2nd(Fremantle) Battalion, Infantry Brigade 1861-1901

This unit was first raised on the 6^th September 1861 as the Fremantle Volunteer Rifle Corps under the command of Captain Price making it the oldest Western Australian military unit. The unit was lucky enough to acquire a Colour in 1862 which wouldn’t happen to another West Australian unit until the 1890’s. The unit however would suffer throughout the 1860’s due to poor leadership with there being 5 Commanding Officers within the space of 9 years. Captain Finnerty of the Pensioner Force attempted to help the unit but only met with some success. By early 1870 it was clear that the unit would not survive and it disbanded on the 8^th March 1870 with the resignation of Lieutenant Francisco.

Luckily another Infantry unit in Fremantle was raised in 1872 with renewed interest for the volunteer movement. It was officially gazetted on the 5^th October 1872 with the new name Fremantle Rifle Volunteers under the command of Captain (Later Major) Sutherland who would go on to command the unit for 13 Years. By 1876 the unit received ammunition for their new Martini-Henry Rifles and participated in many shooting matches with the Perth Rifles. And in the late 1870’s the unit became equipped with Home Service Helmets, replacing the Shako however the band kept the old shako hats.

In 1880 the strength was around:

1 Captain (Sunderland)
2 Lieutenants (Humble & Higham)
60 Riflemen
10 Bandsmen

By 1885 a second Company was raised and its strength in 1886 was:

1 Captain (Humble)
2 Lieutenants (Payne & Stone
118 Other Rank
16 Bandsmentry

In 1885 the command of the unit passed to Captain Humble who would lead for 4 years until Captain Payne lead the unit for 6 years. During Payne’s times as Captain in 1893 he created a Mounted Infantry Section of 25 Men who were the first unit in Western Australia to use the slouch hat. In November 1893 the unit was renamed C & D Companies, 1^st Volunteer Regiment but were commonly referred to as the Fremantle Infantry.

In 1894 the strength of the unit was:

2 Captains (Payne & Stone)
1 Lieutenant (Humble)
1 2^nd Lieutenant (Townsend)
74 Other Ranks
23 Bandsmen

This shows that the unit had diminished in size since the 1880’s however the rest of the decade would see quick growth for the Fremantle Infantry. Stone briefly took over as Captain before George Humble’s son, John Humble took over and would lead the unit for the next 7 Years. Throughout the decade it performed relatively bad in marksmanship even coming last in the Flemming Cup in 1900. However it did win the 1895 Flemming Cup with Sergeant Hicks being the best marksman. In 1897 the strength of the unit was:

3 Captains (Humble, Townsend, Gawler)
1 2^nd Lieutenant (Strelitz)
91 Other ranks

This shows that the unit had grown by around 15 men. Between 1899 and 1900 2 more Companies were raised and the unit probably numbered around 200 Men. In September 1900 the unit was renamed 2^nd Battalion, Infantry Brigade but was still often known as the Fremantle Infantry or Fremantle Rifles. On the 1^st July 1903 the unit was renamed to the D & E Companies, 11^th Infantry Regiment in line with federal control. In 1912 it became F Company, 86^th Infantry Regiment and in 1918 it became A & B Companies, 16^th Infantry Regiment which is now known today as the A & B Companies, 16^th Battalion (Cameron Highlanders Of Western Australia), Royal Western Australia Regiment.

During the 2^nd Boer War at least 11 members of the Fremantle Infantry served in South Africa though the number was probably much higher. 2 Served in the 1^st WAMI, 3 in the 2^nd WAMI, 1 in the 3^rd WAMI, 1 in the 5^th WAMI and 4 in the 6^th WAMI. 2 Fremantle Soldiers were killed and 1 soldier was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The 11 members consisted of 2 Lieutenants, 2 Sergeants and 7 Privates.

Between 1899 and 1900 2 more Companies were raised and the unit probably numbered around 200 Men. In September 1900 the unit was renamed 2^nd Battalion, Infantry Brigade but was still often known as the Fremantle Infantry or Fremantle Rifles. On the 1^st July 1903 the unit was renamed to the D & E Companies, 11^th Infantry Regiment in line with federal control. In 1912 it became F Company, 86^th Infantry Regiment and in 1918 it became A & B Companies, 16^th Infantry Regiment which is now known today as the A & B Companies, 16^th Battalion (Cameron Highlanders Of Western Australia), Royal Western Australia Regiment.

During the 2^nd Boer War at least 11 members of the Fremantle Infantry served in South Africa though the number was probably much higher. 2 Served in the 1^st WAMI, 3 in the 2^nd WAMI, 1 in the 3^rd WAMI, 1 in the 5^th WAMI and 4 in the 6^th WAMI. 2 Fremantle Soldiers. Pictured is Robert Corkhill DCM of the Fremantle Infantry who was selected to go to London for the coronation ceremony of King Edward VII in 1902

The names of those who served are as follows:

2^nd WAMI

3^rd WAMI

5^th WAMI

6^th WAMI

COMMANDING OFFICERS

LIST OF OFFICERS