Ancestor Details
Ancestor's Name: Matthew Montgomery McBaron
Ancestor's date of birth: 01/04/1881
Ancestor's date of death: 01/02/1974
Cause of Death: Age related
Service and Life Before the Boer War: Farmer born in Robertson NSW. Joined West Camden squadron of the Lancers.
Service Number: 788
Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Parramatta
Unit: NSW Lancers
Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 1899
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): No record of post Boer War promotions.
Murray Page: 12
Contingent: Third (Captain Nicholson's) Lancer Draft, First New South Wales Contingent
Ship: Australian, Date of Sailing: 16/02/1900
Memorial details: New South Wales Memorial Museum Parramatta NSW
Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps for Johannesburg, Belfast, Cape Colony and Orange Free State clasps.
Personal Characteristics: Known as "Monty"
Reasons to go and fight: Many of his brothers and cousins had joined the West Camden half-squadron from well before the Boer War but only Monty and cousin James Carrick actually sailed for Africa
Details of service in war: May to December 1900. During the first week of May, Captain Nicholson (Maitland), 40 other ranks (The Forty Thieves) including Trooper McBaron and 71 horses joined Lancer Squadron, and the brigade marched out of Springfield towards Rondeheuval. The objective was Kroonstad, temporary capital of the Orange Free State. The Forty thieves stayed together, the Lancers' history notes some of their exploits. Captain Nicholson and two troops of the NSW Lancers including Trooper McBaron did good work in the fight of 400 of the brigade against 2,000 Boers at Waterval on 10 June 1900. From the regimental base at Strathrae, a patrol under Captain Nicholson again the forty thieves including Trooper McBaron, on 2 August 1900, discovered the enemy in force to the north-east, and surprising a commando at breakfast. On 16 September 1900 With two days' supplies, moved at 05:00, climbed 530 metres and occupied the heights in Eureka City overlooking Sheba Mine. A troop (agail the forty thieves) under Captain Nicholson proceeded down the railway line to Avoca, took 52 locomotives and several prisoners and held the place until the arrival of reinforcements a few days later. On 26 October 1900 the squadron found itself at the end of its journey: at the end, too, of its term of service in Africa. He served in the following engagements: 10/5/1900 Ventersburg Road, 27/5/1900 Vanwyksrust, 28/5/1900 Klipriversburg, 29/5/1900 Doornkop, 3/6/1900 Valkhevvel Poort, 11-12/7/1900 Olifantsfontein, 6/6/1900 Waterval (Release of prisoners), 23/7/1900 Wilge River, 24/7/1900 Zaaiwater, 25/7/1900 Olifant's River, 26/7/1900 Sterkwater.
Service and life after the Boer War: In 1901 still as a serving Lancers, travelled to Melbourne with his troop to take part in the Duke of York celebrations marking the opening of the parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia. Returned to farming, in the Southern Highlands. ? He married Florence Emily Rutledge in Kiama on 15 March 1904 and they had eight children from 1908 to 1918. Moved north to Bellingen area and became a very successful cattle farmer, winning numerous local show prizes. "Monty" as he was known, died at his property "Riverview" at Raleigh on 1 February 1974 and was buried at Bellingen Cemetery just short of his 93rd birthday.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Max Carrick, North Epping NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: First cousin, twice removed.
