Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: James McBurney

Ancestor's date of birth: 26/04/1876

Ancestor's date of death: 28/12/1913

Cause of Death: Silicosis

Service and Life Before the Boer War: Born in Moneydaraghbeg, Northern Ireland. Moved to South Africa as a young man to seek his fortune. He was listed as a farmer on his enlistment papers.He had been a farmer in the Mountains of Mourne before going to South Africa

Service Number: E1706

Colony or State of enlistment: Not Australia, Place of Enlistment: Bloemfontein South Africa

Unit: South African Constabulary

Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 20/04/1901

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): No evidence of post Boer War Military service.

Murray Page: Not applicable, did not serve in an Australian unit

Contingent: Not applicable

Ship: Was living in South Africa

Memorial details: Buried in Perth Western Australia

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902 clasps.

Personal Characteristics: Height 183 cm, of fair complexion with brown eyes and hair. Character was described as 'very good' on his discharge papers.

Reasons to go and fight: He believed in the British cause and as a miner would have seen the Boers as restricting his opportunities

Details of service in war: In September 1900 Lord Roberts instructed Major General R S Baden-Powell, CB, to draw up a scheme for a Constabulary Force for the Transvaal (including Swaziland and Orange River Colonies) to be ready for work by June 1901, under the orders of Lord Milner as High Commissioner On the 22nd of October 1900, Lord Roberts issued a Proclamation, known as Proclamation 24, under which the South African Constabulary was raised and has worked ever since.

The Force was first organised in four Divisions, each commanded by a Colonel, assisted by a Staff. There were 3 divisions in the Transvaal, and one division in the Orange River Colony. Each division was sub-divided into Troops of 100 men, each under the command of a Captain and Lieutenant. As hostilities showed no signs of ceasing, it was gradually found that the Army were unable to carry out the agreement proposed by the Commander-in Chief, and consequently the Inspector-General (Major-General Baden-Powell) was obliged to establish Recruiting Offices in Cape Colony and Natal, and to arrange for recruits from overseas, both from England and Canada. In addition, arrangements had to be made for obtaining remounts in South Africa, Australia, North America etc. Arrangements also had to be made for obtaining Transport, Equipment, Saddlery, etc., and finally, the Army being unable to meet the Force's medical, veterinary, and building requirements. Medical, Veterinary and Works Departments had to be organised. In December 1900, it was decided that the establishment should be further increased to 10 000 men. From the time the Force was raised until the end of the War it was not able to undertake Police duties, but was employed as a Military Force under the Commander in Chief, and was constantly engaged in field operations and on Blockhouse lines 9 Officers and 85 men were killed in action or died from wounds, and 213 Officers and Men were wounded, whilst 274 Officers and Men died from sickness Very shortly after the termination of the War, orders were issued for the various Troops to take up with all possible speed their distribution over the whole face of the two new Colonies. The organisation of the Force enabled this distribution to be carried out without any difficulty or delay, and a Troop and a self-contained Unit of 100 men was sent to occupy each Sub-District, its Headquarters acting as a support and supply depot to its several small outstations, which were then dotted about the surrounding country. In this way a network of Posts and Patrols was established in a very short space of time, in such a manner as to ensure every farm was visited once a week. The furthest boundaries of the country were regularly patrolled in every direction, including the Portuguese and Tongaland Frontiers.

By the beginning of August 1902, 28 Districts, 64 Sub-Districts and 210 Stations were occupied The immediate effect of this was to bring the Natives into a state of order, and to enable the repatriation of the Burghers to proceed without delay or danger to them. Property was protected and assistance given to the Burghers requiring it. In this way the relations between the Burghers and the Constabulary started on a very satisfactory footing. The Resident Magistrates took up their duties in August 1902, with the Force to uphold them and to give effect to their instructions. The Native Commissioners, after explaining the new regime to the various tribes, were enabled to carry out the disarmament of the Natives throughout the country. In November 1902, peace was so far secured and promised for the future, that it was considered advisable to reduce the Force to its normal peace establishment of 6 000 men.

Service and life after the Boer War: Lived initially in Boksburg, OFS. Married, he went into business in Boxburg after the Boer War and the company was called A1 Bricks. He had several holiday trips back to Northern Ireland and on the last return to Johannesburg he found his partner had absconded with all the funds and thereby he had to make a living and went as a Supervisor into the gold mines. My aunt was born in Northern Ireland in 1909 and during 1910 they came to Australia to a farming property at Kulin WA. He thought the sun would rid him of his illness. He was a great horseman it seems.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Lyn Osman, Wahroonga NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand daughter

Name of Descendant: Fiona Jane Hansson Osman, Wahroonga NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Grand Daughter

Name of Descendant: Julian James Hansson Osman, Wahroonga NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Grand Son

Name of Descendant: Felicity Hewitt Hansson Osman, Wahroonga NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Grand Daughter

Name of Descendant: Tanya Kym McBurney, Wahroonga NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Grand Daughter

Name of Descendant: Stefanie Kara McBurney, Wahroonga NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Grand Daughter

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