Ancestor Details

Name of Ancestor: Dugald Drummond

Ancestor's date of birth: 24/01/1867

Ancestor's date of death: 24/08/1925

Cause of Death: Pneumonia and Nephritis

Service Number: 28 PTE then 2LT

Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Sydney

Unit: A Squadron 1^st NSW Mounted Rifles and E Squadron 3^rd NSW Mounted Rifles

Rank attained in Boer War: 2LT, Date Effective: 21/03/1901

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): LT, Date Effective: 01/05/1915

Murray Page: 33 and 135

Contingent: First and Fifth NSW Contingents

Ship: Aberdeen, Date of Sailing: 04/11/1899

Ship: British Princess, Date of Sailing: 21/03/1901

Other Boer War Service: 1 April 1901 2LT Imperial Draft Contingent.

Memorial details: Rookwood Cemetery Sydney NSW

Awards/Decorations: DCM, QSA 6 clasps: Paardeberg, Johannesberg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, Orange River Colony. KSA with 2 clasps: SA 1901 and SA 1902. 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Personal Characteristics: Height: 1.87 m, Weight: 76.2 kg (1919). A stock and station agent from Ulmira NSW.

Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided

Details of service in war: Fought at: Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesberg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen in the Eastern Transvaal and Orange River Colony. 1NSWMR February 1900 - March 1901 in Free State, Transvaal, and western Cape Colony including charge at Diamond Hill (12 June 1900). 3NSWMR April 1901 - April 1902 in Free State and East Transvaal including Boer breakthrough at Langverwacht (24 February 1901).

Service and life after the Boer War: He returned to Australia 3 June 1902 and settled in Sydney as a stock and station agent. With the raising of the first AIF, Drummond joined the 6 Light Horse Regiment 9 October 1914 and was appointed lieutenant on 1 May 1915. He served with the 6th in Egypt and at Gallipoli where he was badly wounded by shrapnel in late September 1915. He was evacuated to England and then invalided to Australia on the 'Ascanius' unfit for further service. In December 1916 Drummond was asked if he would be available for duty as Adjutant and Quartermaster on board a troopship to England it being stressed that officers so appointed would not be permitted under any circumstances to accompany the troops after disembarkation beyond the depot where they would be available for duty until required to return on duty on troopships returning to Australia. He accepted the offer of active service again and made at least one such trip. He also spent time in a training role at Holsworthy camp. He enlisted in the Sea Service Unit on 11 September 1919 continuing his troop escort duties and served until that appointment was terminated 11 May 1920. He acted as an escort officer to German prisoners being repatriated in 1921. He married on 11 September 1918 aged 51. His wife was Elsie Gertrude Hearndon, aged 29. The couple had three children, the third being born after his death. After World War 1 he became well known after the war as a manager of an experimental cotton farm for Mr G A Bond at Castlereagh. CLICK HERE for a more detailed biography.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Wendy Webb, Cromer NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand Daughter

Name of Descendant: Alan Heasman, Burwood NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grandson
 

Return to Descendant Database