History of the Flemming Cup

The Flemming cup is the oldest Australian military trophy and was first competed for in 1894. It was competed for as part of the WADF until 1902, initially only 7 teams competed for the cup but by the end of the competition there were 14 teams. After 1902 no competition for the cup was held for nearly 30 years and it remained in position of the Western Australian Artillery which had won it 3 times. The competition was reignited in 1933 and continued until 1939 when it was shelved forever with the outbreak of World War 2.

The team that won the cup was awarded 5 Pounds and another 5 pounds went to the best marksman. In today’s money that was around $800. The cup itself was named after Commandant Flemming and was also referred to as the Challenge Cup or the Commandant’s Cup. A small version of the cup also existed and was awarded to the best marksman. It was held in July of each year.

The Flemming Cup. Note the wording on the top says “Challenge Cup” and on the base it says “Of The Defence Force 1894”. The writing on the left & right I could not make out but a Black Swan is quite visible in the centre. The cup was made of Silver and stood 2 feet in height.

Flemming Cup Results

1894: Geraldton Rifles

In total 7 units took part in the first Flemming Cup for a prize of 5 Pounds to the best Marksmen and 5 Pounds to the winning team. Each squad was 7 men strong.

Unit	Points	Best Shot	Points
Geraldton Rifles	548	Sgt Hepburn	84
Perth Infantry	506	Pte Neeson	77
Plantagenet Rifles	497	Lt Troode	87
Permanent Force Artillery	484	–	–
York Infantry	469	Sgt Bower	80
Fremantle Infantry	439	Sgt Neylor	80
Perth Artillery	435	Walsh	75

1895: Fremantle Infantry

In total 7 units took part in the 1895 Flemming Cup.

Unit	Points	Best Shot	Points
Fremantle Infantry	559	Sgt Hicks	90
Geraldton Rifles	523	Sgt Trigg	84
Perth Infantry	513	Sgt O’Dea	88
Plantagenet Rifles	503	Pte Lindfield	86
York Infantry	489	Pte Dexter	80
Perth Artillery	487	Gnr Wear	81
Permanent Force Artillery	482	Gnr Wilson	75

1896: Geraldton Rifles

In total 7 units took part in the 1896 Flemming Cup

Unit	Points	Best Shot	Points
Geraldton Rifles	447	Pte Gregg	74
Perth Infantry	429	Pte Mellows	66
Plantagenet Rifles	419	Cpl Hodgkin	62
York Infantry	398	Sgt Bower	66
Fremantle Infantry	363	–	–
Permanent Force Artillery	359	–	–
Perth Artillery	344	Cpl Edwards	57

1897: York Infantry

In total 7 units took part in the 1897 Flemming Cup with the Plantagenet Rifles not participating and the Bunbury Rifles participating for the first time.

Unit	Points	Best Shot	Points
York Infantry	395	Colour Sgt Stewart & Pte Walker	62
Perth Infantry	392	Cpt Rose	62
Bunbury Rifles	381	Cpl Hill	69
Geraldton Rifles	375	Cpl Gregg	67
Fremantle Infantry	357	Pte W Naylor	58
Permanent Force Artillery	330	Sgt Manley	58
Perth Artillery	320	Gnr J Jose	58

1898: Permanent Force Artillery

In total 9 units took part in the 1898 Flemming Cup. The Guildford Infantry was brought in and the Albany Civilian Veterans made a satellite team.

Units	Points	Best Shot	Points
Permanent Force Artillery	441	Gnr Sutherland	71
Perth Infantry	440	Colour Sgt Weaver	66
York Infantry	423	Sgt Bower	71
Geraldton Rifles	415	Cpt Buchanan	63
Albany Veterans	391	Lt Troode & Mr. Moody	63
Bunbury Rifles	379	Sgt Hill	65
Fremantle Infantry	354	Pte Taylor	65
Perth Artillery	290	Sgt Walsh	53
Guildford Infantry	258	Cpl Hubert	53

1899 – Bunbury Rifles

In total 10 units took part in the 1899 Flemming Cup. The Perth and Fremantle Infantry each sent 2 teams.

Units	Points	Best Shot	Points
Bunbury Rifles	422	Sgt Hill	72
Combined Albany Team (Permanent Force Artillery + Support Artillery)	409	Gnr Geale	65
York Infantry	395	–	–
B Company, Perth Infantry	386	–	–
Perth Artillery	379	–	–
D Company, Fremantle Infantry	378	–	–
A Company, Perth Infantry	357	–	–
Geraldton Rifles	335	–	–
C Company, Fremantle Infantry	318	–	–
Guildford Infantry	284	–	–

1900: Permanent Force Artillery

In the 1900 Flemming Cup 10 Units took part in the competition with 3 from Fremantle. Unfortunately the Guildford Infantry did not take part in the competition.

Units	Points	Best Shot	Points
Permanent Force Artillery	452	Gnr Waller	72
York Infantry	417	Cpt Cowan	70
Bunbury Rifles	411	Sgt Hill	68
Geraldton Rifles	406	Pte Brindley	66
B Company, Perth Infantry	405	Pte Greaves	70
Perth Artillery	349	Sgt Edwards	65
D Company, Fremantle Infantry	348	Pte Baldwin	65
F Company, Fremantle Infantry	311	Pte Green	58
A Company, Perth Infantry	251	Pte Jones	56
C Company, Fremantle Infantry	243	Lt McLenaghan	57

1901: Bunbury Rifles

In the 1901 Flemming Cup 11 Units took part in the competition with the South West Mounted Infantry, Civil Service Battalion, The Subiaco Company and the return of the Guildford Infantry. This was held 6 months after Federation with the other colonies. The Perth Artillery was not present.

Units	Points	Best Shot	Points
Bunbury Rifles	460	Cpl R H Clifton	72
Permanent Force Artillery	456	Maj Beer	74
Perth Infantry	456	Cpl Helsham	73
Geraldton Rifles	424	Pte Milne	67
York Infantry	408	Lt Sweeney	72
4th Civil Service Battalion	402	Pte Sutherland	69
Albany Volunteer Artillery	384	Gnr A Playne	67
South West Squadron, Western Australian Mounted Infantry	379	Cpl Hurst	67
Fremantle Infantry	354	Cpl Allpike	61
Subiaco Company, Perth Infantry	313	Pte C Hatswell	58
Guildford Infantry	238	Sgt A Montgomery	59

1902: Permanent Force Artillery

For the final Flemming cup only 14 Units took part with the absence of the York infantry. However it saw the introduction of the various companies of the Goldfields Battalion Of Infantry. This was obviously planned to be the last competition as the prize money was 100 Pounds (Around $14,861 AUD in today’s money) rather than the usually 10 Pounds

Units	Points	Best Shot	Points
Permanent Force Artillery	469	Maj Beer	77
Bunbury Rifles	447	Cpl Murnane	72
South West Squadron, Western Australian Mounted Infantry	426	Cpt Moore	66
Menzies Company, Goldfields Battalion of Infantry	379	Cpl W. Wells	67
Perth Infantry	373	Colour Sgt Helsham	67
Fremantle Infantry	369	Cpt Humble	63
Boulder Company, Goldfields Battalion Of Infantry	367	Lt Wilson	60
Guildford Infantry	336	Pte Horner	64
Geraldton Rifles	333	Pte Fraser	63
4th Civil Service Battalion	332	Cpl Sheridan	58
Kalgoorlie Company, Goldfields Battalion Of Infantry	331	Pte Jewell	62
Albany Volunteer Artillery	322	Sgt.Maj Vaughan	55
Perth Artillery	294	Gnr McEacharn	51
Cannington Troop, Western Australian Mounted Infantry	292	Cpl Harris	63

The Flemming Cup in the 1930’s