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.
Sgt Hepburn won 5 Pounds ($820 In todays money) for best Marksman on the winning team. The Geraldton team in total received 5 Pounds and Lt Troode from the Plantagenet Rifles was awarded 5 Pounds and a small silver cup from Mr. W. Hooper for the highest individual score.
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 |
The Perth Infantry shortly after challenged the Plantagenet Rifles to fight under the same conditions and the 2 forces met in late July. The Perth Infantry won the fight with best Perth Marksman Pte M L Loyd (88) and best Plantagenet Marksman Lt Troode (81). The Perth Infants also challenged the Permanent Force Artillery which they beat again with Pte J Neeson being top marksman (88 Points).
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 |
Summary
Winning Teams
1894: Geraldton Rifles
1895: Fremantle Infantry
1896: Geraldton Rifles
1897: York Infantry
1898: Permanent Force Artillery
1899: Bunbury Rifles
1900: Permanent Force Artillery
1901: Bunbury Rifles
1902: Permanent Force Artillery
Best Shot
Names in bold represent they were from the winning team as well.
1894: Sgt Hepburn (Geraldton Rifles)
1895: Sgt Hicks (Fremantle Infantry)
1896: Pte Gregg (Geraldton Rifles)
1897: Cpl Hill (Bunbury Rifles)
1898: Gnr Sutherland (Permanent Force Artillery) & Sgt Bower (York Infantry)
1899: Sgt Hill (Bunbury Rifles)
1900: Gnr Waller (Permanent Force Artillery)
1901: Maj Beer (Permanent Force Artillery)
1902: Maj Beer (Permanent Force Artillery)

The Flemming Cup in the 1930’s
The Flemming cup in the 1930’s was open to all Militia and Permanent Forces in Western Australia. Each team consisted of 1 officer and 9 men who would take rifle and machine gun shots from a range of 200-500 yards. It was held in February of each year.
It was first held in 1933 with the best team being from A Company, 44th (West Australian Rifles) Battalion. Second place was A Company, 11th/16th (City of Perth/Cameron Highlanders of Western Australia) Battalion. Third place was the Royal Australian Artillery and fourth place was B Company, 44th (West Australian Rifles) Battalion.

Although the cup was held between 1934-1936 we don’t know which dates were won by who but we do know that 1 of these was won by the 44th Battalion. The 1937 Cup had 6 teams compete and was won by the 44th Battalion team led by Captain K L Paris at a range of 200-600 yards
2nd Place: Royal Australian Artillery (Permanent Force)
3rd Place: 3rd Brigade, Royal Australian Artillery
4th Place: Engineers
5th Place: 11th (City of Perth) Battalion
Last Place: 28th (Swan) Battalion
We unfortunately don’t have any information on who won the 1938-1939 cups. It’s important to note that there was an unofficial Flemming Cup Competition held in June between various Rifle Clubs.
E G H McKenzie was awarded the Military Cross in the Great War. He was the leader of the A Company, 44th Battalion team which won the 1933 cup.