Ancestor Details
Ancestor's Name: Jerimiah H Wilkes
Ancestor's date of birth: 01/01/1879
Ancestor's date of death: 23/03/1901
Cause of Death: Striking his head against a water column at Bronkhorstprvit South Africa
Service Number: Not known
Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Sydney
Unit: SALH, IMR
Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: On enlistment in the SALH (South African Light Horse)
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): Did not survive Boer War
Murray Page: Not listed
Contingent: 1st Australian Bushmen or Imperial Bushmen draft, Surplus.
Ship: Not known, Date of Sailing: June or July 1900
Memorial details: Not known
Decorations: QSA with clasps, Transvaal, OFS and SA 1901
Personal Characteristics: Never Married. He was a member of the Baptist Church.
Reasons to go and fight: His ability with Horses.
Details of service in war: Jeremiah joined the Australian Bushman in Sydney and appears to have proceeded overseas with a small and previously unidentified reinforcement draft in June/July 1900. Possibly they were sent as horse managers for a draft of horses. He does not appear on the roll of either the NSW Imperial Bushman or the NSW Citizens Bushman as it appears that the draft was surplus to requirements or was siphoned off by Imperial authorities for other purposes and never taken on strength of an Australian Unit. On the 20th July 1900 he wrote to his father Mr J Wilkes, from the South African Light Horse Military Depot, Pietermaritzburg.
'Dear Father,
Just in time for a line to let you know I arrived safely at Durban, have accepted (with other members of the Contingent) in South African Light Horse (pay six shillings per day) address letters as above until further advised.
Love
Your affectionate son
JH Wilkes'
Unfortunately the records of the SALH do not show him but that is not an unique occurrence. By March 1901 he was serving as a fireman on the Imperial Military Railways. (Unfortunately records for this group are not yet available). On this day he was accidentally killed in a shunting accident when his head struck a water column at Bronkhorstspruit. On the 12th April 1901 the acting Locomotive Superintendent (Pretoria) wrote to his father Mr J Wilkes (sic) with condolences and requesting advice on the disposal of his possessions. At the time, Major David Miller, formerly of the NSW Imperial Bushman (Murray Pg 90) but then signing himself as Chief Staff Officer Overseas Colonials (based in Cape town) offering condolences and requesting advice for the disposal of 19 pounds 10 shillings still held on Jeremiah's behalf by the pay office.'
Service and life after the Boer War: Did not survive the Boer War.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Margaret Carlisle, Avalon NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: NieceName of Descendant: Craig Carlise, Kingsford NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great NephewName of Descendant: Jack Carlise, Kingsford NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Great NephewName of Descendant: Kate Carlise,Kingsford NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Great NieceName of Descendant: Peter Carlisle, Willoughby NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great NephewName of Descendant: Lindy Howarth, Collaroy Plateau NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Niece
