====== Victorian Militia ====== Also known as the **Victorian Militia Forces**, **Victorian Militia** is the nomenclature used in the official records. ===== Organisation ===== At its inception in 1884 it consisted of different units. Although listed as 'corps' in official records these were named and functioned as brigades. Each brigade was led by a major or captain. ==== Field Artillery Brigade ==== Inaugural commanding officer in 1884 was Major King. Divided into batteries, each commanded by a captain (although some had majors too). === A Battery === === B Battery === === C Battery === ==== 1st Brigade Garrison Artillery ==== Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Major Price. === No. 1 (Geelong) Battery === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Major J. or L. Price (page 127). === No. 2 Battery South Grant ? === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Major W. H. Hall (page 131). === No. 3 Footscray Battery === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Major Goldstein (page 137). === No. 4 Battery Williamstown === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Major Perin (?) (page 141). ==== 2nd Brigade Garrison artillery ==== === Portland Battery === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Major Jas Frangmar. === Belfast Battery === === Warrnambool Battery === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Major Cramer. ==== Engineer Corps ==== Commanded by a major. ==== 1st Battalion Victorian Rifles ==== Inaugural commanding officer in 1884 was Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred (?) Freeman. === A Company === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Major R Robertson. === B Company === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Major ? === C Company === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Captain W Gane. === D Company === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Captain John Lang. ==== 2nd Battalion Victorian Rifles ==== Inaugural commanding officer in 1884 was Lieutenant-Colonel ? Strength in 1884 was 664 officers and enlisted men. === A Company === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Captain ? === B Company === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Captain Christopherson (?) === C Company === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Lieutenant Powell. === D Company === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Captain A. Gillery (?) ==== 3rd Battalion Victorian Rifles ==== Inaugural commanding officer in 1884 was Lieutenant-Colonel ? === A Company === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Major L. H. Hildahl (?) === B Company === === C Company === === D Company === ==== 4th Battalion Victorian Rifles ==== Inaugural commanding officer in 1884 was Lieutenant-Colonel John Aitken(?). Based in Castlemaine in 1884. === A Company (Sandhurst Detachment) === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Major Pall...? === B Company (Sandhurst Detachment) === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Captain Dyason. === C Company === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Captain Thomas Templeton. ==== Victorian Cavalry ==== Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Captain R B Sibley. Possibly 'A Troop'? ==== Sunbury Section (?) ==== Page 90 ==== Field Artillery Brigade ==== Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Lieutenant-Colonel Turner. Some officers had a 'horse allowance' to hire horses. e.g. Page 95. Headquarters of Field Artillery Brigade in August 1885 listed as "117 Collins Street West". Payments appear to have been made from the Naval Military Forces (page 95). Total strength in August 1885 listed as: * A Battery: 80 * B Battery: 101 * C Battery: 98 * Headquarters: 2 Total 281. === A Battery === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Major King === B Battery === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Major John Hacher(?) === C Battery === Inaugural officer commanding in 1884 was Major A. Y. Woods. Also Captain W. W. Kelly. From page 95 ===== Bibliography ===== * National Archives of Australia. Records of the Victorian Militia. https://www.naa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-05/fs-134-colonial-defence-personnel-records-held-in-melbourne.pdf {{tag>"Victorian Militia"}}