Lance Sergeant Henry Best

Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: Henry Alfred Best
Ancestor's date of birth: 1875
Ancestor's date of death: 1940
Cause of Death: Cancer
Service Number: 117
Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Not stated
Unit: B Company NSW Imperial Bushman
Rank attained in Boer War: LSGT, Date Effective: 02/10/1901
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): TPR, Date Effective: 14/01/1916
Murray Page: 94
Contingent: Fourth NSW Contingent
Ship: Armenian, Date of Sailing: 23/04/1900
Memorial details: Not Stated
Decorations: QSA with Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Rhodesia, Transvaal, SA1901 clasps. 1914/15 Star, BWM, Victory Medal.
Personal Characteristics: A farmer born in Gunning NSW
Reasons to go and fight: Not stated
Details of service in war: May 1900 - May 1901 in Rhodesia and west Transvaal including capture of de la Rey's convoy and guns at Wildfontein (24 March 1901). It is highly likely that this soldier went on to serve in the 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen as his date of promotion to L/Sgt was 2 October 1901. The National Australian Archives B5197 records his number as 899 Rank Sgt.
Service and life after the Boer War: He enlisted in the AIF #2869 Trooper Best 1 Australian Light Horse 14 January 1916. Qualified 1^st class Machine Gunner 20 November 1916, transfered to 1st Light Horse Brigade Machine Gun Squadron 27 November 1916. Discharged with a medical disability [Rheumatism] 12 July 1918. Address in Australia was 'Inglevale' Grenfell NSW.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: John Henry Best, Grenfell NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Son
Name of Descendant: Michael Best, Grenfell NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grandson
Name of Descendant: Paul Best, Grenfell NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grandson
Name of Descendant: Susan Chowne, Campbell ACT
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand Daughter
Name of Descendant: Ann Best, Campbell ACT
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand Daughter

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