Thirty seven ships brought 1,248 Enrolled Pensioner Guards (EPGs) to Western Australia 1850 to 1874 – one EPG William McIntosh came out twice – he must have loved his job but we have not counted him twice! Another 7 military men already in the State or cannot be found on a convict ship, also joined – so 1,255 individual EPGs in total:
- Just over 700 EPGs were Irish
- A similar number stayed in Western Australia
- On average they served 17.5 years in the forces and lived 61 years
- Some of the last surviving EPGs were John McMahon d 1922 and Daniel Carty d 1923
According to Broomhall, the EPGs were accompanied by over 800 wives and 1,400 children. Many EPGs went on to Victoria and South Australia, however many made their way back to the UK and Ireland. The Enrolled Pensioner Force was officially disbanded on November 10, 1880 although guards were still required for Government House, the magazine and Fremantle Prison so an Enrolled Guard was formed temporarily under the command of the Commissioner of Police and disbanded on 31 March 1887.
We have collected photographs of 13 of the EPG ships ,,, see bottom of this page … and would love more if you have any information. Please click on the name of a ship below to view departure and arrival information and the official list of men on each ship.
ADELAIDE – 1855
BELGRAVIA – 1866
CLARA – 1857
CLARA – 1864
CLYDE – 1863
CORONA -1866
DUDBROOK – 1853
EDWIN FOX – 1858
HASHEMY – 1850
HOUGOUMONT – 1868
LINCELLES – 1862
LORD DALHOUSIE – 1863
LORD RAGLAN – 1858
MERCHANTMAN – 1863
MERCHANTMAN – 1864
MERMAID – 1851
MINDEN – 1851
NAVAL BRIGADE – 1874
NORWOOD – 1862
NORWOOD – 1867
PALMERSTON – 1861
PHOEBE DUNBAR – 1853
PYRENEES – 1851
PYRENEES – 1853
RACEHORSE – 1865
RAMILLIES – 1854
ROBERT SMALL – 1853
RUNNYMEDE – 1856
SCINDIAN – 1850
SEA PARK – 1854
STAG – 1855
STRATHMORE – 1871
SULTANA – 1859
VIMIERA – 1865
WILLIAM HAMMOND – 1856
WILLIAM JARDINE – 1852
YORK – 1862
JOINED EPF IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA / UNKNOWN SHIP
