A real piece of history

[Lithy]

After exhausting my google fu I have found out that 2582 Trooper RH Shirley didn't have a long visit to South Africa.

He embarked in Sydney on March 15 1901 as a re enforcement, posted to the 3rd New South Wales Imperial Bushmen when that unit was raised on May 4 1901 and was repatriated home February 6 1902.

The bit that has me confused is from what I can gather is they embarked without arms and yet "MARCH 1901" is carved into the LH side of the butt of the rifle.

Taking into account time taken to sail from Sydney to South Africa, it is unlikely he was issued his rifle in March.