Ancestor Details
Acsestor's Name: William Thomson
Ancestor's date of birth: 1880
Ancestor's date of death: 14/09/1901
Cause of Death: Killed in Action Platsrand, Transvaal
Service and Life Before the Boer War: Member of West Camden Lancers (NSW Lancers, 'C' Troop - West Camden)
Service Number: 958
Colony or State of enlistment: Not Australia, Place of Enlistment: South Africa
Unit: SA Irregular Forces, Bethune's Mounted Infantry
Rank attained in Boer War: LCPL, Date Effective: 14/01/1901
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): Did not survive the Boer War
Murray Page: Not applicable, did not serve in an Australian unit
Contingent: Not applicable
Ship: Travelled privately to South Africa
Other Boer War Service: Discharged Bethune's Mounted Infantry, 15 Dec 1900. Joined Menne's Scouts 14 Jan 1901 Service Number #104.
Memorial details: Buried Platrand Station. Later reinterred at Garden of Remembrance, Volksrust. Plaque at St David's Church Burrawang near Robertson NSW.
Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Orange Free State, Natal and Transvaal clasps, King's South Africa Medal with SA 1901 clasp.
Personal Characteristics: Detail not provided
Reasons to go and fight: Had been a serving soldier
Details of service in war: Joined Bethune's Mounted Infantry (BMI) 21 December 1900. Was involved in operations against the Boers in Orange Free State protecting and scouting for the right flank of General Buller's Army and actions near Vryheid, Scheeper's Nek and Utrecht. Joined Menne's Scouts 14 Jan 1901. This unit was raised and commanded by Major T Menne, who had seen service in Bethune's Mounted Infantry. Menne's Scouts did much to protect the all-important railway communication between Natal and Pretoria, as well as to keep the Commander-in-Chief informed of the movements and strength of the enemy in the south and south-east of the Transvaal. The special work of the corps was sometimes particularly dangerous. In the beginning of May 1901 they lost Lieutenant Hemmingway and 2 men killed and several wounded. On 13th September at Platrand William Thomson and another man were killed and two men (including an officer) wounded.
Service and life after the Boer War: Did not survive the Boer War.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Elizabeth Joan Smit, Banora Point NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Cousin twice removed
