The Boer War was fought between British forces against the Boers, or Dutch-Afrikaner settlers in South Africa from 1899 until 1902. The War was also called the South African War and referred to as the Second Boer War. The First Boer War, fought between the Boers and the British, took place in 1880-1881, but no Australian troops were officially involved.
Australians who served in the War were all volunteers. The Australian War Memorial website explains - Australians served in contingents raised by the six colonies or, from 1901, by the new Australian Commonwealth. For a variety of reasons many Australians also joined British or South African colonial units in South Africa: some were already in South Africa when the war broke out; others either made their own way or joined local units after their enlistment in an Australian contingent ended. Recruiting was also done in Australia for units which already existed in South Africa, such as the Scottish Horse. You can read more about Boer War on the Australian War Memorial website, here.
Brighton Road State School, St Kilda Boer War memorial tablet
The memorial tablet, made from marble, is about 120 cm by 50cm in size.
Image: Isaac Hermann.
This memorial tablet was erected at the Brighton Road State School in St Kilda to honour the pupils from the school who served in South Africa. The tablet was presented to the school on August 29, 1901 during a concert held at the St Kilda Town Hall to farewell a teacher, Mr Bradhurst. The concert also raised £25 for the purchase of a piano for the school (1). The tablet was presented by Mr N. Dear. This was Nathaniel Dear (1846 - 1903), listed in the 1900 Sands McDougall Directory at 55 Raglan Street, St Kilda. Mr Dear was a keen letter writer to the newspapers and had a long running dispute with members of the St Kilda Cemetery Trust, and sued the Secretary of the Trust, Charles Truelove, twice for libel (2). The reports of these legal cases list Nathaniel's occupation variously as 'grave decorator' or monumental mason. It is likely therefore, that Nathaniel also made the memorial tablet.
Report of the presentation of the memorial tablet by Nathanel Dear
Prahran Telegraph August 31, 1901 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/144680273
There are 25 names on the memorial tablet, one of whom was a teacher at the School. Most of these men on the State School memorial are also listed on the St Kilda Boer War memorial in Alfred Square, which was officially unveiled by the Governor of Victoria, Sr Reginald Talbot on March 12, 1905. The memorial was designed by Arthur Peck, and I have written about it here. You can read an account of the opening in the Prahran Chronicle, here.
Eleven of the men on the Brighton Road school memorial also served in the First World War, three of them were Killed in Action. Mr Dear's memorial does have a number of mistakes including the spelling of names and the fact that he has three men listed as being killed whilst serving, when in fact only one was. However, it is a heartfelt memorial to the men who served their country and 'the Empire' and a fine example of Nathaniel's skill as a monumental mason.
The Brighton Road State School, St Kilda. The school was officially opened on January 11, 1875.
There were 13 staff, including the head master, Mr Hadfield. The school could accommodate 650 children and 604 children attended the opening.
Read a report of the opening in the St Kilda Telegraph, January 16, 1875, see here.
Image: Isaac Hermann
These are the men listed on the Memorial. The information about their rank and unit comes from the nominal rolls on the Australian War Memorial website, here. These rolls have minimal information, often nothing more than the name and the rank of the soldier. The other information comes from newspaper articles on Trove; the Electoral Rolls on Ancestry; the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages and the World War One records at the National Archives of Australia.
Allan, Percy James.
Percy is listed on the State School Roll as having been killed, but the good news is that he returned from serving in South Africa. He was a Private in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. He enlisted again in Febuary 1916, in the First World War in the 10th Field Company Engineers. He was 36 years old, an engineer, and his next of kin was his mother, Elizabeth Allan, of Orrong Road, East St Kilda. His attestation papers list his previous military service as 18 months in the Boer War. Percy returned to Australia in June 1918 and was discharged on medical grounds having been wounded - compound fracture, right thigh caused by a gun shot. Percy was the son of John Fisher and Elizabeth (nee McGregor) Allan; he married Emma Louisa Classen in 1924 and they lived at 187 Orrong Road, East St Kilda throughout their married life. Percy died in March 1951 at the age of 71.
Anderson, David
Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. He was severely wounded at Wilmansrust on June 12, 1901. The fighting at Wilmansrust was a debacle and even the normally patriotic Victorian newspapers were critical of the action of the members of the Unit, read about it here in the The Argus of September 30, 1901. In spite of being wounded David enlisted again in World One on July 7, 1915 and Returned to Australia April 5, 1919.
Anderson, William Fleming
William was a Private in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. William also served in World War One and was Killed in Action at Gallipoli on August 7, 1915.
David and William, both born in St Kilda, were the sons of Alexander and Catherine (nee Limerock) Anderson) of 14 Scott Street, St Kilda (as it was then, Scott Street is now part of Elwood). They are both listed on the Elwood Presbyterian Church World War One Honour Board, see here.
Ashley, Aubrey Frederick
Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. He was 'slightly wounded at Wilmansrust, June 12, 1901. Awarded pension'. In spite of being wounded, Aubrey enlisted in the AIF in January 1916 in the 37th Battalion. By then he was a 36 year old publican at the Club Hotel in Boolarra, south of Moe, in the hills of Gippsland. His next of kin was his wife, Ruby. His attestation paper notes his 12 months Boer War service. Aubrey returned to Australia in January 1918 and was discharged due to defective vision. He returned to the hotel at Boolarra, which he operated until 1945 and he died at Parkdale in October 1953, aged 75.
Bridgeland, Frederick Charles Lionel
Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Frederick also enlisted in the AIF, in the 4th Light Horse Regiment in August 1914. Fred was born at Orroroo in South Australia, and he was a 32 years old traveller when he enlisted. His next of kin was his wife, Edith, whose address was Casterton. They had one daughter, Victoria Grace, born in 1905. Fred was Killed in Action at Gaba Tepe, Gallipoli on August 6, 1915.
Report of the death of Fred Bridgeland. The date of his death in his file is August 6, not August 7.
The Argus, September 24, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1563753
Campbell, Garnet
Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Garnet is not listed on the Alfred Square memorial. There is a Garnet Campbell in the 1903 Electoral Rolls at 31 Kerford Road, South Melbourne, occupation labourer; also at that address was Lydia Dora, Bertie Charles and Archibald. The Victorian Indexes to the Births, Deaths and Marriages list a Garnet Butler Campbell born to Robert and Lydia Dora (nee Ryan) Campbell in 1881, so this confirms they are the same person. Garnet married Mary Jane Crawford in 1913, they lived at Brighton and later at Oakleigh, where he died in 1956 aged 76. I had discovered all this and was still not sure that Garnet Campbell on the Memorial was the same person as Garnet Butler Campbell, until I found this article, below, in the The Herald of July 29, 1922.
Mr Garnet Butler Campbell, a cousin of the missing Baronet, Sir John Rivett-Carnac, but of more importance it confirms that this Garnet Campbell is the one on the Memorial tablet.
If you are interested you can read about the Rivett-Carnac family, here.
The Herald, July 29, 1922 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243649372
Christie, Henry 'Harry'
Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Harry is also not listed on the Alfred Square memorial. Harry enlisted in October 1914 in the AIF, in the 10th Light Horse. His attestation paper note his Boer War service. Harry was born in Melbourne and was a 34 year old sleeper hewer, when he enlisted. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs M. Christie and later his sister, Mrs Carlton, both of Subiaco in Western Australia. Harry fought at Gallipoli and was missing in action and a Court of Enquiry held in December 1916, declared that he was Killed in Action on August 29, 1915.
Cowden, William
There are no Cowdens listed on the Nominal Roll. There was a report in the Prahran Chronicle of a dinner tendered to local men who had returned home after fighting in South Africa and one of the men was Corporal J. Cowden, who enlisted in South Africa and was wounded.
Report of the dinner held for St Kilda men who returned home after fighting in South Africa.
Read the full report - Prahran Chronicle, May 18, 1901 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165239289
Wilfred Cowden's memorial tablet which was unveiled at the Pakington Street,
St Kilda Baptist Chutch in August 1915.
Image: Isaac Hermann
Cox William
There is a John William Cox who was in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifle. He enlisted as a Private and was promted to Lance Corporal. William Cox does not appear on the Alfred Square Memorial. I have no other information about him.
Dare, Douglas Henry
5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, enlisted as a Corporal and was promoted to Sergeant. Douglas is listed on the memorial as being killed, but according to the nominal roll and the Alfred Square memorial, he survived. Douglas was born in St Kilda in 1882 to Douglas George and Frances Emily (nee Wilson) Dare; he had a brother Norman born 1884 and a sister Emily born in 1886. Douglas senior was an Auctioneer and Estate Agent. In 1917, Norman died on active service in German East Africa. A death notice in The Argus listed his father at 43 Jackson Street, St Kilda and his mother as living in Johannesburg in South Africa. I am surmising that Douglas either remained in South Africa or moved there soon after the War, and his mother and brother followed. In 1946, he was awarded an Order of the British Empire. He died in 1967 and is buried at a cemetery in Durban, South Africa.
Douglas Dare's O.B.E. Basutoland is now known as Lesotho.
London Gazette January 1, 1946 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37407/page/55/data.pdf
Gardiner, John Fraser
Listed as Gardener on the memorial. Private, Victorian Citizen Bushmen. 'Invalided Australia, arrived May 2, 1901'. John was farewelled at a function at the St Kilda Town Hall Library on March 1, 1900 (see below). John was born in St Kilda in 1879 to Charles Fraser and Grace (nee Sinclair) Gardiner. He is listed in the 1903 Electoral Roll at 86 Westbury Street, St Kilda, living with his sister Catherine and brother George, but I have no information about him after this.
Farewell to the St Kilda soldiers, including John Fraser Gardiner, Garnet Campbell and Edwin Knox
Read the full report - Prahran Telegraph, March 3, 1900 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/144602188
Gordon, Archibald
There are two men named Archibald Gordon listed on the Nominal Rolls and they both enlisted in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Bushmen; one of them may be our Archibald, but I can't tell. Archibald's name does not appear on the Alfred Square Memorial.
Hoad, John Charles
A former teacher at the school. Major General, 1st Victorian Contingent. You can read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here.
Hutchinson, Henry Hall 'Harry'. Lance Corporal, promoted to Corporal. Severely wounded, June 28, 1901 at Bethel. Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette July 29, 1902).
Hutchinson, Luke. Trooper. 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen.
Surnam spelt Hutchison on the memorial tablet. Harry and Luke were both born in St Kilda, Harry in 1878 and Luke in 1880, the sons of Joseph and Martha (nee Hall) Hutchinson. Harry is listed in the Electoral Roll in 1913 at Hopetoun, his occupation was draughtsman. In 1919, he had moved to Mildura and was a supervisor at the First Mildura Irrigation Trust. He died in Mildura in 1937, aged 59. I have no information about what happened to Luke, except that according to Harry's death notice (below) Luke predeceased his brother. This research is complicated by the fact that there was another Luke Hutchinson born in St Kilda, in 1874 - to George and Catherine (nee McRae) Hutchinson. There is a Luke Hutchinson in the Electoral Rolls at 122 Barkly Street, St Kilda, but at the same address is a Thomas Alston Hutchinson, another son of George and Catherine, so it is not 'our' Luke.
Death notice of Harry Hutchinson.
The Argus November 27, 1937 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11127917
Knox, Edwin
Listed as Edward on the memorial. Private, Victorian Citizen Bushmen. 'Drowned at Wanderboom, February 26, 1901'. Edwin was the son of Henry Matthew and Elizabeth Emily (nee Smith) Knox. Henry was the City of St Kilda rate collector. After his death the St. Kilda Rifle Club, of which Henry was a Captain, and the St. Kilda Tradesmens Club, of which Henry was Secretary, raised money to erect a memorial to Edwin. The memorial, a drinking fountain, was unveiled by Sir George Turner, Commonwealth Treasurer, on February 23, 1902. It was located on the corner of the Esplanade and Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. The Prahran Telegraph had this description of the fountain - The iron portion of the fountain was supplied by Messrs Peel and Kirkpatrick. brass and iron founders; the base is of bluestone, and the whole structure was erected by Mr E. Gough. The bluestone is 3 ft. 7 ins. in height, the fountain, from the ground to the top being 9 feet high. Mr E. W. M. Crouch fulfilled the duties of honorary architect in a manner that gave every satisfaction (3). All that remains of the original memorial (4) is the bluestone base and the plaque. In 2012, it was restored with a modern interpretation of the fountain and is located in the Cleve Gardens in St Kilda. You can read about it on the Monument Australia website, here.
The unveling of the Edwin Knox memorial fountain
The Australasian, March 1, 1902 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/139755163/11417051
The Edwin Knox memorial fountain in Fitzroy Street
Fitzroy Street, c. 1912. State Library of Victoria Image H96.200/80
MacCartney, James
There is an Edward James McCartney who enlisted in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen; a John Irwin McCartney who enlisted in the Victorian Citizen Bushmen and a Robert Augustine Macartney who enlisted in the 1st Victorian Mounted Rifles. Given that this memorial tablet is not without errors, one of these men may be 'our' James, but I don't know. John Irwin McCartney died of wounds at Rustenberg Hospital on July 31, 1900, and a report in The Argus of August 8, 1900 says he lived at Melrsoe Street, Richmond. James MacCartney is not listed on the Alfred Square memorial.
Mullen, Leslie Miltiades
Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Leslie had a distingushed military career and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During World War One, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Croix de Guerre, and was twice mentioned in despatches. He moved to Tasmania in 1914 and from 1921 was the President of the Tasmanian R.S. L. You can read his obituary in the Hobart Mercury of March 19, 1943, here and his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here.
Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Mullen
Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P11038488
Parrott, Stanley Hamilton
Lance Corporal, 2nd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse. In 1910 Stanley married Fanny Maria Lowe and in August 1914 he enlisted in the AIF in the Field Artillery Brigade 2, Brigade Ammunition Column. At the time of enlistment he was 32 years of age, his occupation was seaman and his next of kin was his wife of 29 Pakington Street, St Kilda. Stanley was awarded the Croix de Guerre and he returned to Autralia, December 1918. Stanley died in June 1962, aged 80 and he is buried at the Brighton Cemetery.
Pummeroy, Robert
Listed as Pumeroy on the memorial. Lance Corporal, 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles. His was a cook. There is a Robert Pummeroy listed in the 1903 Electoral Roll at 42 Rosamund Street, St Kilda and I believe this is the man on the memorial. His occupation is a plumber. Robert had married Rosa Dix in 1895 and by 1909 they were living in Clifton Hill and later moved to Preston. Robert died July 1948, aged 74.
Short, William.
Not listed on the Nominal roll and does not appear on the Alfred Square Memorial. There is an Arthur James Short who enlisted in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, that's the closest I can get.
Thomas, William
There are thirteen men listed on the nominal roll with the name William Thomas, including two who enlisted as Privates in the Victorian Imperial Bushmen. It is likely that the man on the memorial is one of those two, but I have no other information.
Tompsitt, Sidney Clarence
Private 2nd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse. Sidney (whose name is also spelt as Sydney in some sources) was born in 1880 to Clarence and Mary Ann (nee Gravenall) Tompsitt. In the 1903 Electoral Roll he was listed at Kipling Street, St Kilda, his occupation was a bootmaker. That same year he married Elsie May Poole. In the 1906 Electoral Roll he was in Wagin in Western Australia, however Elsie was not listed with him. Sidney then moved back to Victoria and he died in 1909 at only 29 years of age. As you can see from the death notice, below, there was no mention of Elsie, so it appears the marriage did not last.
Death notice for Sydney Tompsitt.
The Argus September 24, 1909 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198486257
Wells, George Murray Wells
Private, Victorian Imperial Bushmen.
Wells, Thomas Henry
Private, Victorian Imperial Bushmen and Private 2nd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse.
The men are the sons of William and Hannah Maria (nee McKane) Wells; they were both born in St Kilda, Thomas in 1879 and George in 1880. The brothers moved to Western Australia where they both enlisted in the AIF, both in the 10th Light Horse Regiment, 12th Reinforcements. Henry enlisted in August 1915, he was 38 years old and a carter, his next of kin was his wife, Elsie Mary of Leederville. He returned to Australia March 1919. George enlisted in October 1915, he was 35 and his occupation was a lumper (a dock labourer who unloads cargoes). His next of kin was his wife, Mary Theresa Wells, of West Perth. He returned to Australia in August 1919. The brothers lived the rest of their life in Western Australia and Thomas died in 1935 and George in 1950,
Thomas Henry Wells' death notice March 1935
The West Australian, March 9, 1935 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32839723
George Murray Wells' death notice
The West Australian August 22, 1950 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47881953
Acknowledgements
I wish to acknowledge Isaac Hermann for supplying the photographs of the Brighton Street School memorial tablet, the one of the school and Wilfred Cowden's memorial plaque. I would also like to acknowledge Sally Wall, the St Kilda Elsternwick Baptist Church administrator, for kindly arranging access for Isaac to photograph Wilfred's plaque. Thank you!
Footnotes
(1) Prahran Telegraph, August 31, 1901, see here.
(2) I have created a list of newspaper articles on Trove, relating to Nathaniel Dear. You can access it here.
(3) Prahran Telegraph, March 1, 1902, see here. I have created a list of newspaper articles on Trove, connected to the death of Edwin Knox and the erection of the memorial fountain, access it here.
(4) When did the fountain disappear from the memorial? There is a Rose Series postcard, which the State Library of Victoria has dated as c.1945 (see here) which shows the memorial intact and another postcard which I believe is from the early the 1960s which shows only the base. If these dates are correct then the fountain disappeared sometime after 1945 and before 1960.
This image is dated c. 1945 and shows the intact memorial fountain.
Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Imag6 H32492/6378.
Download a high res version here http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/59715
This is a later image, possibly early 1960s and all that remains of the memorial is the bluestone base and plaque.
Fitzroy Street, St Kilda: Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image H32492/6985
Download a high res version here http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/66927
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