Ancestor Details

Name of Ancestor: Frank Ferdinand Jacob Vollmerhause

Ancestor's date of birth: 30/09/1881

Ancestor's date of death: 13/04/1969

Cause of Death: Heart problems Leukaemia.

Service and Life Before the Boer War: Detail not provided.

Service Number: 1945

Colony or State of enlistment: QLD, Place of Enlistment: Detail not provided.

Unit: D Company, 3 Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse

Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 1902

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): PTE, Date Effective: 22/07/1941

Murray Page: 529

Contingent: Second Australian

Ship: Englishman, Date of Sailing: 08/04/1902

Memorial details: Buried in the Maryborough Cemetery.

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with SA 1902 clasp. The War Medal 1939-45 and the Australia Service Medal 1939-45.

Personal Characteristics: Detail not provided.

Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided.

Details of service in war: Did not see combat. Travelled from Durban to Newcastle, then camped at Kitchener's Kop until the war ended.

Service and life after the Boer War: He Left South Africa on 16 July 1902 on board the ship "Drayton Grange". He requested to leave the ship in Durban as he was suffering from pneumonia but permission was refused. On arrival in Melbourne he was admitted to the Port Franklin Hospital/Quarantine Station in Sorrento where he remained for five months .O ver2 00 were admitted to hospital, seven died and five are buried in a mass grave at the Boer War/ Drayton Grange Memorial at the Sorrento Cemetery. His name is mentioned in newspaper articles as being in a serious condition. He applied f or a special pension in 1950 because of ongoing medical problems but was refused. The Army denied any knowledge of the hospital and illness problems on the ship. Recently it was discovered that a Royal C omission was held about the conditions on the "Drayton Grange" and the treatment of the passengers. It started on the 23 August 1902 and lasted 5 days. It was reported that the enquiry was a sham and a whitewash without any definite findings. Peter Munro wrote an interesting article in the Sorrento/Nepean Historical Society "The Nepean" i n June2011 Volume 6/2/2011. He did not enlist in WW1 as he was a dairy farmer and had a wife and young family to support. He enlisted in WW2, Army No Q89427 in 32 Australian Garrison Battalion. Joined 22 July 1941 and discharged on 5 November 1945 He died of heart problems and leukaemia and is buried in the Maryborough Cemetery.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Marie Denise Armstrong, Toowoomba QLD

Relationship to Ancestor: Grand Daughter

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