Western Australian Mounted Infantry (Reserves)

WAMI Reserves 1900-1901

*Newcastle (Toodyay) Mounted Infantry in 1902*

This unit was formed due to the modernisation of the WADF in the late 1890’s and the need for a unified command structure of all mounted units in the colony. It was officially formed on the 7^th June 1900 as the Western Australian Mounted Infantry (Reserve) with 3 independent “sections”:

Bunbury Mounted Infantry (20^th January 1900)
Pinjarra Mounted Infantry (1^st March 1900)
Geraldton Mounted Infantry (April 1900)

After the announcement of the unit many other sections were raised:

Newcastle (Toodyay) Mounted Infantry (July 1900)
Northam Mounted Infantry (July 1900)
Cannington Mounted Infantry (August 1900)
Greenough Mounted Infantry (August 1900)
Fremantle Mounted Infantry (September 1900)
Busselton Mounted Infantry (October 1900)
Karridale Mounted Infantry (???)

Additionally, there were a number of unofficial civilian mounted infantry units:

Kalgoorlie Mounted Infantry (???)
Coolgardie Mounted Infantry (???)

*Officers and Warrant Officer of the Northam Mounted Infantry. (Left to Right) Sgt Maj Mostvn, Lt Strachan, Cpt Mitchell & Lt Throssell.*

These units operated independently of each other and did not receive proper equipment until 1901. Each section tended to number ~20-25 men with the exception of the first three sections raised which sometimes numbered up to 60 men. The maximum size of the W.A.M.I. (Reserves) was around 350.

On the 1^st July 1903 when it passed to full federal control it was renamed to the 18^th Light Horse Regiment, on the 1^st July 1912 it was again renamed to the 25^th Light Horse Regiment until in 1918 it was merged for the final time into the 10th Light Horse Regiment which had fought in the Great War and is the spiritual successor.

Cannington Mounted Infantry at their final parade as an independent section in 1904.

Donnybrook Squad of the Bunbury Mounted Infantry. The man on the white horse is the N.C.O. of the detachment, J. W. Everington, who by 1928 was the Lieutenant adjundant to the 11th (City of Perth) Regiment.

During the 2^nd Boer War at least 6 members (one of whom is an unknown officer who served with the 6^th WAMI) of the WAMI Reserves fought in the war. They consisted of 1 Lieutenant, 1 Corporal and 3 Privates. With 4 in the 5^th WAMI and 2 in the 6^th WAMI.

5^th WAMI

Name	Rank	Birthplace	Job	Age	Service Notes	Campaign Notes
John Gilmore	Pte	Greenough	Farmer in Geraldton	26	5 Months in the Greenough Mounted Infantry
David Passerini	Pte	VIC	Groom in Kalgoorlie	20	2 Months in the Kalgoorlie Mounted Infantry
Thomas A Stanford	Pte	VIC	Coachpainter in Perth	31	6 Months in the Coolgardie Mounted Infantry
Harris Davies	Lt	?	?	?	Previous service in the 3^rd Staffordshire Rifles (UK) (22 Months), 7 Months in the Pinjarra Mounted Infantry

6^th WAMI

Ralph B Penny	Cpl	England	Bank Clerk in Geraldton	21	6 Months in the Geraldton Mounted Infantry

LIST OF OFFICERS

Captains

Newton J Moore (1/4/00-1/7/03)

Previously served in the ranks of the Bunbury Rifles from 1894-1895. Previously served as a Lieutenant in the Bunbury Rifles from 1895-1900. From 1900-1903 he was made commander of the Bunbury Mounted Infantry with the rank of Captain. He continued to serve in that unit when it became the 18th light Horse Regiment until 1908 during which time he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Commanded the 18th Light Horse Regiment during 1908.

Switched to the Intelligence corps where he served until retiring in 1913. Rejoined the military in 1915 with the rank of Colonel where he commanded AIF units in the U.K. from 1915-1917. He was Awarded the K.C.M.G. and 1 long service medal. He served as the 8th premier of Western Australia from 1906 to 1910. He retired in 1930 with the rank of Honorary Major General.

James Mitchell (1/6/00-18/11/02)

Richard Robson (4/9/00-2/9/01)

Lieutenants

Harris Davies (22/5/00-1/7/03)

Was in the Pinjarra Mounted Infantry Section. Saw service in the 2^nd Boer War as a Lieutenant in the 5^th Contingent and was awarded the QSM. Continued to serve in the unit when it became the 18^th Light Horse Regiment until 5/10/08. Had prievous service in the English 3^rd Staffordshire Rifle Volunteers from 1887-1889.

Alfred E Thomas (22/5/00-1/7/03)

Was in the Pinjarra Mounted Infantry Section. Continued to serve in the unit when it became the 18^th Light Horse Regiment until 7/2/05.

A.N. Piesse (1/6/00-1/7/01)

James W Clydesdale (31/8/00-19/9/02)

Was in the Cannington Mounted Infantry Section.

George B Brainsford (1/12/00-4/3/03)

Was in the Cannington Mounted Infantry Section.

2^nd Lieutenants

A Purslove (22/5/00-20/6/00)

Was in the Pinjarra Mounted Infantry.

Arthur W Green (4/9/00-19/2/02)

William E Oliver (4/9/00-1/7/03)

Continued to serve in the unit when it became the 18^th Light Horse Regiment until 14/12/06.

Robert A Strachan (15/12/00-1/7/03)

Continued to serve in the unit when it became the 18^th light Horse Regiment until 18/12/07 eventually rising to the rank of Captain. Had previous service in the East Melbourne Artillery (3 Years) and the Prince Of Wales Light Horse (VIC) (3 Years).