THIS PAGE IS PART OF THE DEFENDING VICTORIA WEBSITE 
3rd 'BUSHMEN'S' CONTINGENT
Victorian Mounted Rifle
Regiment
Departed Melbourne in SS Euryalus 10 March 1900.
Victorian nurses and 24 Cameron's Scouts sailed with this
contingent.
230 of the Bushmen were farmers or involved in primary production.
The only Victorian contingent to wear 'Garibaldies' (a long
jacket).
Principal engagements: Eland's River,
Rhenoster Kop,
De Aar campaign, Pietersburg.
Departure of SS Euryalus.
Members of the Third
'Bushmen's' Contingent at the Langwarrin Training Camp outside Melbourne, prior
to departure for South Africa.
SOLDIER PROFILES
Farrier-Sergeant Roderick McSwain
|
Roderick McSwain was a blacksmith
by trade. After completing his twelve
months of active service with the
Victorian Bushmen's Contingent,
Farrier-Sergeant R. McSwain was
transferred to the South African
Constabulary and soon gained
promotion as a sergeant in that
Police Force. |
No. 418 Trooper Sam
Oliver
Killed in
action
|
22 July 1900
The Bushmen's contingent
was in action facing 900
Boers at Koster's Farm,
Rustenburg. Trooper
Sam Oliver of Milawa,
Victoria,was among a few
men to take charge of the
horses, a primary target
of the Boers. 'Your son',
his Lieutenant wrote to
Oliver's parents, 'behaved
with great gallantry in
trying to save some horses
and was surrounded by the
enemy and shot down. His
body was riddled with bullets'.
Photo and information provided
by his proud grand nephew. |
Books about Australia's
part in the Boer War
(have a peek without leaving this
site)
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