/5/74-29/9/79) (5 Years)
Maj Edward W Haynes (29/9/79-24/5/97) (18 Years)
Maj Joseph J T Hobbs (24/5/97-1/7/03) (6 Years)
LIST OF OFFICERS
Majors
Edward W Haynes (15/6/78-24/5/97)
Served as a Lieutenant from 1878-1883. Served as a Captain from 1883-1894. Served as a Major from 1894-1897. From 1896-1897 he was appointed the commanding officer of the Perth District. In 1897 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel to command all Field Artillery in Western Australia until 1909 when he retired.
Joseph J T Hobbs (26/4/89-1/7/03)
Had previous artillery service in an English militia from 1883-1886. Served as an enlisted in the unit from 1887-1889. Served as a 2nd Lieutenant from 1889-1891. Served as a Lieutenant from 1891-1896. Served as a Captain from 1896-1897. Served as a Major from 1897-1903. Continued to serve in the unit when it became the No 1 WA Battery, AFA. In 1908 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and given command of the Western Australian Brigade. In 1912 he was given command of the 22nd Infantry Brigade. In 1913 he was promoted to Colonel.
In 1914 he was appointed the commander of the divisional artillery of the 1st Division to serve in the great war. Between 1915-1916 he commanded the 1st Division. In 1917 he was promoted to the rank of Major General and given command of the 5th Division which he led until the end of the war. In 1918 he was promoted to Lieutenant General and commanded the Australian Army Corps immediately after the war ended. He had also served as the A.D.C. to the Governor General from 1908-1918. He retired in 1920. During the war he suffered from disease on campaign.
He was awarded 1 Long Service Medal, 1 Ceremonial Medal, The K.C.B., C.M.G., Croix de Guerre (France), Order of the White Eagle (3rd Class) (Serbia), MID (8 Times) and 3 war medals.
Captains
Henry J Weld-Blundell (20/6/73-12/5/74)
George B Philips (7/7/73-29/9/79)
He served as a Lieutenant from 1873-1874 and as Captain from 1874-1879. In 1879 he was appointed as a Staff Officer and retired in 1893.
William A Stone (12/5/74-1/3/96)
Served as a Lieutenant from 1874-1878 when he was transferred to be A.D.C. to the Governor. In 1880 he retired. In 1893 he returned to the unit as a Lieutenant. He served as Lieutenant from 1893-1894 and then as Captain from 1894-1896.
Howard E Hurst (7/3/96-1/7/03)
Served in the ranks of the unit from 1887-1896 rising to the rank of Sergeant. Served as 2nd Lieutenant from 1896-1897, Lieutenant in 1897 and as a Captain from 1897-1900. He joined the 3rd WAMI and saw service in the 2nd Boer War. He received 2 War Medals and a mentioned in commander’s despatches.
John De Castilla (17/3/99-1/2/02)
Served as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1899. Served as a Lieutenant from 1899-1900. Served in the 2nd Boer War as a Lieutenant in the 2nd WAMI. Served as a Captain from 1901-1902. He was awarded the DSO, MID and 2 war medals.
Edmund J H Nicholson (1/3/00-1/7/03)
Previously served in the South Australian Artillery from 1891-1892 as an enlisted and from 1892-1896 as a Lieutenant. He served as a Lieutenant from 1900-1903. He continued to serve in the unit when it became the 1 Company, A.G.A. until 1908 when he retired. He returned in 1909 as a Major in the Intelligence Corps. In 1914 he became staff Captain at the Field Artillery Headquarters AIF in the Great War. In 1916 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and in 1917 was appointed Chief of Royal Engineers for the 2nd Division. Later in the year he was appointed Chief of Royal Engineers for the Australian Corps which he served as until 1918. He remained part of the AIF until the end of 1919.
He commanded the 1st Pioneer Battalion for a short time and commanded the 10th Light Horse Regiment from 1919-1921 when he retired. In 1930 he was given the honorary rank of Colonel. He received the C.M.G., DSO, Order of Karageorge (Serbia), MID (5 Times) and 3 War Medals.
Lieutenants
Francis De Lisle (19/7/70-???)
Had previously served as a cornet in the Pinjarra Mounted Infantry in 1870. Served as a Lieutenant from 1870-1878 when he was last mentioned.
Cornelius C Fauntleroy (28/9/70-7/7/73)
Served as a cornet from 1870-1872. Served as a Lieutenant from 1872-1873.
John H Hurst (20/3/96-20/2/99)
Served as 2nd Lieutenant from 1896-1897 and as a Lieutenant from 1897-1899. He later transferred to the Permanent Artillery in 1899 and again to New South Wales in 1904.
Francis M W Parker (30/11/97-17/10/99)
Served in the ranks of the unit from 1894-1897. Served as a 2nd Lieutenant from 1897-1898 and as Lieutenant from 1898-1899. He served with the 1st WAMI as a Captain in South Africa where he served as CO after Major Moor’s death. Upon return he was sent to the WADF Staff. In 1901 he retired. He returned in 1903 as a staff officer with the rank of Major. He retired again in 1906. He returned again in 1911 as a Major in the 18th Light Horse Regiment. He retired for a third time in 1912. He returned for a third time in 1913 as a Major in the 38th Battery, A.F.A. and in 1914 was appointed as a Captain in the 8th Battery, Field Artillery AIF for service in the Great War.
He then died of disease In Egypt in 1915e. He received 1 Long Service Medal, 5 War Medals and was awarded an MID.
John S T Hughes (22/10/98-21/4/03)
Served as a Lieutenant from 1898-??? Before becoming and adjutant with the rank of Captain.
Lieutenants cont.
Alfred J Bessell-Brown (22/4/00-26/5/01)
Served in the 2nd Boer War as an officer in the 1st WAMI with the rank of Lieutenant and again in the 5th WAMI as the commanding officer with the rank of Captain. Retired from 1902-1908. Returned as a captain in the No 1 W.A. Battery, A.F.A. in 1908. In 1911 he was promoted to Major and joined the 13th Australian Field Artillery Brigade. In 1914 he joined the 8th Battery, Field Artillery to fight in the Great War which he stayed with until 1915.
In 1915 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and commanded the 2nd Australian Field Artillery Brigade in the great war until 1917. From 1917 to 1920 he served in various staff positions including A.D.C. to the Governor General where he was promoted to Colonel. From 1921 to 1923 he commanded the 3rd Australian Field Artillery Brigade and the 5th Division Headquarters. He retired in 1923 but remained as an honorary colonel of the 28th Regiment and 3rd Field Brigade on the unattached list until 1935. He was awarded the DSO, C.B., C.M.G., DSM (USA), MID (9 times), 5 war medals and 3 long service medals.
2nd Lieutenants
Gerard H Smith (20/1/96-1/1/97)
Became paid A.D.C. to the governor. He retired in 1898
John Campbell (28/4/99-17/10/99)
Served in the ranks of the unit from 1896-1899. Served in the 2nd Boer War as a Lieutenant in the 1st WAMI and later as the Major commanding the 6th WAMI. He was awarded the MID and 2 War medals.
Eustace Vernon (22/1/00-15/3/00)
Joined the 4th WAMI as a Lieutenant for service in the 2nd Boer War. He was then promoted to Captain and attached to the 6th WAMI in 1902. In 1903 he became a 2nd Lieutenant in the Australian Field Artillery but by 1905 had retired. He received 2 War Medals.
