Table of Contents
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