South West Life

As the English domination of the continent took hold, it was apparent to the powers guiding the new colony that loyal white people were important to the development of the empire. This is a problem when you settle a continent peopled by natives and begin to send convicts who by the nature of their arrival are less likely to be loyal to the crown.

Any number of promises were made to "good people" to entice them to the new colony, but it was so very far away, and reports were that life was hard. For the hardy and industrious, it seems clear that there was a life to be made, families with names like Bussell, Drake Brockman and Forrest became established as the gentry of the new colony and acquired lands and fortunes. It seems that for those who were transported in chains, the opportunities also existed. People who arrived illiterate as convicts were soon finding employment as important parts of the new economy, and records show many ex convicts finally settling on their own farms or into their own businesses.

But the immediate problem of how to ensure order and loyalty still existed. As part of their emigration policy, the English government began to send military pensioners to Australia. By the time the policy ended in 1864, more than 2000 people had come to the Swan River Colony through the scheme. At that time, life in the British Army was harsh. Soldiers were often recruited under dubious circumstances and would have been predominantly taken from the working class in rural areas. Their barracks were overcrowded and squalid. From a basic wage were deducted expenses for food, laundry, medical treatment and haircuts. The average soldier did not retire wealthy.

Against this background, an offer of free passage, six months employment, and a grant of land must have appeared attractive, and another pool of useful, loyal migrants was established. Pensioner guards were encouraged to accompany convicts aboard the ships, and worked for the government for a time when they arrived at the colony, but they were not generally retained permanently, and thus found their way all over West Australia where they worked for other free settlers, or established their own businesses.

As enrolled pensioners they were paid a retainer, somewhat like today's army reserves, and were required to be available to serve in the case of an outbreak among the prisoners. I've found no evidence but with guards stationed at any number of remote sites like Kojonup, it is easy to assume that they were also required to protect farms and stock from the land's original inhabitants.

To encourage them to stay in the colony, they were offered an allotment of ten acres of land, which they could select, and after leasing it for seven years they owned it freehold. As an added incentive, they were promised the use of convict labour to clear the land and a gratuity of ten pounds.

The pensioner guards were a creation of their time. The colonial government needed to bolster the population for strategic purposes, and the guards needed a way to escape the grinding poverty in Europe. Even though the new life was hard, they were used to the privations of fighting in places like Afghanistan, India and South Africa, and many had brought their families with them on what was a new adventure.

More than 1100 made the journey to the Swan River Colony, and from there some hundreds headed south. They are a substantial part of our working class history, and it may worth a look back into your own family history to see if there is a pensioner guard there.

Two good links to start you on your own family history are Cyndi's list, and the Perth Dead Persons Society, goodness knows what you'll find.