Legion of Frontiersmen, Australia

The following article appeared in the Muswellbrook Chronicle in October 1933 as part of a recruiting drive.

Stirring stuff.

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Captain F. C, Jones, Director of Training from the New South Wales Command Headquarters of the Legion of Frontiersmen, was in town during the past week with a view to establishing a troop of Legionaries in Muswellbrook.

All citizens who are interested in this movement, are advised to get in touch with Mr. A. G. Coughlan, who will be pleased to give all information possible on the organisation.

The Legion of Frontiersmen was founded in London in 1904 by Captain Roger Pocock, assisted by Colonel Driscoll of “Driscoll’s Scouts,” an irregular corps raised during the South African War. The nucleus of the Legion was composed of old members of “Driscoll’s Scouts.” It was formed with the idea of bringing together men who had served their country throughout the world, men who had worked, lived, and roughed it on the frontiers of Empire, fighting, seafaring, exploring, mining, ranching, etc.; doing those things that go to make Empire, and have gone through some of the hardships and privations which the making of Empire means.

The Legion has been formed in all quarters of the globe, and, during the 26 years of their existence, the Frontiersmen have done work of considerable value to the British Empire. They have participated in many affairs on the outposts of the Empire, and rendered valuable intelligence service during the late war, in the course of which 9000 Frontiersmen laid down their lives for their cause. They were amongst the first to come forward in almost every unit on every front.

They raised a battalion for East Africa, the 25th. Battalion Royal Fusiliers Frontiersmen, and this was the only unit sent from England without training.

The War Office recognises the Legion of Frontiersmen but no Government subsidy is granted. It is a voluntary corps. They are a voluntary, self-governing, self-supporting body, a great patriotic society with no political creed but that of Empire, and they are banded together as a brotherhood of men who have served their country.

The motto engraved inside the ring of General Gordon they have adopted as their own: “God Guard Thee.”

Wherever there are members of the Legion, there will the wearers of the badge find comrades and friends.

During the pre-war period members of the Legion discovered and reported a new secret German base in the Caroline Islands. They reported German attempts to establish a base in North-East Africa, to cut our communication with India. They surveyed the Kiel Canal with a view to blowing it up in the event of war; reported systems of gun-running which supplied the Pashtuns in Afghanistan for the purpose of war with India and the Young Egyptian Party for revolt; suppressed a number of illegal expeditions mainly directed against South and Central America; discovered an attempt to cheat the British Government out of an African province where gold had been found; charted the Elba defences and mine fields; rescued Europeans during the Boxer risings in China-and they have done many other things.

Many battalions of troops for service during the late war were raised by the Legion. Members of the Manchester Squadron served in Belgium from the first days of August, 1914, and were the first battalion in action in the late war. At the outbreak of war, Colonel Driscoll offered the services of the Legion to the War Office for immediate service, but was told the Frontiersmen would be required later.

When the French were retreating towards Paris and the British Army from Mons, and the Germans were marching towards the coast, Colonel Driscoll offered to take 2000 men of the Legion to Ostend and attack the German lines of communication. This offer was accepted by the War Office and 800 men, of whom 700 were in uniform, paraded ready for service. At the last moment the Germans turned towards Paris and the Frontiersmen were not sent out. Later, the Colonial Office asked Colonel Driscoll if he would take a battalion to German East Africa. He replied that the Frontiersmen were ready and waiting, and he immediately raised the 25th Service Battalion Royal Fusiliers (Frontiersmen).

Many Frontiersmen from the outposts of the Empire returned to England at their own expense when war was declared. Over 600, from North west Canada, enlisted in Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and were among those who held the line at Ypres in the first gas attack. Only 18 of these Frontiersmen survived the war. About 1500 Australian and New Zealand Frontiersmen were killed on Gallipoli.

After the war the Legion took part in the suppression of the rebellion at Johannesburg in 1922. It was on . this occasion that General Sir J. G Smuts marked his appreciation of the Legion by joining their ranks as a trooper.

In 1925 the Legion, at the request of Colonel Vickers Dunfee, Commandant of the City of London Police Reserve, formed their own squadron of special police, reserve, and are now attached to that unit and doing useful work in London.

There is no age limit for members of the Legion, the contention being that a man can serve his country, in some capacity or other, however old he may be. It is for the individual member to work for the good of the Empire in times of peace, and to combat, to the best of his ability, those influences which may prove detrimental to him and his.

The N.S.W. branch of the Legion has its headquarters at Sydney, and is run on semi-military lines. There are men from all stations of life in the Legion ranks, but all are treated alike, excepting on parade, when the usual discipline as between officers, non-commissioned officers and men is expected. Politics and religion are the two subjects which are strictly barred, and no Legionary may attend a political meeting in the Frontiersmen’s uniform.

Whenever possible parades take the form of shooting practice, open range and miniature, ambulance work, drill, etc.

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