Ancestor Details
Ancestor's Name: George Allman Griffen
Ancestor's date of birth: Detail Not Provided
Ancestor's date of death: 16/01/1900
Cause of Death: Killed in Action at Slingersfontain
Service Number: 367
Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Braidwood
Unit: 1st Australian Horse
Rank attained in Boer War: WO2 (Troop Sergeant Major), Date Effective: 01/01/19
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): Did not survive the war.
Murray Page: 45
Contingent: First New South Wales
Ship: Langdon Grange, Date of Sailing: 14/11/1899
Memorial details: Colesberg Cemetery (grave marker now destroyed - photo dates from 1980s), Australian War Memorial.
Decorations: Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps
Personal Characteristics: Detail not provided
Reasons to go and fight: A career malitiaman
Details of service in war: The 1st Australian Horse was a New South Wales Heavy Cavalry unit and should not be confused with the Australian Commonwealth Horse. It was raised in 1895 by Col J.H.K. Mackay who was their first Commanding Officer. On arrival in South Africa the Australian Horse Squadron was attached to the Scots Greys serving in General French's Cavalry Division. It served in northern Cape Colony, Orange Free State, and east Transvaal. Sgt Maj George Griffen was the first New South Wales soldier who fell in the war (Corporal Kilpatrick was wounded in the same action, and died later of wounds). Source Murray List Pg 42.
Service and life after the Boer War: Did not survive the war.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Anthony Griffen, Pyrmont NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: NephewName of Descendant: David Griffen, Nerriga NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great NephewName of Descendant: Jeanette Williamson, Chatswood NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Niece
