Ancestor Details
Name of Ancestor: Robert Streatfield
Ancestor's date of birth: 03/07/1851
Ancestor's date of death: 02/07/1941
Cause of Death: Not Stated
Service Number: 2135
Colony or State of enlistment: Not applicable, Place of Enlistment: Peitermaritzburg South Africa
Unit: 4th Battalion Cape Railway Pioneer Regiment
Rank attained in Boer War: CPL, Date Effective: 1901?
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): CPL, Date Effective: 20/04/1917
Murray Page: Not applicable - did not serve in an Australian Unit
Contingent: Not applicable
Ship: Was in South Africa when war commenced.
Memorial details: Australian Tunnelling Company Memorial - just south of Ieper, France.
Decorations: Queen and King's South Africa medals with clasps. 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Personal Characteristics: Non drinker, decent man. 1.8 m tall, weight 76 kg (1916)
Reasons to go and fight: Loyal to Queen and Country. He was in South Africa mining at the start of the Boer War.
Details of service in war: Enlisted 4 December 1900 The four battalions of the Railway Pioneer Regiment were employed chiefly on the Cape-Pretoria railway, but they were also on the Krugersdorp line, and sometimes operated as a fighting force a considerable distance from railways. The regiment also did admirable service on the armoured trains which did so much to make railway traffic possible during the guerrilla stages. He was discharged 10 April 1902.
Service and life after the Boer War: Migrated to Australia, married Alice and lived in the Newcastle NSW area. He enlisted as a sapper no: 3379 in the Australian Imperial Force on 9 April 1916 during the 1st World War. He embarked for overseas service on 22 May 1916, joined the 1st Australian Tunneling Company on 30 November 1916 at Hill 60 in France. Promoted temporary corporal 20 April 1917. Returned to Australia 29 August 1917 due to medical reasons, he had suffered a non combat (tripped over railway line) injury near the front on 18 January 1917 record emphasises "soldier not to blame". Discharged 23 November 1917.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Barry Cox, Mt Colah NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Grand SonName of Descendant: Lynette Lewis, Rankin Park, NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Grand Daughter
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