Ancestor Details

Name of Ancestor: John Tancred

Ancestor's date of birth: 16/06/1868

Ancestor's date of death: 1942

Cause of Death: Age related

Service and Life Before the Boer War: Worked as a butcher but had gone to South Africa to try his luck mining.

Service Number: 139

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

Unit: Utrecht Mounted Police

Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 01/01/19

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): PTE, Date Effective: 14/12/1914

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

Contingent: Not applicable

Ship: Was already in South Africa

Other Boer War Service: Also served in Kitchener's Fighting Scouts and as 36942 Tpr 2nd Scottish Horse. The roll book shows John Joseph and the 'John' has been ruled through so he was known as Joseph in the Scottish Horse

Memorial details: Detail not provided

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with 5 clasps, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Personal Characteristics: Detail not provided

Reasons to go and fight: Was in South Africa and saw it as in his interests to fight the Boers as well as being patriotic for the Empire.

Details of service in war: The Utrecht Mounted Police were raised by Lieutenant Miers, in Jan 1901. The most serious action involving the unit took place in Zululand on 28 April 1901. A patrol from Mahlabatini was fired on and, after being reinforced, it continued towards Mtonjaneni. Before reaching safety, it was ambushed by a large Boer force. A firefight ensued and the Boers were eventually driven off. The Police had four killed, two mortally wounded and one wounded.

Service and life after the Boer War: Returned to Australia on the SS Aurania in May 1902. He returned to South Africa and served with Royston's Horse during the Zulu revolt 1906. Enlisted in the 2^nd Tropical Force (ANMEF) 14 Dec 1914 and was discharged 30-1-1915. Enlisted in the AIF 9 August 1915 as no 2804 and joined 15th Bn AIF on Gallipoli. He was invalided home and discharged medically unfit due to Rheumatism. Re enlisted in the AIF as no 3223 2^nd Pioneer Bn 11 September 1916 He was returned to Australia and discharged medically unfit Rheumatism 14 September 1917.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Dorothy Tydeman, Bateau Bay NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: great niece by marriage

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