Key Dates in Australia's Military History: 1901–02
Members of the New South Wales Naval Brigade who served in China during the Boxer Rebellion, 1900-1901. (AWM P417/37/30)
1 January 1901
Proclamation of the Commonwealth of Australia.
1 March 1901
Naval and Military forces of the states transferred to Commonwealth control.
25 April 1901
Australian force returns from service in the Boxer Rebellion in China.
12 June 1901
At Brakpan, South Africa, Australia’s costliest action (18 dead) of the Boer War.
Group of returned Australian Soldiers from the Boer War, 1901.
(National Library of Australia)
23 November 1901
Lieutenant LC Maygar, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, becomes the sixth and last Australian to be awarded the Victoria Cross in the Boer War.
March 1902
First contingents of Australian Commonwealth Horse begin arriving in South Africa to fight in the Boer War. This unit is the first to wear the Rising Sun Badge.
May 1902
Last Australian troops return from Boer War in South Africa.