NSW Artillery - 1880 to 1885

[goddles1]

I am hoping someone can direct me to the archives, etc, where the records of the New South Wales Artillery (for the years 1880 to 1885) are held.

Given that period of service was prior to Australian Federation, would the records be held by an archives in Great Britain, New South Wales or even Australia?

The 'soldier' was a Henry Smith who enlisted in Sydney in 1880 (aged 17yrs) and who was discharged (after 5 years engagement) in August 1885 (aged 22 yrs) at Sydney.  Henry was a 'Gunner'.

Thank you

[majm]

Hi,

Excellent question.   

Here's a reply I posted for an RChatter's quest back several years ago for a Sgt in the NSW Artillery in the 1880s who sadly was found guilty of a murder in 1891.  https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=821723.0

National Library of Australia's online catalogue includes:

J K HAKEN's book : Lineage and officers of New South Wales Military Forces 1854-1903 https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1890903

James Hugh DONOHOE's book (and CD) The British Army in Australia : index of personnel
https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2925708

And the Australian War Memorial, and the NSW state Library, and the National Archives of Australia should be able to help with tips on where to seek records...

NLA : https://www.nla.gov.au/
AWM : https://www.awm.gov.au/
NSW state Library : https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/
NAA: https://www.naa.gov.au/

Also, very well researched and referenced article here : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_forces_of_Australia#New_South_Wales

Re Sgt Wm COLSTON - do you have localities for him in the 1870s, 1880s ... when did he move to Victoria etc ...

JM

Digitised newspapers have excellent coverage and are freely available via Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/   - limit the years to cover and include Artillery and/or battery as a key word is a good option.

If I can help further, please ask.

JM   

[majm]

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2613675

Australian War Memorial - AWM1 9 - NSW Artillery (personnel, NSW, 1871-1929, records)


and

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_South_Wales_Artillery

and

https://www.bwm.org.au/documents/A_Battery_History.pdf   page 1 of 10 is useful for 1880s, page 10 is useful for possible reference sources.

JM

[majm]

http://tlf.dlr.det.nsw.edu.au/learningobjects/Content/R11328/object/r9335.html   there is a colour photo of the Defence Force of NSW in 1886, including some drawn from the NSW Volunteer Artillery and regular battery units in their distinctive blue grey uniforms.  There’s a summary that is a starting point for some history.

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C109297?image=1  Click through from 1 of 4, and see the service dress tunic of the NSW Volunteer Artillery

https://australianartilleryassociation.com/document/ad_150th_anniversary.pdf    Canberra 1 August 2021 and Sydney Victoria Barracks  6 November 2021. 

https://www.armymuseumnsw.com.au/Page1.php   leads to Contact Us page :
https://www.armymuseumnsw.com.au/Contact1/Contact.php 

Fingers crossed that these are helpful.

JM

[goddles1]

Thank you majm for your assistance.