Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Contingent
In 1897 as part of Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee celebration for 50 years on the throne, the WADF sent a small force to London to take part in the celebrations and to represent the colony. It was the first deployment of any Western Australian military force. The force consisted of 3 Officers and 33 enlisted. With 23 coming from 6 different infantry units and 11 coming from 2 different artillery units as well as 2 from headquarters. During the deployment one soldier, Private Sneller died in an accident making him the first death on deployment from Western Australia (Check the honour roll if you would like to know more). The Contingent left in May 1897 and returned in August 1897.
The following is a list of all 36 men who deployed:
Leaders
Cpt Strickland (CO) (Perth Infantry)
Cpt Hobbs (2IC) (Perth Artillery)
Cpt Campbell (Adjutant) (Headquarters)
Sgt Maj Cook (Coy Sgt Maj) (Headquarters)
Sgt Maj Sparks (Senior NCO of Artillery) (Perth Artillery)
Sgt O’Dea (Senior NCO of Infantry) (Perth Infantry)
Perth Infantry (7):
Sgt Weaver
Cpl White
Pte Tillotson
Pte Greig
Pte Parker
Pte Buckingham
Pte Syers
Fremantle Infantry (4)
Sgt Fromersdorf
Cpl Burns
Pte Cooper
Pte Sweeney
Geraldton Infantry (4)
Lcpl Scott
Pte Moore
Pte Ferguson
Pte Sneller
Bunbury Infantry (4)
Cpl Kean
Pte Oldham
Pte Arnot
Pte Harrington
York Infantry (1)
Pte Christie
Guildford Infantry (1)
Pte Wilson
Perth Artillery (5)
Sgt Walsh
Bdr Edwards
Bdr Knight
Bdr Deblin
Gnr Ellis
Fremantle Artillery (4)
Sgt Maj Cook
Bdr Killeen
Gnr Froud
Gnr Barw
