Ancestor Details
Name of Ancestor: Douglas James Arndell
Ancestor's date of birth: 20/08/1879
Ancestor's date of death: 10/10/1901
Cause of Death: Killed in Action Naauwpoort 10/10/1901
Service Number: 2569
Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Sydney
Unit: 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen
Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: On enlistment
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): Did not survive the Boer War
Murray Page: 205 and 148
Contingent: Fifth New South Wales
Ship: Custodian, Date of Sailing: 15/03/1901
Memorial details: Detail not provided
Decorations: King's South Africa medal with 1901 clasp.
Personal Characteristics: Detail not provided
Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided
Details of service in war: Douglas finally reached the Cape in July 1901 wrote to his twin sister from Klerksdorp: 'We have been having rather an exiting time round the town this week with the Boers, they have been enjoying themselves by shooting the cattle guard. A patrol of 15 men from our camp left this morning with one officer ,after we had been out for about an hour, we came in contact with about a dozen Boers, we at once got the word to fire. The Boers galloped away towards a kopje, we at once mounted and galloped after them, but not for long, as we were led into a trap, about thirty Boers galloped down upon us from either side having us surrounded, most of our men were captured and stripped of our rifle and ammunition, two of the South Wales Borderers were shot dead, while four Australians are badly wounded. My Darcy, three other men and myself escaped without being captures or shot, you would hardly believe how a fellow could miss the bullets as they were cutting the dust up all round us.' He went on to say he intended being one of another patrol party leaving the next day ' so have the chance of being stripped of arms, or more likely will stop a bullet as I believe they intend to give us a lively time' His poor sister on receiving this letter, could hardly have been reassured! He served in the Transvaal, was Killed in Action at Naauwpoort 10 October 1901.
Service and life after the Boer War: Did not survive the Boer War
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: David Arndell Coleman, Murwillumbah NSW 2484
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Great NephewName of Descendant: Jill Davis, Gordon NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Niece
