Ancestor Details
Ancestor's Name: Charles James Reade
Ancestor's date of birth: 10/08/1863
Ancestor's date of death: 20/01/1912
Cause of Death: Heart failure due to Pneumonia
Service and Life Before the Boer War: He was born 1863 at Eaglehawk near Bendigo Victoria where his father managed the Oriental Bank, educated at Bendigo High School and Geelong Grammar then studied medicine at Melbourne University, relinquishing that he came to Jamestown in C1883 and became editor of Jamestown Review in 1887, joined Mounted Rifles as Corporal. In 1888, commissioned Lieut. in 1890 and Captain in 1891, served on Jamestown Council for 11 years, also on Hospital Board and Institute Committee. Chosen to attend Queens Jubilee but was unable to take that opportunity up. He married in 1884.
Service Number: Officer - no number
Colony or State of enlistment: SA, Place of Enlistment: Jamestown
Unit: 2nd South Australian Mounted Rifles
Rank attained in Boer War: MAJ, Date Effective: 07/06/1900
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): LTCOL, Date Effective: 24/08/1903
Murray Page: 347, 348, 349
Contingent: Second South Australian
Ship: Surrey, Date of Sailing: 26/01/1900
Memorial details: Detail not provided.
Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Companion of the order of the Bath (CB), Mention in Despatches (London Gazette 16 April 1901) (MID), Queen's Sount Africa Medal with Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Johannesberg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, SA 1901 clasps.
Personal Characteristics: Well known for his voluntary work in Jamestown.
Reasons to go and fight: He resigned all his community positions in Jamestown and volunteered for the Boer War.
Details of service in war: Placed in command of the 2nd contingent as a Captain. Appointed to command 1SAMI on arrival in South Africa as well as 2SAMI. He was engaged in operations, Relief of Prieska and March to Bloemfontein,at Vet River, Zand River, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Diamond Hill and in operations east of Pretoria towards Barberton as far as Komati Poort. For his command of the South Australians he was mentioned in Despatches and created a Companion of the Bath. Returned Australia aboard 'Tongariro' from Cape Town 31 March 1901.
Service and life after the Boer War: He took part in the Federation Celebrations in Sydney on his return. Attended a reception at the exhibition building in Melbourne for the Duke and Duchess of York to celebrate Federation. On return to Jamestown he was ceremonially hauled from the station to Ayr St in a buggy by prominent citizens of the town. In 1903 he joined the newly formed Australian Army as a permanent soldier and was stationed in Adelaide before being posted to Melbourne as Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General. Promoted to Brevet Lieutenant Colonel 1 July 1903 and posted as Chief Staff Officer South Australia, From June 1907 he was appointed Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General for Queensland. Whilst here he was the model for the sculpture of a horseman for Queensland's Boer War Memorial in ANZAC Square, Brisbane. He was appointed Australian exchange officer to Canada in 1911. He served on the staff of Brigadier General Colton as Assistant Adjutant General in Toronto. On completion of his posting he was due to return to Australia in January 1912. Prior to leaving he had a minor operation from which pneumonia set in post operation, his condition worsened and he suffered heart failure and died. He was given a full military funeral attended by a large group of officials including Sam Hughes the Canadian Defence Minister. After his death his medals and other personal effects were found to have been stolen from the hospital, they were never recovered.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Gregory Paul Lawrence, Greenbank QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Grand sonName of Descendant: Jann Walker, Millicent SA
Relationship to Ancestor: Second Cousin 2x removedName of Descendant: Iris Shepherd, Wavell Heights QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand DaughterName of Descendant: Patricia Dreyer, West Lakes SA
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Grand DaughterName of Descendant: Dianne Frances McBryde, Eatons Hill QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Grand DaughterName of Descendant: Francis Harold Green, Mermaid Beach QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Grand Son
