Media: EBOOK - download
File format: PDF file 6MB (289 pages)
Author: F. Hutchinson
Year: (1885) 2023
ISBN: 9781920978129
Publisher: Archive Digital Books Australasia

The full title of this publications is: 'The Australian Contingent: A History of the Patriotic Movement in New South Wales and an Account of the Despatch of Troops to the Assistance of the Imperial Forces in the Soudan'.

This is a small but important work. It tells the story of the Australia (New South Wales) Contingent in the Soudan War from March to June 1885. The contingent, an infantry battalion of 522 men and 24 officers and an artillery battery of 212 men, was ready to sail on 3 March 1885. It left Sydney amid much public fanfare. Support was not, however, universal, and many viewed the proceedings with indifference or even hostility. The nationalist Bulletin ridiculed the contingent both before and after its return. Meetings intended to launch a patriotic fund and endorse the government's action were poorly attended in many working-class suburbs, and many of those who turned up voted against the fund. In some country centers there was a significant anti-war response, while miners in rural districts were said to be in 'fierce opposition'.

The contingent arrived back in Sydney on 19 June. They were expecting to land at Port Jackson and were surprised to disembark at the quarantine station on North Head near Manly as a precaution against disease. One man died of typhoid there before the contingent was released. Five days after their arrival in Sydney the contingent, dressed in their khaki uniforms, marched through the city to a reception at Victoria Barracks where they stood in pouring rain as a number of public figures, including the Governor, Lord Loftus, the Premier, and the commandant of the contingent, Colonel Richardson, gave speeches. It was generally agreed at the time that, no matter how small the military significance of the Australian contribution to the adventure, it marked an important stage in the development of colonial self-confidence and was proof of the enduring link with Britain.

Also in this publication is a listing of 'Subscriptions to the Patriotic Fund'. This gives personal and business names, and the amount paid to support the fund by each contributor.

Contents:
Introduction
The Impulse
The First Act
The Appeal
The Response
'Australia in Arms'
The Critics
The Preparations
The Review
The Consecration
The Departure
The Public Voice
The Country
The World's Approval
The Sanction of Parliament
Australian Results
Broad Effects
Mr Dalley in the Country
In the Soudan
The Arrival and Welcome
Appendix A. The Representative Speeches
Appendix B. Sir Edward Strickland's Letter
Appendix C. List of the Contingent
Appendix D. A Letter from Sir Henry Parkes
Appendix E. The Record of the Campaign, vide 'Sydney Morning Herald'
Appendix F. The Imperial Parliament, and the Colonial Troops in the Soudan
Appendix G. Subscriptions to the Patriotic Fund

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

High quality scanned images of the whole of the original book, bookmarked for easy navigation. Pages can be searched, browsed, enlarged and printed out if required.

NOTE: this product is normally supplied as a digital download 

• You will be sent an order confirmation email with a download link when you place an order

------------------------------------------------------------

NEW OPTION - get it on USB - rather than download

If you prefer to have this on physical media - add a USB drive to your order

• multiple products in an order can be put onto a single USB
• we will take the inclusion of a USB in your order as a request to supply the ebook/s on USB instead of download

OVER 2000 DATA CD products can now also be supplied on the USB - instead of CD

Eligible products 

All Archive Digital Books Australasia and Scotpress products, i.e. those with codes starting with:

• AU - 1844 Australian products
• BRA - 35 British products
• EUA - 1 European product
• NZ - 46 New Zealand products
• SCA - 10 Scottish products
• SCPG - 393 Scottish products

It is recommended that you transfer the USB data files to your computer and keep the USB drive as a backup or for other purposes.