Trooper Vivian Watson

Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: Vivian (Steel Caldwell (NOT used on enlistment)) Watson
Ancestor's date of birth: 13/06/1877
Ancestor's date of death: 04/04/1919
Cause of Death: Died of Influenza during epidemic 1917-1921`
Service Number: 354
Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Young
Unit: D Squadron, New South Wales Citizens' Bushmen
Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 08/02/1900
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): No post war service.
Murray Page: 84A
Contingent: Third New South Wales
Ship: Atlantean or Maplemore Date of Sailing: 28/02/1900
Memorial details: Lot No 4671, General Section 16, Waverly Cemetary, Bronte, NSW.
Decorations: Queen and King's South Africa Medals with clasps.
Personal Characteristics: Single minded of strong character, an experienced stockman, horse breaker and manager, shooter and farmer on family sheep station at Thuddungra NSW and a bachelor on enlistment. (NB-Subsequently married with two children; both unmarried and now deceased with no issue.)
Reasons to go and fight: Adventurous and Patriotic for the Empire and Australia - eldest son of a Northern Irish born Father and Scottish/Australian born Mother
Details of service in war: Very sketchy, but believe he was with D Squadron NSWCB, attached to General Carrington's relief column on 5th August 1900 at the abortive relief attempt of Elands River (Brakfontein Post) garrison. Served in Cape Colony, Orange Free State,Transvaal and Rhodesia.
Service and life after the Boer War: Sketchy, all immediate children and relatives are deceased. Sketchy, Vivian returned to the family owned sheep station and continued various agricultural operations with his father and two younger brothers. Exempted from his Fathers Will, he inherited nothing of the station. He then became involved in sharefarming with his family until his unexpected death in 1919.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: John Carlton Watson, Thuddungra NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Only surviving Nephew

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