The Boer War
Given the total number of Victorians that volunteered and were accepted for the Boer War was only
around 3,600, the enlistments from the Shire of Eltham was not great – volunteering and being accepted were two different things, most of the contingents raised had far more men offer their services than can actually fitted into the restricted numbers available.
Around a dozen volunteers have been traced, but there may have been others from some of the smaller
villages and towns that escaped out attention. It should be noted that the Shire of Eltham in 1900 encompassed some areas not covered in today’s Nillumbuk, especially Yarra Glen.
The AWM Honour Roll lists 589 Australians as having died during the conflict, plus another 96 on the Commemorative Roll who served with forces of another country, predominantly British units based in South Africa when the conflict started, or those that joined units such as the 2nd Scottish Regiment
formed during the war.
Based on the total embarkations (17,280), the 589 casualties represent a death rate of
about 3.4%, but all of those connected to Eltham survived.
Perhaps as a point for comparison, the casualty rate amongst those that embarked during the Great War was roughly 18.3%, or slightly more than one in every six did not return.
Allan/Allen, Frederick Humphrey (Diamond Creek) 774, Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. There is some confusion over spelling of the name – embarkation lists (and the Evelyn Observer) used the latter, the major history of the South African War the former. Born 1874, single, orchardist from Diamond Creek,
references noted in the Observer for Smoke Night, 25 April, 1902, 6 June, 1902.
Beard, Walter Frederick (Research) 521, Private, 3rd Victorian Bushmen, later 39668, Lance Corporal, 2nd Scottish Light Horse. A 29 year-old bush labourer when he enlisted, address given as Eltham Post Office. He was given a Welcome Home at West’s Research Hotel on 14 June, 1901 after returning with the 3rd Victorian Bushmen and later returned to South Africa and joined the 2nd Scottish Light Horse. His extended service earned him the King’s Medal, restricted to men who had served at least eighteen months, including time in 1902. He was the only man from the Eltham, Heidelberg or Whittlesea Shires to
earn the award. The Evelyn Observer noted he was a grandson of the late Captain Edwards, “who died in the Crimean war while serving as captain of the Submarine Engineering Admiralty staff”.
Browning, Frank Rueben (Kangaroo Ground) 431, Trooper, 4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen He was shown as born in 1878 and as a butcher from Kangaroo Ground with next of kin in Williamstown. Browning was Mentioned In Despatches for rescuing a man pinned to the ground under fire.
Button, Cecil Harncis (Yarra Glen) 64, Private, 4th Victorian Imperial Regiment. He was listed as a 22 year-old farmer from Yarra Glen, the Evelyn Observer later noting he placed his farm, “Hyde Park” up for auction before leaving for South Africa. His next of kin was given in Auburn. The 4th Victorian Imperial
Regiment were a Victorian Contingent specifically raised at the request of the British Government and serving under British officers, hence the “Imperial” included in the name.
Cummings, Mark (Kangaroo Ground) 39691, Trooper, 2nd Scottish Horse. Enlisted, 10 February, 1901. Born 1883 at Kangaroo Ground, but appears to have been at Healesville when he enlisted. Awarded Queen’s South African Medal with four clasps; and after returning a Welcome Home noted in the Healesville and Yarra Guardian, 18 October, 1901. He was acquitted in September, 1903 of a charge of criminally assaulting a girl under the age of 16 at Healesville.
Cunnington, William Sheeton (Dixon’s Creek) 1168, Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. A 27 year-old bushman originally from Boolwarra via Morwell who gave his next of kin at Yarra Glen, although the Evelyn Observer suggests Dixon’s Creek. A Welcome Home was noted, 23 May, 1902
Finlay, John Gordon (Diamond Creek) 708, 3rd Victorian Bushmen (Cameron’s Scouts). Listed as a 22 year-old station hand from Diamond Creek. The Cameron Scouts were a privately raised force of 24 recruited and equipped by a Mr. John McLeod Cameron that were included as part of the 3rd Contingent .
Greenaway, Frederick (Panton Hill) 913, Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Listed as a driver, born 1870 and from Clifton Hill, but there are a number of references to him in the Observer, including a Welcome Home at the Hotel de France, Panton Hill, 30 May, 1902. Queen’s South African Medal with three clasps.
Harris, Shelley (Kinglake) A 36 year-old farm labourer, born in Queenstown and with his next of
kin a brother Robert at Kangaroo Ground. Robert Harris was for many years the proprietor of the Evelyn Observer. A Welcome Home is noted in the Evelyn Observer, 12 July, 1901, and he later unsuccessfully tried to enlist in the 6th Australian Commonwealth Horse (Victoria) regiment raised in early 1902. Harris managed to enlist again for the First World War as William Shelley Harris, claiming to be 44 years of age, but in reality he was over fifty. He served two years before being sent home because of his age and general debility.
Sloan, Hamilton Hugh (Christmas Hills) 128, Corporal, 6th Australian Commonwealth Light Horse. Listed a farmer in Christmas Hills, born there 1887. He earlier served around fifteen months as 114, Private, with the 4th Victorian Imperial Regiment. Mother, Sarah at Christmas Hills next of kin.
Staff, Herbert Nicol (Queenstown) 2381, Private, 4th Australian Commonwealth Horse (Victoria) Saddler, born Queenstown, residing with next of kin in South Melbourne.
Wilson, James (Yarra Glen) 602, Private, 3rd Victorian Bushmen. Enlisted as a 37 year-old carpenter (born 1862) from Yarra Glen. Awarded Queen’s South African Medal and four clasps; a Welcome Home noted at the Burgoyne Hotel, 14 June, 1901. He was noted back in camp at Langwarrin in February, 1902 with one of the later contingents but does not appear to have embarked. He managed to re-enlist in World War One, 5110, Private, 24 Battalion, giving his year of birth as 1871 and his age as 44 years and five months – he served around six months before being returned due to debility and deafness.
As well as those that had residential links to the Shire of Eltham, there are three others known to have declared their next of kin as being in the district
Brabazon, Joseph Henry (Diamond Creek) Captain, 6th Australian Commonwealth Horse Victoria. He was listed as a gentleman from Melbourne with next of kin in Diamond Creek (not named). His name is included on the Essendon Boer War Memorial and no other connectio to Eltham has been identified. There
are references to a family of that name in Haley’s Road, Greensborough.
Ffrench, Robert (Christmas Hills) 369, Private, 4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen. Enlisted a 34 year-old
metallurgist from Auburn with next of kin in Christmas Hills. A son, 10849, Robert Ernest Ffrench served in World War One, the family still in Auburn. There appears to have been a Edward V. Ffrench fairly prominent
around the district at the time of the Boer War – he is noted in official Victorian registrations as being married in 1888 and may have been an elder brother of the serviceman.
Michel, Andrew Norman (Diamond Creek) 433, Private, 6th Australian Commonwealth Horse (Victoria) Michel was listed as a 20 year-old soldier from Victoria Barracks with a sister Alice listed at Diamond Creek as next of kin. This contingent was made of units of 20 to 25 men drawn from country area, Michel appeared to be linked to the Colac district.
The Queen’s South Africa Medal
Despite the rather grand title, the Queen’s Medal (pictured above) was a standard decoration issued to all British and colonial troops that served in South Africa between 11 October 1899 and 31 May, 1902.
The Oz-Boer Database Project lists the award for some servicemen and not for others; in reality, all would have received it in some form with the exception of the handful that enlisted with the Fourth and Sixth Australian Commonwealth Horse contingents, both of which arrived in South Africa too late to see action.
The clasps were awarded for either a general theatre of war (eight were defined) in which the soldier served, or alternatively for a specific battle; some 18 possible clasps were awarded within this latter category.
The awarding of clasps represented longevity of service rather than any particular act of bravery; in most cases, the award was consistent across an entire Contingent except for men who may have been exceptions through missing action through wounds, illnesses, etc.
