The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
This Lithograph was adapted from a photograph held in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales's collection of the NSW Contingent troops passing down Gresham Street in Sydney. They are being cheered by onlookers, some soldiers are mounted, most are marching. On 3 March 1885 the New South Wales contingent was ready to set sail for the Sudan, and due in part to the holiday declared to farewell them, the troops left amid much public fanfare. Trousers worn by the soldiers, grey with red stripe, are not regulation blue with a red stripe. Between March- June 1885, the NSW Contingent served in Sudan, Africa. 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, generated in part by the holiday declared to farewell the troops; the send-off was described as the most festive occasion in the colony's history. The NSW contingent anchored at Suakin, Sudan's Red Sea port, on 29 March 1885 and were attached to a brigade composed of Scots, Grenadiers and Coldstream Guards. Shortly after their arrival they marched as part of a large "square" formation -on this occasion made up of 10,000 men - for Tamai, a village some 30 kilometres inland. Not having participated in any battles, Australian casualties were few: those who died fell to disease rather than enemy action. By May 1885 the British government had decided to abandon the campaign and left only a garrison in Suakin. The Australian contingent sailed for home on 17 May 1885, arriving back in Sydney on 19 June. It was generally agreed at the time that, no matter how small the military significance of the Australian contribution to the War in Sudan, it marked an important stage in the development of colonial self-confidence and was proof of the enduring link with Britain.
Australian soldiers marching into camp at Souakim, being greeted and cheered by British-Indian troops. On the hills behind the soldiers tents can be seen, and British-Indian soldiers tend small fires
Depicts men of NSW Contingent crossing mountains inland from Suakin. A mounted soldier can be seen in the lower right, while a train of soldiers, carts and horses can be seen in the distance. The colo
Men of NSW Contingent crossing mountains inland from Suakin. A mounted soldier can be seen in the lower right, while a train of soldiers, carts and horses can be seen in the distance. Note: colour of
Lithograph was adapted from a photograph ML (P x A 354, vol 3) of troops passing down Gresham Street, Sydney. They are being cheered by the onlookers, some soldiers are mounted, most are marching. On
This lithograph of the departure of Australian troops from the NSW contingent for the War in Sudan (1885) was adapted from a photograph in the Mitchell Library, Sydney, NSW (P x A 354, vol 3) of troop
A vibrant image depicting the arrival of the New South Wales Contingent at Suakin in Sudan. While the men arrived wearing the red coats, the British issued the troops with khaki uniforms on their firs
Lithograph was adapted from a photograph ML (P x A 354, vol 3) of troops passing down Gresham Street, Sydney. They are being cheered by the onlookers, some soldiers are mounted, most are marching. On
This lithograph of the departure of Australian troops from the NSW contingent for the War in Sudan (1885) was adapted from a photograph in the Mitchell Library, Sydney, NSW (P x A 354, vol 3) of troop
A page from 'The Graphic' illustrated newspaper, 2 May 1885, p. 432 depicting six vignettes showing; 1. Lord Augustus Loftus, Governor of New South Wales, and the Guard of Honour, 2. The troopship "Ib
Depicts a page from the 'London Illustrated News' from 25 April 1885 with an upper image of the departure from Sydney of the Australian contingent for the Sudan and the lower image of a St Bernard pup
Depicts men of the NSW Contingent (infantry and artillery) boarding a ship (either SS Iberia or SS Australasian) to sail to Sudan with a crowd of civilians on wharf to see them off, after the artist G
Depicts a page from The 'Australasian Sketcher' , an illustrated newspaper from 11 March 1885 showing various aspects of the Australian troops departing for the Sudan. Between March- June 1885, the NS