The Australian Boer War Memorial
Anzac Parade Canberra

 
 
Major Charles Lydiard

Ancestor Details

Name of Ancestor: Charles George Sydney Lydiard

Ancestor's date of birth: 02/03/1868

Ancestor's date of death: 13/08/1922

Cause of Death: Cancer

Service and Life Before the Boer War: Lieutenant Charles George Sydney LYDIARD was born on 2 March 1868 at Bathurst, where his father was superintendent of police, being sent to that town in the sixties, when bushranging was rife and remaining there till his death, 25 years afterwards. Young LYDIARD went to All Saints College, and in its sports distinguished himself on many occasions, being one of the fastest sprinters in Bathurst in those days. After leaving school he continued to take au interest in amateur athletics, and was known as one of the best quarters ever possessed by the Bathurst Football Club. He was also a first-class rider, his services being much sought after on the occasion ot the amateur races. He entered the service of the City Bank in 1884 and was appointed in 1887 to the Australian Joint Stock Bank in which he is accountant. Lieutenant LYDIARD is a grandson of a British Admiral. When the Half-Squadron of Mounted Rifles was organised at Bathurst he was amongst the first to join, and his smartness soon attracted attention, with the result that he was appointed Sergeant. He was one of the contingent representing New South Wales in England during the Queen's jubilee, being senior non-commissioned officer thereof. Soon after his return he gained his commission.

Service Number: Officer - no number

Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Bathurst

Unit: B Squadron 1 NSW MR

Rank attained in Boer War: MAJ, Date Effective: 20/06/1901

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

Murray Page: 58, 60, 62, 109, 110

Contingent: Second NSW

Ship: SS Southern Cross, Date of Sailing: 17/01/1900

Ship: SS Custodian, Date of Sailing: 17/03/1901

Other Boer War Service: returned to Australia on the SS Orient in December 1900. Reenlisted in the 2nd NSW Mounted Rifles in 1901

Memorial details: Holy Trinity Church, Kelso, NSW

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps Wittebergen, Diamond Hill, Johannesburg, Dreifontein, Cape Colony, Kings South African Medal with Clasps South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, twice Mentioned in Despatches.

Personal Characteristics: Great Sportsman, interested in Civic betterment. VReasons to go and fight: Saw the war as patriotic and was a serving volunteer.

Details of service in war: February 1900 - March 1901 in Free State, Transvaal, and western Cape Colony with 1NSWMR. With 2NSWMR Served in the western Transvaal under the command of Major-General Featherstonhaugh (pronounced Fanshawe) from 23 April to 1 October 1901,in Ingouville Williams' column, the principal operations being the capture of Potgieters convoy on the Vaal 24th of May, 1901; capture by the regiment of General De la Rey's convoy of 106 wagons, and a large quantity of cattle and ammunition. (Bessieslaagte) Served in the eastern Transvaal under Major-General Featherstonhaugh; engaged in many night marches in resulting in over 1000 prisoners being captured. The regiment served under Col Ingouville Williams (Brigade Commander) throughout, with the exception of six weeks when the column was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Lassetter. (CO of 2NSWMR) During the year of 1901 it travelled 6500 kilometres (on foot and horseback) in every part of the Transvaal. One specially noteworthy feature was that, whilst constantly engaging the enemy only 18 men were taken prisoners and of them the large number were on the first fight at Korannafontein and through no fault of the men. No column has made more night marches; one march made on the night of 11 March 1902 from Brugspruit over the difficult Wilge River to Dorneck, a distance of 72 kilometres which, with the return journey makes a distance of 144 kilometres is worthy of mention.

Service and life after the Boer War: Went into a retail business in Inverell with Major A A McLean and later managed Lysaghts' operations in Brisbane Was on the committee of Inverell Hospital and the Inverell Picnic Race Club

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Dianne Morton, Bowral NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand Daughter

 


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