There was no material added on the Updates page during September 2026

I continue to experience some difficulties with a detached retina in my left eye along with ironing out some scar tissue indicative of previous tearing. This has been remediated by surgery including the replacement of the vitreous humour with silicon oil. Further surgery is required in three months to remove the oil, which unlike the gas and air bubble procedures, is not absorbed. I will not be undertaking any research work until further notice while I am recuperating. Tomorrow (5 Oct) I have an appointment for a review.

The important coming attraction for Western Australia’s military history is Albany’s Bicentennial celebrations. I started working towards a contribution for this event in August 2024 by adding a new page to my website HERE.

However, Linda Christy at the Albany Regional Family History Society and Reg and Norma Binding in Victoria are doing a whole lot better than I managed to do.

Linda and her team are preparing a board display in her local library. It surrounds three pedigree charts for the three women who arrived on the brig Amity in December 1826. The charts will go back a generation and forward up to two generations of each woman. The display has been booked in the library of History Great Southern – Kaartdjin Biddi from 8^th to 29^th December.

Meanwhile the Bindings have been doing an amazing amount of work in the last couple of years. Origins and some life stories of more than 100 married couples in the 39th, plus their service at locations across Australia, including King George Sound, the Northern Coast, Norfolk Island etc. The 300-page book will not be on general sale but will be gifted to family members, other descendants of the families of the 39th, as well as organisations such as the Albany Historical Society, Albany Public Library / History Great Southern plus the Museum of the Great Southern. Copies will be dispatched in November this year, close to the 200 year anniversary of Amity’s departure from Sydney.

Congratulations on this achievement which will be unique in the 39^th regiment’s history.

Family History WA Interest Groups
Convict, convicts.sig@fhwa.org.au
11th October – Joanne Hyland.
Enrolled Pensioner Guards, epg.sig@fhwa.org.au
17th October – Teresa Handcock.
Military, military.sig@fhwa.org.au
21st November – Angela Heymans.
Western Australia, wa.sig@fhwa.org.au
TBA – Terri Usher.
Swan River Pioneers Inc FHWA Affiliate.
info@swanriverpioneers.com
17th October AGM – Kim Edwards.

ARCHIVED

Crimean War Veterans in Western Australia archived 02 August 2023
https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20230802071118/https://crimeanwar-veteranswa.com/

Royal Sappers and Miners in Western Australia archived 23 February 2023
https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20230222202005/https://sappers-minerswa.com/

Please do not attempt to ‘view the live webpage’ as suggested in the green dialogue box on these archived sites. There are no longer ‘live’ pages – only the archived pages shown in the links above.

This ‘Redcoats Settlers in Western Australia’ website was launched 10th June 2019.
It currently comprises 246 pages and 1359 media items.

Redcoat Settlers in Western Australia 1826-1869

God and the soldier we both adore
When at the brink of ruin, not before
The danger over, both are alike requited,
God is forgiven, and the soldier slighted.
[A rhyme popular in the days of Marlborough]

The first British Redcoats to garrison in Australia wore red tunics and white trousers, but these were not the Army but the Marines who arrived with the First Fleet in 1788. The first red-coated soldiers to arrive, in 1790, were in the New South Wales Corps, formed in Britain, very soon after to be known as the Rum Corps. The first line regiment to arrive in Australia was the 73rd Regiment of Foot (1810) and, of course, its soldiers wore redcoats. However, this website is dedicated to Redcoats in Western Australia and the first of these came not from Britain, but from New South Wales.

The French are coming, the French are coming!

Due to the presence of French survey ships in the seas around the Colony of New South Wales, it was feared France may lay claim and settle the deserted West Coast of New Holland, motivating the British Government to consider establishing a settlement there to protect its interests. In a letter dated 11th March 1826 Earl Bathurst instructed Governor Darling that if found suitable, a settlement should be established at King George’s Sound as it was located on the shipping route between Britain and Port Jackson. Despite his reluctance Darling complied with Britain’s wishes and ordered an expedition to be dispatched.

The King George’s Sound Penal Settlement

Major Edmund Lockyer, 57th Regiment of Foot arrived in King George’s Sound on Christmas Day 1826 on the brig Amity. The original military post comprised Captain Joseph Wakefield, one sergeant, two corporals and 16 privates of the 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment; Ensign Edmund Morris Lockyer, 57th Regiment on detachment to 39th (Storekeeper); Thomas and William Wood, NSW Royal Veterans Company (Convict Overseers). A surgeon, a gardener and 23 convicts made up the balance of that first potential settlement. Major Lockyer was appointed Commandant. Over the next four years or so, there would be three other Commandants, all of the 39th Regiment: Captain Joseph Wakefield, Lieutenant George Sleeman and Captain Collet Barker. During their term in ‘Frederickstown’ (the name of the settlement declared by Lockyer on 21st January 1827), other Redcoats and civilians came and went; more convicts arrived from NSW and some escaped.

The Swan River Free Settlement

Meanwhile Captain James Stirling had arrived on Parmelia to proclaim the Swan River settlement a free Colony (free of convicts, that is). On 8th June 1829 Sulphur arrived in Fremantle with the 63rd (West Suffolk) Regiment of Foot comprising five officers, two sergeants, three corporals, one drummer and 46 privates. By the end of 1829 more ships, carrying Swan River settlers, further 63rd Regiment troops, and some 39th Regiment relieving troops bound for King George’s Sound, arrived in Fremantle.

Not only did the settlers of Swan River object to the presence of convicts within the Colony, but Captain James Stirling was unhappy about having a military outpost in the West under the command of the Governor of New South Wales. It is likely that even had the KGS settlement been successful, Stirling would have intervened.

The Redcoats are coming, the Redcoats are coming!

Memorial to Private William Banks permanently on Frederickstown soil

A new detachment of Redcoats of the 63rd Regiment had arrived in Frederickstown on Isabella on 19th March 1831. It was this ship that took the 39th Regiment detachment back to Sydney, along with the civilians and convicts who had settled there over the previous four years. The region was now declared to be under the control of the Swan River Colony. One convict was officially allowed to remain at his own request; others had escaped and not been captured; none of the 39th Regiment of soldiers took a discharge from the Army in the new Colony. But at least one of the original complement was left permanently on Frederickstown soil: Private William Banks who had died and was buried on 8th March 1827. On 1st January 1832, Frederickstown was renamed Albany.

Thus we begin the story of the Redcoats whom, after serving in many parts of Western
Australia, discharged from their various regiments and settled in this Colony/State.

For further information about the scope of the Project and how the website works,
click this link to About.

Diane Oldman
Website Author and Administrator
4th October 2026