Flemming Cup

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History of the Flemming Cup

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.

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 marksmen of the 1902 Permanent Force Artillery team the last such competition of the WADF. Note the smaller cup for the best marksman.
The marksmen of the 1902 Permanent Force Artillery team the last such competition of the WADF. Note the smaller cup for the best marksman.

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.

E G H McKenzie who 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.
E G H McKenzie who was awarded the Military Cross in the Great War.

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.