The Australian Boer War Memorial
Anzac Parade Canberra

 
 
Major Charles Kellie

Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: Charles Wauchope Kellie

Ancestor's date of birth: 18/06/1856

Ancestor's date of death: 1930

Cause of Death: Age related

Service and Life Before the Boer War: He was born at Aden on the 18 June 1856, and was of Scotch lineage. His early life was spent in the Channel Islands, where he received his education. He afterwards entered the Royal Academy, Woolwich, where he received a thorough military training, and from there passed into the Royal Artillery in 1875, joining the regiment at Malta. At a later time he went to India, where he spent four years, two of which were spent in Afghanistan, where he took part in the march for the relief of Kandahar. Being promoted to the position of captain in 1883, he was sent to take part in the Soudan war of 1884. He took part in the battles of El Teb, where he was wounded; and of Tamai. From Egypt he came to Queensland, having In 1893 retired from the Royal Artillery. He then acted as senior captain of the Queensland Regiment of the Royal Australian Artillery. Promoted Major in 1898 he took a reduction in rank to command the company in 3QMI but later in the tour resumed his rank of major. Major Kellie spent some time at Braeside his cousins property. While he was there, Mr Glen, who was managing the estate at the time, was drowned quite close to the homestead. Major Kellie made a gallant but unsuccessful effort to save the drowning man, very nearly losing his own life in the attempt.

Service Number: Officer, no number

Colony or State of enlistment: QLD, Place of Enlistment: Brisbane

Unit: 'D'company 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry

Rank attained in Boer War: MAJ, Date Effective: 1900

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): No evidence of post Boer War promotion.

Murray Page: 466

Contingent: Third Queensland

Ship: SS Duke of Portland, Date of Sailing: 02/03/1900

Memorial details: Buried at Rookwood cemetery, Sydney.

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Relief of Mafeking, Rhodesia, Transvaal and South Africa 1901. Queens Egypt medal with two clasps, Kedive Star, Order of Medjidie 4th class, Afganistan Medal with Kandahar clasp.

Personal Characteristics: Detail not provided.

Reasons to go and fight: A professional soldier and dedicated patriot.

Details of service in war: April 1900 - April 1901 in Rhodesia, west Transvaal including relief of Mafeking (16-17 May 1900), defeat at Koster River (22 July 1900) and defence of Elands River Post (4-16 August 1900), and in northern Transvaal including battle of Rhenoster Kop (29 November 1900), and advance on Pietersburg.

Service and life after the Boer War: He lived in Sydney in the 1930s and died at Ryde in 1939

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Leon Cremer, Newport NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand Son

 

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RUSI of NSW Boer War Battlefields