Preview	PDF (Front matter) front-_mcMahon-...pdf | Download (129kB) Available under University of Tasmania Standard License.
Preview	PDF (Whole thesis) mcMahon-part-th...pdf | Download (16MB) Available under University of Tasmania Standard License.

Abstract

The British Army of the 1820's was not trained far counter-insurgency
duties to operate in small detached parties. Their role in the campaign
against the Aborigines was to aid the civil power, and tensions and
inefficiencies resulted when troops were drected and commanded by
civilians. The colonial garrison was commanded by an experienced
soldier and administrator, lieutenant-Governor George Arthur. He
exercised a dual civil/military function ensuring all resources were
integrated through an administrative system centred on his police
districts. By 1830, Arthur sought a solution to the Aboriginal problem
based on a dual strategy of conciliation in the tribal lands, and use of
military force, to expel the natives from the settled areas. The Aborigines developed formidable skills as guerilla fighters, and
their tactics took advantage of their enemies' weapons limitations. With
loss of tradtional hunting grounds, the Aborigines were forced to rely on
raiding settlers' huts for supplies. This generated stronger countermeasures,
such as martial law in 1828 and the Black Line in 1830, which
was the climax of the counter-insurgency campaign. This was a sweep
and cordon operation, combining troops, and civilians who were called
out under a levy en masse, under Army command. The troops, now
under command of their own officers, were disciplined and efficient.
Opinions differ in contemporary and historical writings, concerning the Black Line, as to whether it was a 'fiasco' or, in terms of Arthur's dual
strategy, a success. As he dd not achieve his military aim to confine the
Aborigines in Tasman's Peninsula, the line was a failure, but due to
Walpole's contact, it was not a total failure, and as it was meticulously
planned and executed, the term 'fiasco' is inappropriate. As the Line
directly assisted the conciliatory arm of the dual strategy, it contributed to
Arthur's long term goal. Almost a mythology has developed over aspects of the line. Arthur distorted
fact in insisting that Walpole's contact, and the presence of
convicts with the Aborigines, led to the failure of his military obiective.
Without recognising the temper of the times, and that the Line was
Arthtur's only remaining military option, the 'fiasco' school of 'Writers has
unfairly branded the Black Line as a foolish enterprise. Historians'
statements of numbers deployed on the line vary considerably, a minor,
but pertinent example of how an error can develop by uncritical
acceptance of one primary source.The counter-insurgency campaign in the police districts and on the
Black Line, while being a minor footnote in the annals of the British Army,
is a sigificant but often misunderstood or forgotten phase of Tasmanian
history. It deserves more recognition by Tasmanian and Australian
military historians.

Item Type:	Thesis - Coursework Master
Authors/Creators:	McMahon, JF
Additional Information:	Copyright the Author- The University is continuing to endeavour to trace the copyright owner(s) and in the meantime this item has been reproduced here in good faith. We would be pleased to hear from the copyright owner(s)
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

Actions (login required)

Item Control Page