Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: George Ramsdale Witton

Ancestor's date of birth: 28/06/1874

Ancestor's date of death: 14/08/1942

Cause of Death: Heart Attack

Service and Life Before the Boer War: Volunteer Infantry Regt and with Victorian Permanent Artillery at Fort Queenscliffe vic.

Service Number: 86

Colony or State of enlistment: VIC, Place of Enlistment: Victoria

Unit: Victorian Imperial Bushman 1900

Rank attained in Boer War: LT, Date Effective: 13/07/1901

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): Did not serve after the war

Murray Page: 262

Contingent: 4th Imperial Contingent

Ship: Victorian, Date of Sailing: 01/05/1900

Other Boer War Service: Bushveldt Carbineers 1901

Memorial details: In Victoria at Coalstoun Lakes and District Soldiers Memorial Hall a Memorial Plaque to George Witton and other Boer War veterns from the district was erected by the townspeople of the area. His ashes are interred with his wife Mary at Lutwyche Cemetery Brisbane although his name does not appear on the headstone. The road that runs along side this cemetery is called Kitchener Road.

Decorations: KSA medal with clasps

Personal Characteristics: Fine soldier

Reasons to go and fight: For the Empire

Details of service in war: During his service with the Bushveldt Carbineers was involved with the Spelonken Incident. Was tried with Handcock and Morant but not executed. Was sent to prison, eventually released following the intervention of the Australian Government; he bore the unjust stigma for the rest of his life.

Service and life after the Boer War: Did not fight again, lived quietly "the Last Man". Become a succesful pastoralist and Justice of the Peace in Queensalnd. A tall powerful gentle man, he was also a director of the Biggenden cheese factory. A peaceable dairy farmer married but childless, he sounds to me to of been a very likeable and peaceful man.

CLICK HERE for a more detailed biography.

CLICK HERE for George's book, "Scapegoats of Empire".

Descendant Details

Name of Descendants: Patricia Murray, Geelong Vic
Relationship to Ancestor: Cousin

Name of Descendant: Beryl Morton, Pascoe Vale Vic
Relationship to Ancestor: Cousin

Name of Descendant: Margaret Raelene Van De Kamp, Forcett TAS
Relationship to Ancestor: Fourth cousin

Name of Descendant: Nicola Marshall-Roth Hoddinott, Malvern VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: cousin, 3rd removed?

Name of Descendant: Annabel Marshall, Malvern VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Fifth Cousin

Name of Descendant: Alex Marshall, Malvern VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Fifth Cousin

Name of Descendant: Lily Marshall-Roth, Malvern VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Fifth Cousin

Name of Descendant: Scott Hoddinott, Castle Cove NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Fourth Cousin

Name of Descendant: Eliza Hoddinott, Castle Cove NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Fifth Cousin

Name of Descendant: George Evans, Taren Point NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Nephew

Name of Descendant: Brian Maxwell Turley, Frankston VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: second cousin

Name of Descendant: Lorraine Margarette Jacobson, Traralgon VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand Niece

Name of Descendant: Glenda Nancy Page, Traralgon VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Grand Niece

Name of Descendant: Sophie Therese Collins nee Turley, Kyneton VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Third cousin

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