Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: Abel Ernest Newman

Ancestor's date of birth: 1879

Ancestor's date of death: 1964

Cause of Death: Age related

Service and Life Before the Boer War: He was born in Carlton, Melbourne. At the time of enlistment he was an ironworker in Fitzroy.

Service Number: 1530

Colony or State of enlistment: VIC, Place of Enlistment: Melbourne

Unit: Left Wing, 5^th Victorian Mounted Rifles

Rank attained in Boer War: PTE, Date Effective: 15/02/1901

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): GNR, Date Effective: 24/01/1917

Murray Page: 299

Contingent: Fifth Victorian

Ship: Orient, Argus, or City of Lincoln, Date of Sailing: 15/02/1901

Memorial details: VMR Memorial Melbourne.

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902. 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Personal Characteristics: Detail not provided

Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided

Details of service in war: March 1901 - March 1902 in east Transvaal and Natal frontier, including defeat at Wilmansrust where 18 killed and 42 wounded (12 June 1901), and successful intervention at Onverwacht (4 January 1902); heaviest casualties of any Australian contingent, at Wilmansrust suffered the costliest defeat. It was noted on the medal roll that he was denied medals (no medal discharged Article 1256(b).) On his WW1 service he makes no reference to Boer War service.

Service and life after the Boer War: In 1914 he had married and was a labourer living in Collingwood. He enlisted 23 June 1915 as Pte No 2660A of the 8^th Reinforcements of the 6^th Battalion, transfered to 58^th Battalion 12 February 1916 then to the 60^th Battalion 15 March 1916 and finally as a gunner to 14^th Field Artillery Brigade 24 January 1917.

He suffered a wound to his left hand described as a gunshot but was more likely shrapnel on 24 April 1918. A long period of recovery followed and given the state of the war he was returned to Australia on 23 September 1918.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: William Leslie Newman, Narromine NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand Son

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