Ancestor Details

Name of Ancestor: William Piggott

Ancestor's date of birth: 15/12/1880

Ancestor's date of death: 03/11/1935

Cause of Death: Died from accidental Carbon monoxide poisoning - coroners report.

Service and Life Before the Boer War: Born Tamworth NSW. Served in the Militia, various units.

Service Number: 3340

Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Tamworth.

Unit: 3^rd NSW Mounted Rifles

Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 1901

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): CPL, Date Effective: 29/01/1917

Murray Page: 141

Contingent: Fifth New South Wales.

Ship: Maplemore, Date of Sailing: 17/03/1901

Memorial details: Detail not provided

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Orange Free State, Transvaal, SA 1901 and SA 1902 clasps. British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Personal Characteristics: He was 187 cm, 70 kg, blue eyes and brown hair. His complexion was described as fresh.

Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided

Details of service in war: April 1901 - April 1902 in Free State and East Transvaal including Boer breakthrough at Langverwacht (24 February 1902).

Service and life after the Boer War: Lived at Redfern NSW. On 15 Oct 1910 it was reported that he won the King's Prize in Shooting - however, it was later found there was fraud involved. He always claimed that another party changed his score at the 1000 yards (49 out of 50), because he never actually shot at that distance. He went to the First World War twice. He enlisted in the AIF 1 October 1915 and served first in 4 Battalion No 6370. He was a Musketry Instructor in the Cadre of the 1^st training Brigade in Sutton Veny UK. Returned due to the death of his wife in child labor in 1917. He reenlisted with No 86222 in the Special Transport Service of the AIF embarking on the "Rio Negro" on 20 Aug 1919. He had 6 children under the age of 11 years in 1917. His family helped look after them when he went back to war. In later life he became a tram conductor in Sydney.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Tony Paul, Cromer NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great grandson

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