Soldiers of the New South Wales Soudan (Sudan) contingent marching onto the wharf at Circular ...

Accession Number P05711.001
Collection type Photograph
Object type Colour - Toned black & white print
Maker Bayliss, Charles
Place made Australia: New South Wales, Sydney
Date made 3 March 1885
Conflict Sudan, 1885
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

Soldiers of the New South Wales Soudan (Sudan) contingent marching onto the wharf at Circular Quay to board the troopships that will carry them to the Sudan. When reports of the fall of Khartoum and death of the General Charles (Chinese) Gordon reached London and the Empire, this tragedy attracted considerable public attention. The first report reached Sydney on 11 February 1885 and the next day the Premier of New South Wales offered the British Government a contingent of two batteries of artillery comprising ten 16-pounder guns, fully horsed and an infantry battalion of 500 men for service in the Sudan. The British Government accepted the offer although they asked that the artillery be reduced to one battery of six guns. The establishment agreed to by the NSW Government was 522 infantry and one battery of six field guns, 212 gunners and 200 horses. The contingent also included a 16 member band and a Field Ambulance of 4 medical officers, 34 other ranks, seven wagons and 26 horses. The contingent gathered at Victoria Barracks on 3 March 1885 and after farewells to family marched off just before noon for Circular Quay. The streets along the route were packed with spectators and a huge crowd gathered at Circular Quay to farewell the troops. The line of troops is marching onto Circular Quay under a banner wishing them God Speed. The white hulled troopship SS Iberia is docked behind the building on the quay and the stern of the other troopship, the SS Australasian, can be seen just on the right edge of the photograph. The contingent was raised and embarked in just 14 days after agreement was reached with the British Government and was the first armed force to be raised by a British Colony and despatched overseas.