Private William Jeffrey

Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: William Jeffrey
Ancestor's date of birth: 01/06/1880
Ancestor's date of death: 20/04/1916
Cause of Death: KIA as a result of artillery fire in France
Service Number: 411
Colony or State of enlistment: QLD Place of Enlistment:
Unit: 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen
Rank attained in Boer War: PTE, Date Effective: On enlistment
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): PTE, Date Effective: 20/11/1915
Murray Page: 502
Contingent: Fifth Queensland
Ship: Templemore, Date of Sailing: 06/03/1901
Ship: Date of Sailing: 01/01/19
Other Boer War Service: Nil.
Memorial details: Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Grave F38, Rue-du-Bacqurot graveyard, Laventie, France.
Awards/Decorations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Transvaal, Orange Free State, SA 1901, SA 1902. British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Personal Characteristics: Height 180 cm, 70 kg (1915), of ruddy complexion with blue eyes and blond (light) hair.
Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided.
Details of service in war: April 1901 - March 1902 in east Transvaal, Free State including defeat at Mokari Drift (27 September 1901), and Natal border campaign including stand at Onverwacht (4 January 1902) where 13 died and 17 wounded.
Service and life after the Boer War: Returned to Australia: 30 April 1902 on St Andrew and possibly train from Sydney. Married Annie Lea in Toowomba in 1915. Joined the AIF on 19 October 1915, was granted a discharge for personal reasons, but rejoined a month later. Joined "Dungarees" here and marched 240 kilometres to Brisbane picking up Volunteers en route. Saw Service in Egypt in 25th Bn and in France 9th Bn. Left Brisbane on 30 December 1915 on HMAT Itonus. Was killed in France while the 9th Batallion were arriving in camp at Rouen, France. Two brothers, Robert and John, both wounded in France.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Leo Clarke, Canberra ACT
Relationship to Ancestor: great nephew
Name of Descendant: Alexander William Bartlett, Kippa-Ring QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: Great-Great Grandson
Name of Descendant: Sophie Bartlett, Kippa-Ring QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: Great-Great Granddaughter

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