by David Findlayson
One of the traditions inherited by the Australian Army was the development of collections of fine silverware by officers and sergeants’ messes. The RAAC Offices Mess is no exception to this practice. One exceptional example is the Hutton Challenge Shield. This shield is both a historically and symbolically important artifact of Australian Army.
The shield consists of a classical battle scene depicted in silver on a round shield that is mounted on a rosewood surround. The shield is crowned with a royal coat of arms and an inscription plate on the base reads: “The Hutton Challenge Shield, presented to the Australian Light Horse Regiments by Major General Sir Edward Hutton KCMG, CB, Honorary Colonel II & V Light Horse Regiments (NSW Mounted Rifles), Commanding Military Forces of Commonwealth 1901 to 1904.” Mounted on the surround are winning units between 1905 and 1957 when the shield was discontinued.
The true value and significance of the Hutton Shield can only be understood when Hutton’s life’s achievements and failures are recounted. Edward Hutton was born at Torquay Devon in 1848, educated at Eton. He entered the British Army as an Ensign with the 60th Rifles (The Rifle Brigade) in 1867. Promotion to Captain in 1879 coincided with a period on active service. In five years he saw service in the Zulu War of 1879, the First South African War 1881, the Occupation of Egypt and Battle of Tel-El-Kebir 1882, and the Nile Expedition 1884-5.
During these hectic years Hutton would serve in a new arm of the British Army, that of the mounted infantry. The ideas behind the development of the mounted infantry was that the traditional cavalry’s strength lay in speed and manoeuvre, however inadequate firepower reduced its powers to make decisive tactical moves. In contrast the infantry of the line did have the firepower but not the speed or maneuver that the cavalry were capable of. Mounted infantry were to combine the speed of the cavalry and the firepower of infantry. Hutton wrote in 1885 “the mounted infantryman was an infantry soldier who fought on foot and used his horse merely as a means of locomotion. He was trained as an infantryman and the extra training required to make him a mounted infantryman consisted of enough equitation to enable him to get about without damage to himself or his horse.”
Hutton’s experience in Africa were put into practice in 1887 when he became the commandant of the new mounted infantry school at Aldershot, England. This school would develop into a regiment of mounted infantry who would serve alongside the cavalry.
It has been suggested that Hutton was one of the Wolseley circle, which, under the influence of Field Marshal Wolseley, championed reforms within British Army making it a more effective fighting force. These officers also had a strongly imperialist view of the empire.
This reforming and imperial zeal would result in major reforms in New South Wales, Canada and Australia where he was instrumental in creating military organisations that would last well into the twentieth century. Two of Hutton’s primary visions were that traditional military structures need to be reorganised around the concept of mounted infantry, supporting arms such as artillery and engineers would also need to follow suit. Secondly, that the colonies could in time of war mobilize vast numbers of citizen soldiers in support of British Empire and its interests.
On arrival in Sydney in 1893 Hutton found the New South Wales Military Forces consisting of permanent forces, militia, unpaid volunteers, rifle clubs and cadets. Until his departure in 1896 he improved training, equipment and uniforms. He also worked on major reorganization that included the raising of new units and brigading of regiments into larger formations. Hutton also appreciated the political climate of the day in regard to the federation movement. In 1894 and 1896 he was part of Colonial Military Conferences, which prepared a draft Federal Defence Agreement.
One of Hutton’s attempts to improve the training standards of the mounted regiments was to hold a Military Tournament that “was to promote a higher standard of military efficiency” furthermore “allowing soldiers to associate together would bring about a harmonious working of the military service”. The first Hutton Shield competition followed soon after it consisted of section size teams under the leadership of an officer and sergeant and twelve troopers. One of the early winners was the Tenterfield Light Horse Troop under the command of JF Thomas. Thomas, a local lawyer would defend Breaker Morant in his court Martial in the South African War in 1902.
It is unknown what form the original Hutton Shield took or what happened to the competition after Hutton’s departure from Australia in 1896.
In 1898 Major General Hutton was appointed as the General Officer Commanding the Militia of Canada. Again reform was the order of the day. The Canadian Militia was modernized and reorganized to become an efficient citizens army. The manner of change unfortunately alienated many senior officers and politicians. Hutton also failed to recognize the growing nationalism and independence of the Canadian Government.
Hutton’s vision of a colonial citizens force supporting the empire led to a crisis in 1899 when the South African War broke out. Hutton’s speeches and actions were against the policy and wishes of the Canadian Government. As the crisis unfolded it became clear that Hutton was serving Imperial interests at the expense of the elected Canadian Parliament. The situation was resolved only when Hutton submitted his resignation and returned to England in early 1900.
In South Africa Hutton was given command of the 1st Mounted Infantry Brigade that consisted of Australian, British, Canadian and New Zealand Troops. Hutton wrote: “the Brigade is really a division…It realizes my dream of the last ten years.” By October 1900 Hutton’s Brigade had been disbanded and Hutton returned to Britain on half pay and returned to his substantive rank of Colonel.
In 1901 the new Australian Commonwealth requested Great Britain provide a senior officer to act as General Officer Commanding of the Australian Military Forces. The primary role of this position would be the reorganization of the Colonial Forces of Australian Colonies into one organization. These forces consisted of a small permanent force with paid and unpaid citizen militias.
Hutton’s reorganization of the Military Forces was not without controversy. Inefficient units were disbanded and incompetent officers were retired. Hutton also set standards of military discipline and training. Central to these reforms was the move to direct power away from the state governments to a centralized federal control. These reforms were widely criticised in the press and various parliaments.
Hutton’s vision called for the creation of two forces, a garrison force that would protect key infrastructure such as ports and urban areas – this would be largely made up of permanent soldiers. Secondly a field force that would protect Australian interests at home and abroad. This would predominately consist of citizen forces.
A seemingly minor decision in 1902 was to select a hat badge for the Australian Commonwealth Horse contingents for South Africa, the first truly national force to depart Australian shores. This badge was the first Rising Sun, the prototype for the current badge worn by all Australian soldiers.
During this period of reform The Australian Light Horse were modelled on Mounted Infantry, which served in South Africa between 1899 and 1902. Hutton’s original concept of mounted infantry was extended to include highly proficient horsemen who could also undertake the traditional cavalry role of reconnaissance.
The tenure of Hutton’s appointment as General Officer Commanding was a difficult one. The initial Commonwealth Government was unstable. Hutton worked with four prime ministers and six defence ministers. Economic recession limited defence spending. Furthermore the new Commonwealth was developing its own priorities and world outlook.
As in Canada the Hutton’s vision of colonial citizen forces being available to serve British interest in time of war ran contrary to the desires of the Australian Parliament and a growing sense of nationalism. Conflict steadily increased due to conflict between Hutton’s vision and the wishes of the Parliament. Hutton’s autocratic and undiplomatic nature compounded these problems. In 1904 his appointment ended and he returned to England. He finally retired from military service in 1915 and he died in Lyne, Surrey during August 1923.
Hutton career shows both significant achievements and failures. His quest for an efficient and professional army consisting of both permanent and citizens forces would become the foundation for the military forces of both Canada and Australia. The concepts of mounted infantry who could employ speed maneuver and firepower still has a place on the modern battlefield. In contrast Hutton failed to appreciate his role as a servant of the colonial Governments and placed imperial needs first.
In Australia many of Hutton’s ideas were incorporated into the Defence Acts. However, a Military Board replaced his role of General Officer Commanding the Australian Military Forces, and furthermore Australian Military Forces would always be ultimately under the control of the parliament and not the imperial governments.
The Hutton Challenge Shield was presented to the most efficient Troop of the Australian Light Horse Regiment. The Shield was not awarded during either the Great or, Second World Wars. In 1957 the competition was discontinued. Sometime after 1945 it was entrusted to the School of Armour where now it is displayed in the Officers Mess.
The Hutton Shield represents Hutton’s beliefs in the speed, firepower and maneuver of the Australia Light Horse as well as his quest for an efficient and well trained military force.
