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Eureka Rebellion
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Several military commanders played a role in the culmination of the 1851-1854 Eureka Rebellion on the Victorian goldfields. The following is a list of the key leaders among the colonial forces of Australia and the Eureka Stockade garrison. This article is currently being expanded and revised.

Government camp

The military and police formations that took part in the Battle of the Eureka Stockade were under the command of Captain John Thomas. The government forces were under the overall command of Lieutenant Governor Charles Hotham and Ballarat's resident gold commissioner Robert Rede.

Resident commissioner

Name Period of service in the rank, promotions and previous military experience. Termination of service Commentary
Robert William Rede Rede was appointed to the Victorian goldfields commission in October 1852. From June 1854 to January 1855, he was posted to Ballarat and had responsibility for the government camp during the Battle of the Eureka Stockade.[1] Rede was the resident commissioner at Ballarat during the Eureka Stockade uprising in 1854. He was recalled from Ballarat and kept on full pay until 1855. Rede served as the sheriff at Geelong (1857), Ballarat (1868), and Melbourne (1877) and was the Commandant of the Volunteer Rifles, being the second-in-command at Port Phillip. In 1880 he was sheriff at the trial of Ned Kelly and an official witness to his execution.[2]

Captains

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2023)
Name Period of service in the rank, promotions and previous military experience. Termination of service Commentary
John Wellesley Thomas Captain John Wellesley Thomas was in command of the government forces at the Battle of the Eureka Stockade. He was captain of the 40th regiment and a top adviser to Robert Rede.[3]

Assistant engineer

Name Period of service in the rank, promotions and previous military experience. Termination of service Commentary
Charles Pasley (engineer) Captain Charles Pasley was the colonial engineer and offered his services to Hotham as the rebellion was heading for an armed uprising. He served as aide-de-camp to Captain John Thomas, arriving in Ballarat on 28 November 1854. Pasley commanded the centre during the government assault on the Eureka Stockade.[4]

Rebel camp

Commander in chief

Name Period of service in the rank, promotions and previous military experience. Termination of service Commentary
Peter Lalor Lalor mounted the stump armed with a rifle and declared "Liberty" at the 30 November 1854 meeting on Bakery Hill. He called for the formation of paramilitary companies and presided over the Eureka Flag raising and oath-swearing ceremonies. Lalor was wounded in action at the Battle of the Eureka Stockade on 3 December 1854.[5] At his first public appearance, Lalor acted as secretary for the 17 November meeting that led to the burning of Bentley's Hotel and moved in favour of establishing a central rebel executive.[6] Raffaello Carboni recalls a meeting in Diamond's store where he was elected as "president" and "commander in chief" of the rebel camp.[7] Lalor was hidden and secreted out of the fallen stockade by supporters. He remained on the run until a general amnesty was granted in May 1855. Lalor became a member of parliament and later served as a minister of the crown and Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly.

References

  1. ^ Corfield, Wickham & Gervasoni 2004, pp. 422–423.
  2. ^ Corfield, Wickham & Gervasoni 2004, p. 443.
  3. ^ Corfield, Wickham & Gervasoni 2004, pp. 503–504.
  4. ^ Corfield, Wickham & Gervasoni 2004, pp. 420–421.
  5. ^ Australian Dictionary of Biography Vol 5: 1851-1890, K-Q 1974, p. 51.
  6. ^ Carboni 1855, p. 51.
  7. ^ Carboni 1855, pp. 60–64.

Bibliography

  • Australian Dictionary of Biography Vol 5: 1851-1890, K-Q. Carlton: Melbourne University Press. 1974. ISBN 978-0-52-284061-2.
  • Carboni, Raffaello (1855). The Eureka Stockade: The Consequence of Some Pirates Wanting a Quarterdeck Rebellion. Melbourne: J. P. Atkinson and Co. – via Project Gutenberg.
  • Corfield, Justin; Wickham, Dorothy; Gervasoni, Clare (2004). The Eureka Encyclopedia. Ballarat: Ballarat Heritage Services. ISBN 978-1-87-647861-2.
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