Ancestor Details
Name of Ancestor: Edward Reimer
Ancestor's date of birth: 01/12/1880
Ancestor's date of death: 15/04/1939
Cause of Death: Not stated
Service Number: 305
Colony or State of enlistment: QLD, Place of Enlistment: Sydney
Unit: C Squadron, 1st Australian Commonwealth Horse
Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 14/01/1902
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): No evidence of post Boer War Service
Murray Page: 174
Contingent: First Australian
Ship: CUSTODIAN, Date of Sailing: 18/02/1902
Memorial details: Detail not provided
Decorations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Transvaal and SA 1902 clasps.
Personal Characteristics: Enlisted as Edward REIMAR (real name Erdman REIMER). Parents settled around Ipswich area in Queensland from Prussia. Born in Queensland but grew up in Woollahra, NSW after returning from Prussia as a child. Employed as farrier at time of enlistment. Height: 170 cm.
Reasons to go and fight: Detail Not provided
Details of service in war: He left for South Africa on 18 February 1902 aboard the CUSTODIAN. 21 officers and 354 of other ranks with 372 horses disembarked at Durban on 19 March 1902. The battalion proceeded by train to Newcastle, and then to Klerksdorp on 10 April 1902. On 7 May 1902 the Battalion took part in clearing operations which took 251 prisoners. The Boer War would end on 31 May 1902 and Edward would leave Durban aboard the DRAYTON GRANGE on 11 July 1902 and arrive Sydney on 11 August 1902.
Service and life after the Boer War: Married Ethel Lillian ATHORN on 30 April 1906 and would have five sons. Was a tram conductor around time of marriage. Buried at Rookwood Cemetery. Two brothers served in WW1, one was killed in France 1916.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Glenn Reimer, Brisbane QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand-uncle
