"COBBERS" The Fromelles Monument!

Hi
I just wanted to share a picture of a monument that really appeals to me. The statue is called "COBBERS" and is situated near the Shrine at Melbourne. My Regiment fired a 21 Gun Salute for the Queen's birthday at the Shrine last Saturday, (6 June 2009), and whilst there I took the oportunity, (like I always do when at the Shrine) to visit the "COBBERS".

19 July 1916 - 20 July 1916

Fromelles was the first major battle fought by Australian troops on the Western Front. Directed against a strong German position known as the Sugar Loaf salient, the attack was intended primarily as a feint to draw German troops away from the Somme offensive then being pursued further to the south. A seven-hour preparatory bombardment deprived the attack of any hope of surprise, and ultimately proved ineffective in subduing the well-entrenched defenders. When the troops of the 5th Australian and 61st British Divisions attacked at 6 pm on 19 July 1916, they suffered heavily at the hands of German machine-gunners. Small parts of the German trenches were captured by the 8th and 14th Australian Brigades, but, devoid of flanking support and subjected to fierce counter-attacks, they were forced to withdraw. By 8am on 20 July 1916, the battle was over. The 5th Australian Division suffered 5,533 casualties, rendering it incapable of offensive action for many months; the 61st British Division suffered 1,547. The German casualties were little more than 1,000. The attack was a complete failure as the Germans realised within a few hours it was merely a feint. It therefore had no impact whatsoever upon the progress of the Somme offensive.

Anyway, I think it's a fantastic monument to the Australian soldier. The picture was taken by some friend of our who are visiting from the US.That's me on the left.
Cheers for now.

MORMOAN CAVALRY (cont.): 2nd Regiment, Princess Hayley's Hussars.

(Apologies for the quality of the picture of the Uniform, but you get a good idea of the colours. I will update the picture ASAP)

Today, we will look at the 2nd Regiment; “Princess Hayley’s Hussars”
NAME: 2nd Regiment, "Princess Hayley’s Hussars”
Date Raised: 18 September 1701
MOTTO: "Eager To Strike”
Unofficial Motto: None Known to date.
Nicknames:"The Chestnuts" and “The Parrots”
Battle Honours: "Beaver Ridge", "The Hostile Wars" and "Port Philip 1728".
Brief History:
This regiment of Hussar was the second cavalry regiment to be raised by the Mormoans. The Parliamentary decree that authorized their raising stated that “A Regiment of Hussars be raised to provide scouts for the standing Army, and Escorts for dignitaries’ as required”.

Most of the Troopers were recruited from the “Well To Do” families. They are mounted on Chestnut horses, except for the Buglers, who ride Grey’s. The Regiment First saw action at Beaver Ridge, where they inflicted significant casualties on the French Colonists during the pursuit.
Regimental anecdotes and traditions:

The Regiment earned their motto at Beaver Ridge where they were being held in reserve. When they saw the 1^st Regiment being unleashed on the enemy many troopers were heard to cry out, “Is the 1^st to have all the glory”?

And:

“Sire, we too are eager to strike your enemies”!

The Regiment's Honorary Colonel is Princess Hayley, the King's third daughter. Initially they were simply “The 2^nd Regiment”, but when the nation became a Constitutional Monarchy they we’re renamed “The 2^nd Regiment, Royal Hussars”. When the King’s third daughter attended at Review of the Cavalry in 1743 with her Grandfather, (then King) she commented that she thought the 2^nd Regiment looked to be the best on parade.

“Poppy, I do so like the look of the Hussars, they look like those Parrots we feed each morning” she is said to have commented. “I think that it’s only fair that if my big sister has the Dragoons as her Regiment, that the fellows on little horses should have her little sister as their Honorary Colonel. Don’t you think Poppy”?

King Michael agreed, and decreed on 27 September, (his grand-daughter’s birthday), that “From henceforth the 2^nd Regiment will be known as Princess Hayley’s Hussars”!

Below we have a picture of the Regiments Guidon, (battle Flag),

Mormoan Militia (Part 1 continued)

The Clairmont Militia
Like many nations everywhere, The Holy Mormoan Kingdom of New Wales authorized the raising of Militia units, (Regiments, Battalions, Legions etc) very early in their history. The unit we will look at today is the Clairmont Militia:
NAME: The Clairmont Militia
Date Raised: 8 January 1726

MOTTO: "PER ARDUA" (Through Adversity)
Unofficial Motto: "We Hail From Struggletown".
Nicknames:"The Black Swans", “ Rawling's Swans” or "Kane's Geese"
Battle Honours: "Cadbury Hill 1733", "Launceston 1734", "Relief of Fort Clairmont 1735", "Van Demon's Land Campaign" and "Vinegar Hill1738".
Brief History: In 1730 King Michael sent his Brother, Grand Duke Colin with 3000 subjects and 500 troops to establish a colony on a large Island south of the mainland called Van Demon's Land. This became known as The Grand Duchy of Van Demon's Land. The 500 troops Grand Duke took with him were predominantly men that had recently arrived from the “Old World” (the British Nth American colonies). These men, (and their families), were keen to prove their worth .

These colonists had endured great deprivations to arrive in New Wales. They left the North American colonies due to religious persecution, and had lost over a third of their number on rout due to attacks from French and Spanish "supported" pirates, and severe storms at sea.

Prior to their movement to Van Demon's Land the new colonists, (including some 178 retired Royal Army soldiers) formed a Militia Regiment under the command of one Joseph Rawlings, who had been a well to do farmer back in the American Colonies. Consequently he had the funds and inclination to raise a Militia Regiment of 500 muskets. Rawlings was smart enough to draw all his NCOs and many of his Officers from the 178 ex-regulars. Consequently his Regiment was one of the finest and best drilled Militia units in the service of the King.

Initially they called themselves "Rawling's Regiment of Foot", but after they arrived in Van Demon's Land on 6 February 1730, re-named themselves The Clairmont Militia after the settlement they established.

The Regiment fought particularly well at the relief of Fort Clairmont in 1735, where it was heavily engaged against musket and spear armed natives who were supporting two battalions of the "French Pacific Island Company" (FPIC).

Regimental anecdotes and traditions:

When the Regiment formed in 1726, one of the drummers was a negro boy named Kane, (he was a runaway slave who had been with the Regiment's RSM since fleeing from a Virginian plantation). Whilst on a training march the Regiment stopped near a small lake and observed some Black Swans. Never having seen swans other that the white variety, one of the Soldiers commented that "...them thar geese are as black as Kane".

Drummer Kane rallied the Regiment at Cadbury Hill in 1733, when despite serious wounds stepped forward of the firing line in full view of his faltering regiment and beat the tune "STAND TOO". Suitably inspired, the regiment repulsed the enemy's charged with a devastatling volley and the bayonet, when many thought the regiment was on the verge of breaking into rout. They drove their opposite numbers from the field of battle. The Senior Drummer of the Regiment is always a Black Drummer. Kane later transfered to the Van Demon's Land Legion as Senior Drummer and helped train the drummers in the new Battalion!

A Time to Reflect

Hi All
A slight diversion from "goings On" in The HMKoNW.
Below are 4 photos taken by my wife on Black Saturday, (about two months ago), as the bushfires approached our little town of Broadford, (and our home). You can see the heat cloud building up to the southeast of our house, in the vicinity of another small community called Flowerdale. That small community was virtually destroyed,...
My family was evacuated not long after these photos were taken.
We got through un-harmed and with no damage.

Some Eye Candy

Hi all

Here are some pictures of work in progress, (near complete) of some New Wales Units.

I say "near complete, as I still need to add to the Militia their Colour (flag) and a bit more "ground scatter" to the bases.

First (above), we have two pictures of the now "Based" Raechel's Troop of the Maiden Guard. Below we have three pictures of the YARRA MILITIA, (or "Raggity Anns" as they have been nick-named). The miniatures are a mix of PERRY MINIATURES (AWI range), OLD GLORY (AWI), and EUREKA MINIATURES, ("Ragged Continentals"). I only wish I could paint well enough to do the figures justice. The PERRY and EUREKA figures are little works of art. OLD GLORY can be a bit "hit or miss" in my opinion.

Fortunatly for me, the OLD GLORY AWI Range of figures is one of their better lines.

Bree's Battery

Unit Name: Bree's Battery, Royal Regiment Of New Wales Artillery

Date Raised: 10 Aug 1705

Motto: "Saint Barbara Is With Us"!

Unofficial Motto: "Saint Barbara's Vengeance Is Delivered By Us"! and "Beware the 7th"

Nicknames: "Barbara's Boys"

Battle Honours: Ubique (Everywhere)

Brief History: Initially raised as a Militia Artillery Unit in 1701 by a Elder (Clergyman) of the Mormoan Church, named Elder Thomas Rassmussen.

Most of the Gunners came from German (Saxon and Hessian) colonists, and their uniform is distinctly Saxon in appearance. Initially the Battery was equipped with eight 6 Pdr Guns, and was named "Saint Barbara's Battery". Elder Rassmussen announced at the Battery's formation parade:

"With these 6 Pounder Guns we will deliver the vengeance of Saint Barbara, our Patron Saint, upon those who dare desecrate this most holy of lands. Remember always my brave Gunners, that God, and Saint Barbara will be watching over you always"!

At the relief of Fort Clairmont in 1735 the battery fought so well they were permitted to become part of the Royal Regiment Of New Wales Artillery.

Princess Ashlie inspected the Battery in 1744. So impressed was she that she ask her Grand-father, King Michael to have the Battery renamed after her infant daughter, Princess Breeanna. The Old King granted the wish of his Grand-daughter, and since that day the Battery has been known as "Bree's Battery".

Today the Battery is very large by normal standards, having four (4) rather than the usual two (2) Troops of most Artillery Batterys. "A" and "B" Troops are each equipped with four (4), 6 Pdr Guns, but "C" and "D" troops each have four (4) 12 Pdrs. Recently "A" and "B" troops have been sent to serve in Reich Duke Wilhelm Von Beerstein's Army. The Battery fought in the following battles and campaigns:

Beaver Ridge, Hostile Wars, Port Phillip 1728, Cadbury Hill 1733, Launceston 1734, Fort Clairmont 1735, Van Demon's Land, and Vinegar Hill 1738.

The uniform is dark blue, (so as limit the appearance of the inevitable stains Gunner's have on their uniform), with Red waistcoats an breeches (representing the "Fire" of the Guns), with Black facings and turnbacks, (representing the "Smoke" from the Guns). Officers have gold trim on their hats, (not red like the enlisted men), and Gold Trim on their Cuffs. The Guns themselves are painted Pale Blue.

Like all Mormoan Artillery Regiments and Battery's, their Battle Honour is "Ubique".

Regimental Anecdotes and Traditions: At the Battle of Cadbury Hill in 1733 the Battery mistakenly fired on the 7th Foot, "Von Manstien's" who they believed to be a French Battalion, (see the link to the 7th Foot). Hence the Unofficial Motto "Beware The 7th

A Gift From The Republic!

(LEFT: The Grand Star Of the Order Of The Republic Of Neues Sudland)
King Phillip I was looking at the latest reports from Col Ann, detailing his "activities" on the border with Dr Tross and his Balloon. With him was Grand Duke Colin and General Zillmann.

General Zillmann looked up from one report:

"It appears there have been some skirmishing with some natives and some "whites", but the "whites" appear not to be RNS Army."

"Well who are they"? asked the Grand Duke.

"French I suspect" murmered the King, half wishing not to be heared.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door, and the Captain of the guard entered:
"Sire, we have just received this from our neighbours"
The King was presented with a large box. Inside was a rather impressive looking decoration:
"I say, rather flash"! gasped the King.
"Sire, the accompanying document reads as follows;" stated the Captain:
"It is the wish of the people and Government of the Republic Of Neues Sudland that you be made a grand Companion of the Republic Of Neues Sudland blah blah drone drone,........"

"Well aren't I the spoilt one". Commented the King.

"Indeed Sire". (The Captain felt the need to agree).

"Well, it's almost like a sign from God! I'm convinced the RNS isn't behind our troubles" The King turned and looked out of the large window in his study.
"Either our antogonists are domestic, or external to this continent. Lets see if we can't see who's been a busy Bee".
The King sat down and looked at the horses being readied for the afternoon hunt.
"General, prepare the following orders for COL Ann;....."

TO BE CONTINUED