- Author
- Haken, J.K., Dr
- Subjects
- History - pre-Federation
- Tags
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- September 2007 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
Volunteers disbanded
Both forces continued towards Federation on 1 January 1901. To assure an orderly transfer, a proclamation transferred many departments, including the Navy, on 1 March 1901. Ages for retirement were gazetted effective 1 July 1902 and many officers of the Naval Brigade were retired, while the Naval Artillery Volunteers were disbanded, effective 16 July 1902. The Ambulance Corps of the Naval Brigade were disbanded, effective 16 July 1902 and at Newcastle on 31 July 1902.
The reduced Naval Forces in New South Wales – six companies at Sydney and one at Newcastle -were commanded by Lieutenant H. C. Brownlow, formerly of the Naval Artillery Volunteers, with the rank of Lieutenant Commander, and at Newcastle by Lieutenant Commander F. Gardiner from the retired list
The transfer to the Commonwealth was complicated as a Colonial Naval contingent, including New South Wales, was in China. These operated under New South Wales Statutes, as did the Military Forces as the Commonwealth Defence Act was not yet enacted.