The Australian Boer War Memorial
Anzac Parade Canberra

 
 
Trooper John Williams

Ancestor Details

Name of Ancestor: John Brown Williams

Ancestor's date of birth: 11/09/1870

Ancestor's date of death: Detail not provided

Cause of Death: Not Stated

Service Number: 198

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

Unit: 5 bn Australian Commonwealth Horse

Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: On enlistment

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): CPL, Date Effective: Not known, photo shows him serving in the arnmed forces between 1902-1914.

Murray Page: 190

Contingent: Third Australian

Ship: Columbian, Date of Sailing: 22/05/1902

Memorial details: Detail not provided

Decorations: No medals awarded

Personal Characteristics: Height: 1.72 m, auburn hair, blue eyes, fair complexion.

Reasons to go and fight: Details not provided.

Details of service in war: Unit arrived in South Africa after the war ended.

Service and life after the Boer War: He was born at Sandy Flats Monaro NSW he was a farmer from Balmain. On 24/4/1902 John Williams would have been 31 years of age when he enlisted in B Squadron 5 ACH for service in South Africa not 24 as he stated.This Contingent returned to Australia on the Manchester Merchant on 1 August 1902, the Peace Treaty having been signed on the 31 May 1902. Two photos exist of John Brown Williams in uniform. Both have been taken by a Brisbane Photographer and show him to be a Corporal. The group photo shows three of the solders wearing Boer War ribbons including the KSA therefore the photo is post Boer War and show him serving in an MP Unit, or in a group deployed on policing duties (the Provost corps was not formed until 1916). It is almost certainly taken in Queensland or Papua. There appears to be a Melanesian child in the background of the group photo, this information is open for discussion, the group is wearing a form of rising sun badge on their collars.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Ruth Ross, North Balgawlah NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Niece

 


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RUSI of NSW Boer War Battlefields