4th Western Australian Mounted Infantry

4^th Western Australian Citizen’s Bushmen

The 4^th WAMI was raised in mid-march 1900 and trained until the 8^th May 1900 when it embarked for South Africa aboard the Manhattan where it arrived on the 19^th June. It consisted of 9 Officers and 118 other ranks led by Major James Rose.

Officers	9
Warrant Officers	1
NCO’s	19
Enlisted	98
Total	127

The unit arrived in South Africa at Port Elizabeth on the 18^th June 1900 and within a week was already seeing action in the north-east of the Orange Free State, fighting at Lindley, Leeuw Kop, Bethlehem, Palmietfontein, Stinkhoutboom and Jagersfontein suffering Pte Kay and Pte Illes killed and others wounded. They remained in the Orange Free State until September-October when the 4^th WAMI transferred to the central Transvaal where it would remain until January. In this new theatre the unit saw action at Machadodorp, Krugersdorp, Rhenoster Kop, H. Kraal, Crocodile River and Hekpoort, suffering a few more wounded.

 The 4^th WAMI then transferred to the Cape Colony for a short period in February fighting the enemy at Grasfontein and Yellow River suffering 1 wounded. The squadron moved back to Transvaal where it would remain from February to May, undertaking operations in the centre and south like Pietersburg and Bethel, suffering LCpl Fraser killed. The unit then headed to East London and embarked on boat to Cape Town and then to Western Australia where it arrived on the 20^th July 1901. The 4^th WAMI suffered 3 Killed and 15 non fatal casualties.

Timeline Of the 4^th WAMI

16/3/00: The 4^th WAMI is formed and begins training at Karrakatta (Irwin Barracks)

8/5/00: The 4^th WAMI departs Fremantle aboard the Manhattan for South Africa.

28/5/00: Beira, Portugese East Africa is reached and the troops disembark.

4/6/00: The troops re-embark and head for Durban, Natal.

6/6/00: The contingent arrives in Durban but the soldiers aren’t let off the ship until the 11^th.

16/6/00: The troops re-embark and head for Port Elizabeth, Cape Colony.

18/6/00: They arrive at Port Elizabeth and disembark the next day, immediately embarking on a train for Kroonstad.

22/6/00: In just 3 days the 4^th WAMI arrives in Kroonstad having travelled 600 miles by train.

23/6/00: the 4^th WAMI joins a 500 strong Column consisting primarily of the Yorkshire Regiment and Yeomanry units to relieve Lindley.

25/6/00: Lindley is reached after some fighting and the 4^th WAMI joins General Paget’s Column known as the 20^th Brigade. (General Paget had already seen fighting in the 2^nd Boer War, primarily at the battles of Belmont, Modder River and Magersfontein during which time he was mentioned in despatches twice.) (His brigade consisted of the Yorkshire Regiment, Royal Munster Fusiliers, South Staffordshire Militia, a battery of artillery and some Australian bushmen units.)

3/7/00: A battle took place outside Lindley at Leeuw Kop in which the 4^th WAMI distinguished themselves by saving the British artillery in desperate fighting in which the artillery suffered heavily with 3 officers killed among others.

6/7/00: A battle took place at Bethlehem resulting in an imperial victory. It took 3 days before all resistance was mopped up. The West Australians and South Australians led the assault for the town from the front. Total imperial casualties numbered 60 while the enemy lost 120. During the battle the 1^st WAMI supported the 4^th WAMI and together they suffered 3 wounded and 1 captured.

14/7/00: The 4^th WAMI is attached to General Broadwood’s column known as the 2^nd Cavalry Brigade. (General Broadwood suffered a major tactical blunder at Sanna’s Post previously but also received a mentioned in Despatches for his leadership of the 2^nd Cavalry Brigade as well as his leadership in the battle of Driefontein.)

19/7/00: The 4^th WAMI takes part in the battle of Palmietfontein along with the 1^st WAMI where they take part in a massive charge led by Major Moor (1^st WAMI). The 4^th WAMI suffers 1 killed (Pte Kay) and 2 wounded while other Westralian casualties amounted to 2 killed and 8 wounded.

22/7/00: The 4^th WAMI is reassigned to General Ridley’s Column.

24/7/00: At least some members of the 4^th WAMI are present for an engagement at Stinkhoutboom resulting in some being wounded.

24/7/00: The 4^th WAMI is present for an engagement at Vredefort where they capture 8 Boers but are forced to retreat due to heavy enemy fire.

13/8/00: The unit is attached to General Kitchener’s Column where they begin an advance to relieve Eland’s River.

24/8/00: Engagement at Jagersfontein, Pte Illes is killed.

9/11/00: The unit finally arrives in Pretoria after 3 months of marching against evading guerrilla forces.

20/11/00: The 4^th WAMI re-joins General Paget’s Column.

29/11/00: The squadron takes part in the frontal assault of Rhenoster Kop but does not suffer any casualties.

30/11/00: The 4^th WAMI is attached to General Plumer’s force.

7/12/00: The contingent marches to Waterval.

16/12/00: Arrival at Waterval after some rough skirmishing on the 13^th and 14^th.

30/12/00: Haman’s Kraal Engagement.

3/1/01: Crocodile River Engagement.

10/1/01: Severe fighting at Hekpoort lasts an entire day.

14/1/01: Arrival back in Pretoria.

19/1/01: Engagement outside Pretoria.

24/1/01: The 4^th WAMI marches to Balmoral.

30/1/01: Arrival at Balmoral after skirmishing on the 25^th.

5/2/01: Arrival at Neeuwport.

9/2/01: The 4^th WAMI marches to Colesberg.

12/2/01: Engagement against the enemy 12 miles from Colesberg, large number of prisoners taken.

15/2/01: Decisive skirmish at Hout Kraal after 3 continuous days of fighting. Large amount of enemy supplies captured.

24/2/01: After 2 days of fighting at Yellow River, 100 Boers surrender as well as 2 artillery pieces. The 4^th WAMI begins the return to Pretoria.

22/3/01: Arrival in Pretoria, the squadron leaves for Pietersburg.

8/4/01: Pietersburg is captured after 3 days of fighting. LCpl Fraser is killed in the battle.

13/4/01: The march back to Pretoria.

6/5/01: Arrival in Pretoria.

14/5/01-26/5/01: Continuous fighting around Pretoria against enemy guerrillas especially in the areas of Bethel and Standerton.

6/6/01: The 4^th WAMI leaves East London for Cape Town.

5/7/01: The 4^th WAMI leaves Cape Town for Albany, Western Australia.

20/7/01: The 4^th WAMI arrives back home in Western Australia.