Ancestor Details
Name of Ancestor: George Henry Cowell (AKA Willett - correct name).
Ancestor's date of birth: 03/09/1876
Ancestor's date of death: 18/09/1934
Cause of Death: Pulmonary Embolisum-Cholelithiasis
Service Number: 188
Colony or State of enlistment: QLD, Place of Enlistment: Detail not provided
Unit: 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry
Rank attained in Boer War: SSGT, Date Effective: Detail not available
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): No record of post Boer War service
Murray Page: 471
Contingent: 3rd Queensland
Ship: Duke of Portland, Date of Sailing: 01/03/1900
Memorial details: Buried at Rookwood Cemetery Sydney NSW
Decorations: QSA 5 clasps: Rhodesia, Cape Colony, Transvaal, OFS and ROM.
Personal Characteristics: George Henry Willett was born at Rushcutters Bay, NSW.
Reasons to go and fight: Unknown however, he enlisted under the assumed name of George Cowell, reasons unknown.
Details of service in war: In early 1900 he enilsted for service in South Africa with the 3rd Contingent Queensland Mounted Infantry [QMI] giving the name George Cowell but listing his next of kin as his mother Mrs J Willett of Coolangatta Shoalhaven NSW. Willett received the service number 188 and initially served as a private,but was promoted in South Africa to the rank of squadron Quartermaster Sgt. 3QMI arrived in Cape Town in April 1900 aand served until May 1901. During this time,they were involved in a number of significant engagements,including the relief of Mafeking in May and action at Koster River in July.
Service and life after the Boer War: Willett was discharged after returning to Australia on June 1901. His QSA medal was named to G Cowell, but Willett later had it re-engraved with his correct name.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Jim Willett, Erina NSW,
Relationship to Ancestor: Son
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