Ancestor Details

Name of Ancestor: Joseph John Dopson

Ancestor's date of birth: 24/05/1881

Ancestor's date of death: 12/10/1956

Cause of Death: age related

Service and Life Before the Boer War: Born in Tenterfield, NSW and was a stockman by trade. He was possibly a member of the local Mounted Rifles troop but this is not certain.

Service Number: 315 and 1305

Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Tenterfield

Unit: 1 Section F Squadron New South Wales Imperial Bushmen then C Squadron 1 Australian Commonwealth Horse

Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 01/03/1900

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): SGT, Date Effective: 01/03/1917

Murray Page: 104 and 173

Contingent: Fourth New South Wales and First Australian

Ship: SS Armenian, Date of Sailing: 23/04/1900

Ship: SS Custodian or SS Manchester Merchant, Date of Sailing: 16/02/1902

Memorial details: Buried at Lutwyche Cemetery Queensland

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

Personal Characteristics: Enlistment papers show him to be 196 cm tall Brown eyes, fair Complexion and light brown hair.

Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided.

Details of service in war: Service with F Squadron NSWIB.Service: May 1900 - May 1901 in Rhodesia under Carrington and west Transvaal including capture of de la Rey's convoy and guns at Wildfontein (24 March 1901). Service with 1 ACH March - May 1902. This unit proceeded on 19 March 1902 by train from Durban to Newcastle and thence to Klerksdorp on 10th of April arriving at the later place on the 13th. It joined the column under the command of Col de Lisle which form part of Thornycroft's brigade. This column was inspected by Lord Kitchener on 22 April, who expressed himself pleased with the appearance of men and horses. The column was employed clearing the district north of Klerksdorp and took part in a drive which can commenced on 7 May, moving westward to the Kimberley- Mafeking railway blockhouse line. 251 prisoners including Gen De La Rey's brother, were captured, also 300 horses, hundred and 44 rifles and bandoliers, 6000 rounds of ammunition and a large quantity of stock. Command of the column was then turned over to Colonel Ingouville Williams. The column then returned to Klerksdorp reaching that place on 21 May, the regiment remained here until the declaration of peace when they were ordered to Elandsfontein to prepare for return to Australia. The regiment returned to Australia on the transport Drayton Grange 13 August 1902. The service the unit was reckoned to be operations in the western Transvaal and British Bechuanaland April to May 1902.

Service and life after the Boer War: In world war 1 enlisted in 5ALH on 4 September 1915 as No2011. Posted to 12 Company 3rd ANZAC Battalion of the Imperial Camel Corps. On disbandment in 1918 was posted to 15^th ALH, 5^th Light Horse Bde, Australian Mounted Division. In World War 2 enlisted in 1^st Garrison battalion No Q187501 being discharged 17 Feb 1943. He was then living in Toowoomba. He never married

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Jean Blain, Bracken Ridge QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Niece

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