Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

On the 28th February 1900, the New South Wales Citizens' Bushmen contingent sailed through Sydney Heads aboard two ships, Alantian and Maplemore, bound for South Africa. The following day, Trooper William Fogarty penned a message, "S.S. Atlantian. March 1, 1900. A last farewell from the Bush Contingent.— W. Fogarty, 1900.", placed it in a bottle and threw it overboard. On the 12 July, almost five months later, the Evening News reported the bottled had been found on the beach at Port Kembla. 

In the intervening period, William had arrived at Cape Town, been redirected to Beira where he disembarked, made his way to Marandellas and written home to his mother and friends in Orange, describing his experiences:

“We had a good look at the country, which is something lovely for miles. There is a jungle so thick that one cannot see ten yards in front. The large trees and creepers and vines are something to remember—once seen never forgotten. The country is all like that till we get to Marandellas, and then the country assumes a more Australian look. You leave the jungle behind, and there are big rocks hundreds of tons weight—thousands of them. There we are in camp. The horses are in stables, and some of us are in tents. We are starving like tramps. The tucker that we get is a bit of damper about 1lb. weight, and that has to last all day. We have some soup for dinner, but no bread nor tea. The supper consists of a pint of tea, and nothing else. It is the worst tucker in the world. We have seen some fun since we have been here. One of our men shot a lion one night coming from Beira. The train broke down, and the men were having some tea. The lion came out of the jungle and roared. All the men fired at him and missed, and then one fellow fired at him again and shot him through the head and killed him. While the horses were at Bamboo Creek a panther got in amongst them and wounded two of them. Another they cannot find, Up here the horses are dying like sheep from a disease they call blue tongue. It is a terror on the horses. They get it and are dead in two hours. Their tongues turn blue and they drop down and die in terrible agony. The men have had the fever, but they are only bad for two or three days as a rule.” Bathurst Free Press, 25 June 1900 (nla.gov.au).

While this letter to friends is undated, it can be assumed it was written around the same time as the letter William dated the 25th April 1900, to his mother. Published only a week later, William describes the death of the horses and lack of rations, in much the same manner. On the latter topic, he reveals the effects of such an inadequate diet, "...We are getting so weak that one man from home could beat a dozen of us in a fist fight..." The Daily Telegraph, 5 July 1900. (nla.gov.au)

These experiences were only the beginning, with men and horses suffering much worse during the campaign. On 13th April 1901, William and his fellow Bushmen completed their year of service and it was announced they would be returned home. Entrained to Cape Town, William boarded the Morayshire in early May. The ship stopped at both Freemantle and Melbourne, before eventually arriving alongside at the Woolloomooloo Bay wharf, on the morning of the 11th June 1901. A large crowd of family and friends, as well as returned servicemen, was present to welcomed them home. 

Trooper William James Dominic Fogarty is among those remembered on the Bathurst South African War Memorial.