CONFLICT STATISTICS

BOER WAR

Contrary to popular belief and although the ANZAC tradition was reputed to have been born on the shores of Gallipoli, it was indeed forged on the battlefields of the 1899-1902 Boer War when Australian and New Zealand units fought side by side. Many historians are of the opinion that this was a war before Australia became a Federation and therefore not considered part of the ANZAC tradition. It is true that the war began in the last years of pre-federation. However, the last contingents were raised after Federation was declared and were known as the 'Australian Commonwealth Horse' (ACH) and its members wore the title AC. These contingents along with the newly titled Australian Army Medical Corps sailed to South Africa during the months of March to June 1902 and comprised the following:

 
ACH 1 st Battalion
ACH 2 nd Battalion

D Company from SA

ACH 3 rd Battalion
ACH 4 th Battalion

C Company from SA

ACH 6 th Battalion
ACH 8 th Battalion

Company from SA

Australian Army Medical Corps

A brief history of South Australia's contingent participation is as follows:

Part of 1 st Contingent, South Australian Infantry, 6 Officers, 121 Men.
Part of 2 nd Contingent, South Australian Mounted Rifles, 8 Officers, 113 Men.
Part of 3 rd Contingent, South Australian Bushmen's Corps, 6 Officers, 94 Men.
Part of 4 th Contingent, South Australian Imperial Bushmen's Corps, 12 Officers, 218 Men.
Part of 5 th Contingent, South Australian Imperial Bushmen's Corps, 22 Officers, 303 Men.
Part of 6 th Contingent, South Australian Imperial Bushmen's Corps, 11 Officers 127 Men.
Part of 7 th Contingent, 2 nd Battalion D Company ACH 5 Officers, 116 Men.
Part of 8 th Contingent, 4 th Battalion C Company ACH, 5 Officers, 116 Men.
Part of 9 th Contingent, 8 th Battalion Company ACH, 10 Officers, 231 Men.

Of the combined Australian force of approximately 875 Officers and 15,500 men, South Australia contributed 85 Officers and 1,439 Men, (1524 personnel, Times History Vol. 5, App. 1).

Discrepancies as to the actual numbers of personnel from SA exist with respect to numbers detailed on memorials, for example:

The South African War Memorial at the Corner of King William Street and North Terrace Adelaide unveiled in 1904 indicates 1531 personnel.

The plaque on the building at the Torrens Parade Ground Adelaide that was unveiled in 1936 indicates 84 Officers and 1450 Men (1534 personnel).

Of the 518 deaths caused by action or disease, 61 were South Australians.

South Australians were awarded the following decorations:

C.B. 3
D.S.O 8
D.C.M. 10
M.I.D. 42
R.R.C. 1

VICTORIA CROSS

Eleven South Australians have been awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for Valour


WORLD WAR 1

A.S. BLACKBURN V.C., C.B.E., E.D.
P. DAVEY V.C., M.M.
R.R. INWOOD V.C.
J. LEAK V.C.
L.C. WEATHERS V.C.
L.G. HAWKER V.C., D.S.O.
J.C. JENSEN V.C.
A.P. SULLIVAN V.C., C.B.

WORLD WAR 11

T.C. DERRICK V.C., D.C.M.
W.H. KIBBY V.C.


VIETNAM

P.J. BADCOE V.C.

Australian Overseas Service and Casualties with percentage killed of total served:

Waikato War 1864 – Contingent unknown – wounded unknown – killed 6
Sudan 1885 - 750 - wounded 3 - killed 9 approx 1.2%
Boer War The second conflict 11/10/1899-31/5/1902 - 16,363 - wounded 1,161 - killed 588 approx 3.6%
Boxer Rebellion 1900 - 556 - wounded unknown - killed 6 approx 1.1%
WW1 4/8/1914-11/11/1919 - 333,781 - wounded 226,073 - killed 60,454 approx 18.1%
(Armistice 11/11/18, Peace Treaty 28/6/1919)
WW2 3/9/1939-8/5/1945 - 575,799 - wounded 155,195 - killed 39,429 approx 6.8%
(VE Day, 8/5/1945. VJ Day, 14/8/1945)
Malaya 1948-1962 – Contingent unknown - wounded unknown - killed 39
Korea 1950-1953 - 14,087- wounded - 1,209 - killed 339 approx 2.4%
Borneo 1962-1964 – Contingent unknown - wounded 9 - killed 15
Vietnam 1962-1973 - 50,190 - wounded 2,398 - killed 512 approx 1%
Afghanistan 2001-2002 – Contingent unknown - wounded 6 - killed 1


South Australians killed with percentage of Australian deaths:

Boer War - 61 approx 10.3%
WW1 - 5565 approx 9.2%
WW2 - 3363 approx 8.6%
Korea - 12 approx 3.5%
Vietnam - 58 approx 11%

References:

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour cards.
Central Army Records Office.
Returned Services League

 

 

 
     
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