The Australian Boer War Memorial
Anzac Parade Canberra

 
 
Private Frank Dysaski

Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: Frank Dysaski

Ancestor's date of birth: 1877

Ancestor's date of death: 09/07/1930

Cause of Death: Suicide at Breakfast Creek, Queensland perhaps a result of war service

Service and Life Before the Boer War: He was born at Haihola in the south island. At the time of the Boer War he was living near Waianawi his address was given as Centre Bush. His occupation was Labourer

Service Number: 6050

Colony or State of enlistment: Not Australia Place of Enlistment: Invercargill

Unit: 'H' Company, South Island Regiment, 8th New Zealand Mounted Rifles

Rank attained in Boer War: PTE, Date Effective: 1902

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): TPR, Date Effective: 18/08/1914

Murray Page: Not applicable, did not serve in an Australian unit.

Contingent: Eighth New Zealand

Ship: SS Cornwall, Date of Sailing: 08/02/1902

Memorial details: Soldier's Grave, Toowong, Brisbane QLD

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Cape Colony, Transvaal and South Africa 1902 clasps. 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Personal Characteristics: 177 cm tall, weight 74 kg (1902), Grey eyes, Fair Complexion and light brown hair

Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided.

Details of service in war: The Eighth Contingent was formed in response to British requests for another contingent. Unlike other contingents, men were not required to be members of the Volunteer Force. More than 4000 men applied to join the contingent, but only 1000 were selected. Divided into North Island and South Island regiments, the Eighth was commanded by Colonel Richard Davies. The North Island Regiment departed from Auckland aboard the SS Surrey while the South Island Regiment embarked aboard the SS Cornwall from Lyttelton. Both ships arrived in Durban on 15 March 1902. On 12 April 1902 sixteen members of the contingent were killed when their train derailed at Machavie (Machavierug) near Potchefstroom.

Service and life after the Boer War: On return he he continued his prewar occupation. When World War One broke out he enlisted in the Otago Mounted Rifles on 18 August 1914. He was then living at Fairfax. He served at Gallipoli with his unit and accidentally dislocated his shoulder on 18 June 1915 and was evacuated. He returned to duty but for reasons which are not clear was sent home and discharged as medically unfit for further service on 5 March 1916. Perhaps he was already suffering from trauma. In 1930 he came to Brisbane to assist his asthma with a large sum of money which it was not clear as to its origins. On this money being spent he shot himself in the street at Breakfast creek.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Wayne Freeman, Lower King, Albany, WA
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Great Nephew

 


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RUSI of NSW Boer War Battlefields