Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: Samuel George Cason

Ancestor's date of birth: 15/09/1880

Ancestor's date of death: 10/02/1965

Cause of Death: Age related

Service and Life Before the Boer War: Born and raised in the Murwillumbah area of NSW. His documents note both Kangaroo Valley and North Arm(both in Murwillumbah area) as his residence

Service Number: 31566

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

Unit: 'E' Squadron 2^nd Scottish Horse

Rank attained in Boer War: LCPL, Date Effective: 01/06/1901

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): No record of post Boer War service

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

Contingent: Not applicable

Ship: SS Orient, Date of Sailing: 15/02/1901

Memorial details: Calvary Cemetery, New York , USA

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

Personal Characteristics: He was shown as a labourer on his enlistment documents and his character and conduct were described as exemplary on discharge

Reasons to go and fight: Adventure and to be with his older brother William Moses Carlyle Cason

Details of service in war: Enlisted in the 2^nd Regiment of the Scottish Horse on 15 February 1901 and arrived in theatre 5 March 1901. The second regiment started in Colonel Benson's column in the Eastern Transvaal, under Major Murray, Black Watch, and, thanks to Colonel Benson's good guidance, speedily became one of the best corps in the country, and never degenerated, even after his death. Their first serious skirmish was at Roodekrantz, on April 30th, 1901, when one man was killed, 4 officers and one man wounded. Their next (on 3 July 1901) at Eland's Hoek [Kloof in the despatches, see Mentions], when three men were killed and nine wounded". The officers wounded at Roodekrantz were Captains M W H Linday and A M Creagh, and Lieutenants Oscar Hamilton and C S Long-Innes.

The despatches report Colonel Benson's operations in some detail, and the Scottish Horse are invariably mentioned in terms of credit. On 9 and 10 July 1901, near Dullstroom, north of the Delagoa Bay Railway, they are said to have pursued the enemy in a northerly direction, and to have captured some waggons. On the 11th the regiment was detached on a wide detour, during which they successfully located and captured 6 prisoners, 40 horses, and 24 vehicles belonging to Viljoen's commando, which were hidden in a kloof in the Tautesberg. On 15th July, at Wagen Drift, Lieutenants O W Kelly and M'Letchie and 4 men were wounded. In August, September, and October Benson operated south of the Delagoa Railway, and was most successful in rushing laagers after long night marches, taking a large number of armed Boers and immense quantities of cattle and transport. For their fine work Lord Kitchener bestowed on the column and its gifted leader the highest praise. But to few soldiers is it given to know nothing but unqualified success.

It will be remembered that at the end of September 1901 a great concentration of Boers was reported in the Vryheid district. After making most determined but unsuccessful! attacks on Forts Itala and Prospect, the enemy was driven from the south-east corner of the Transvaal.He was promoted to L/Cpl by the unit Commander, Major Murray in June 1901.

In the Scottish Horse active service commenced from the point of enlistment until point of discharge. Finished duty in South Africa 14-9-1901. Discharged Sydney 25-10-1901

Service and life after the Boer War: He returned to Australia after discharge. Soon after he moved to New York, USA and lived there until his death. He was not married and left no descendants. In that time he acted on Broadway and in silent movies. In his later years he was employed by the New York Transit Authority as a conductor

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Trevor Cason, Byron Bay NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Nephew

Return to Descendant Database