Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Pre 1914, Western Australia, Fremantle, Regimental Colour - Fremantle Rifle Volunteers, 1862

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Subcollections

Honourable Insignia - Regimental Colours, Guidons, and Royal Banners

Overview

Regimental Colour of the Fremantle Infantry Volunteers originally commissioned by Mr RA Fiveash, presented to the unit on 14 February 1862 and now laid up in St John's Church, Fremantle. The "Inquirer and Commercial News" of 19 February 1862 reported that the Colour was consecrated by Rev R Alderson, Chaplain of the Corps with members of the Perth Rifle Volunteers also in attendance." Current research indicates that this Colour is the earliest extant Colour of recognised design existing in Australia.

Historical information

The initial Fremantle Rifle Volunteers was formed following a meeting held in Fremantle in September 1861. Training and organisation proceeded under the direction of Captain C Finnerty, Staff Officer of the Enrolled Pensioners at Fremantle. The official gazetting occured on 6 August 1862 when Mr RS Price was formally appointed Captain Commanding the Fremantle Company on 6 August 1862. Due to dwindling numbers, the Fremantle Rifle Volunteers were disbanded on 8 February 1870 only to be reactivated as a new corps by Mr George Bland Humble on 5 October 1872. The existing Colour continued to be used by this new raising being the only Colour presented to a local volunteer unit in the colony at that time. It is recorded as being trooped at the Queen's Birthday Parade on 24 May 1886 and in subsequent years.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-53-240

Inscriptions and markings

The Colour was described in "The Inquirer and Commercial News" of 15 January 1862 as "a St George's ensign [Red cross of St George with Union flag in the canton] made of silk and ornamented in the centre with a beautifully embroidered black swan on a white field, and mounted with rose, shamrock and thistle. Surrounding the swan are the words Fremantle Rifle Volunteers."

Contextual information

It is assumed that the Colour was presented to St John's Church by the family of Captain John Alfred Ernest Humble [son of Major George Humble], the last Commanding Officer of the Fremantle Rifle Volunteers but here is no date recorded. Oral history notes repairs being undertaken by the nuns of Mountmellick in Ireland and later by members of the St John's Church Guild. The embroidered designs appear to have been restored on only one side of the Colour. In October 2025, the Colour was transferred to the care of the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia for conservation and display as part of the historic Colour collection. A full size photographic reproduction was gifted to St John's Church to retain the heritage connection. The Colour will be cased and presented flat as it is too fragile for continuing display hanging from its shaft. During conservation and stabilisation works undertaken by the Embroiderer's Guild of Western Australia it was discovered that through long hanging from its shaft, the fabric was permanently distorted into a rhomboid shape.

Primary significance criteria

Artistic or aesthetic significance

Historic significance

Scientific or research significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Rare or representative

Geotag

-32.044745348702, 115.75503744563
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