3 - ‘I suppose he sent me a blister’: A colonial commandant, 1893–96

Summary

Events moved at a rapid pace for Hutton in early 1893. At further meetings in January with Colomb and Vincent it was suggested that he might consider taking up an appointment to command the military forces of New South Wales. The particular hook was that, in such an appointment, he might have a hand in ‘strengthening the tie between Australia and the Mother Country’ and even to ‘assist so far as possible, in bringing about the long-discussed political union of the six States of Australia’. While key figures in the Colonial and War Office worried that Federation might edge the Australian colonies away from Britain, for many ardent imperialists in it represented an opportunity for fresh and even stronger ties. A newly federated nation, united in the context of prevailing imperial sentiment in both Britain and the Australian colonies, might offer more to the Empire than the sum of its colonial constituent parts. This was particularly so for defence. A sound military system for New South Wales might subsequently be developed into a federal scheme, which in turn might help solve the strategic dilemmas of the Empire along the lines advocated by such men as Seeley. The notion fired Hutton's imagination. Here was an opportunity to exert an influence on the imperial questions that had increasingly been occupying his thoughts. From three threads – an effective force for the colony, the hope that it might be the basis of a federal military arrangement for Australia and the potential this force offered the Empire – was woven the fabric of the next phase of his career.

There is little question that well-connected and influential men like Vincent and Colomb made use of their personal relationships at the War Office and elsewhere in order to ensure the appointment of an officer like Hutton to New South Wales, as part of their own imperial agendas. Here was a young, energetic, outspoken, intelligent, ambitious, imperial-minded and reform-minded Etonian, eager to make his mark and seemingly happy to take ‘advice’ from his mentors.