1st Australian Horse

August 2019 1st Australian Horse 1897–1902 New South Wales (1897–1901) Australia (1901–1902) British Empire Army Mounted infantry Men: 141 Horses:157 Second Boer War Distinguished Conduct Medal South Africa: 1899-1900 The 1st Australian Horse was a mounted infantry regiment of the Colony of New South Wales that was formed in 1897. The 1st Australian Horse wore distinctive myrtle green uniforms with black embroidery. History Formation The regiment was raised on 28 August 1897 at Murrumburrah, New South Wales, as the 1st Australian (Volunteer) Horse.http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231810030 Our Volunteers The Australian Star (Sydney), Friday 1 October 1897, p.5 9 March 2017 The unit recruited primarily from New South Wales, and had detachments in Murrumburrah, Gunnedah, Gundagai, Quirinidi, Mudgee, and various other NSW towns.https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U52001 1st Australian Horse www.awm.gov.au en 2018-03-04 Second Boer War When the Second Boer War began in late 1899, New South Wales raised multiple contingents which included detachments from the regiment. The first contingent left Newcastle on 14 November 1899 for Cape Town, South Africa, arriving on 13 December, with a second contingent leaving Sydney on 17 January 1900, arriving 23 February.. Two detachments of the regiment served under General John French's Cavalry Division during the Second Boer War in 1899, composed of 141 men and 157 horses. The first detachment fought in the Battle of Slingersfontein on 16 January 1900 resulting in heavy casualties, and the first Australian casualty of the war.Australia and the Boer War, 1899–1902 https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/atwar/boer live 28 April 2021 Australian War Memorial https://web.archive.org/web/20180324185402/https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/atwar/boer 24 March 2018 The unit then participated in the Battle of Poplar Grove and took part in occupying the towns of Driefontein and Bloemfontein. The regiment also took part in both the advance to Pretoria and the Battle of Zand River, as well as the subsequent Surrender of Pretoria on 1 June. They also saw action in the Battle of Belfast in 1901, where General Kitchener commended the 1st Australian Horse for its "gallant conduct"; later withdrawing from South Africa by late March of the same year, arriving back in Sydney on 2 May on board the transport ship Tongariro. Commanding officer MacKay, James Alexander Kenneth (Kenneth Mackay) References 30em Category:Infantry units and formations of Australia Category:Military units and formations established in 1897 Category:Military units and formations of the Second Boer War Category:Colony of New South Wales