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The full title of this publications is: 'The Australian Contingent: A History of the Patriotic Movement in New South Wales and an Account of the Despatch of Troops to the Assistance of the Imperial Forces in the Sudan'.

This is a small but important work. It tells the story of the Australia (New South Wales) Contingent in the Sudan War from March to June 1885. The contingent, an infantry battalion of 522 men and 24 officers and an artillery battery of 212 men, was ready to sail on 3 March 1885. It left Sydney amid much public fanfare. Support was not, however, universal, and many viewed the proceedings with indifference or even hostility. The nationalist Bulletin ridiculed the contingent both before and after its return.

Meetings intended to launch a patriotic fund and endorse the government's action were poorly attended in many working-class suburbs, and many of those who turned up voted against the fund. In some country centres there was a significant anti-war response, while miners in rural districts were said to be in 'fierce opposition'.

Also in this publication is a listing of 'Subscriptions to the Patriotic Fund'. This gives personal and business names, and the amount paid to support the fund by each contributor.

This CD has been formatted to be searchable using Adobe Acrobat Reader. High quality scanned images of the whole of the original book. Truly a wealth of information.

The contingent arrived back in Sydney on 19 June. They were expecting to land at Port Jackson and were surprised to disembark at the quarantine station on North Head near Manly as a precaution against disease. One man died of typhoid there before the contingent was released. Five days after their arrival in Sydney the contingent, dressed in their khaki uniforms, marched through the city to a reception at Victoria Barracks where they stood in pouring rain as a number of public figures, including the Governor, Lord Loftus, the Premier, and the commandant of the contingent, Colonel Richardson, gave speeches. It was generally agreed at the time that, no matter how small the military significance of the Australian contribution to the adventure, it marked an important stage in the development of colonial self-confidence and was proof of the enduring link with Britain.

Contents :Introduction; The Impulse; The First Act; The Appeal; The Response; 'Australia in Arms'; The Critics; The Preparations; The Review; The Consecration; The Departure; The Public Voice; The Country; The World's Approval; The Sanction of Parliament; Australian Results; Broad Effects; Mr Dalley in the Country; In the Sudan; The Arrival and Welcome; Appendix A. The Representative Speeches; Appendix B. Sir Edward Strickland's Letter; Appendix C. List of the Contingent; Appendix D. A Letter from Sir Henry Parkes; Appendix E. The Record of the Campaign, vide 'Sydney Morning Herald'; Appendix F. The Imperial Parliament, and the Colonial Troops in the Sudan; Appendix G. Subscriptions to the Patriotic Fund

System Requirements: Any computer using Adobe (Acrobat) Reader 4 or later, Adobe Reader 6 or later is recommended for CDs with searchable text