The Australian Boer War Memorial
Anzac Parade Canberra

 
 
Sergeant Thomas Woolmore

Ancestor Details

Name of Ancestor: Thomas Arthur Woolmore

Ancestor's date of birth: 1874

Ancestor's date of death: Detail not provided

Cause of Death: Detail not provided

Service Number: 3804

Colony or State of enlistment: Not Applicable, Place of Enlistment: London, United Kingdom

Unit: 2 bn The Middlesex Regiment

Rank attained in Boer War: SGT, Date Effective: Detail not provided

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): Continued to serve in the British Army no details provided of further promotions.

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

Contingent: Not Applicable.

Ship: Avondale, Date of Sailing (from UK): 02/12/1899

Memorial details: Details not provided.

Decorations: Queen and King's South Africa Medals with clasps (may have been other awards).

Personal Characteristics: Professional Soldier.

Reasons to go and fight: Professional Soldier.

Details of service in war: The 2nd Battalion sailed on the Avondale on 2 December 1899, and arrived at the Cape about the 25th. They were sent round to Durban. Along with the 2nd Dorsetshire Regiment and 2nd Somerset Light Infantry they formed the 10th Brigade under Major General Talbot Coke, and part of the 5th Division under General Warren, and later under General Hildyard.

The Middlesex were part of the garrison of Spion Kop on the fatal 24 January (see 2nd Royal Lancaster Regiment), and lost heavily, their casualties being approximately 3 officers and 20 men killed, and 5 officers and 60 men wounded. Two men were recommended for the distinguished conduct medal for very exceptional gallantry. In his despatch of 30th January 1900, General Buller bore testimony to the gallant and admirable behaviour and endurance of the troops who were on the hill, including the Middlesex Regiment, who "magnificently maintained the best traditions of the British army".

In the fighting between 13th and 27th February the battalion was several times engaged, but its losses were not serious. Lieutenant Colonel A W Hill was mentioned in the despatch of 30th March 1900.

At the battle of Alleman's Nek (see 2nd Queen's and 2nd Dorsets) the Middlesex Regiment assisted in taking the hill on the right of the nek and did well. Their losses were approximately 1 killed and 9 wounded.

In his final despatch of 9 November 1900 General Buller mentioned 4 officers and 7 non-commissioned officers and men of the battalion, and 8 officers and 19 non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned in Lord Roberts' final despatch.

During the second phase of the campaign the battalion was mainly employed in the south - east of the Transvaal, and in the Newcastle district. They were represented in the garrison of Fort Itala when that place was attacked on 26 September 1901. The battalion had no opportunity of gaining distinction after Alleman's Nek.

Service and life after the Boer War: Thomas (parents William & Rebecca W) was my grandfather's (RSM William Woolmore RFArty., DOW 1st Ypres 1914) elder brother and, as my grandmother later migrated to Australia in 1919 with the children, contact with the family in England was eventually lost. Thomas Arthur Woolmore was born at Chigwell in 1874. He joined the Middlesex Regiment in London (or nearby) and served in the Boer War with the 2nd Middlesex Rgt. (including Spion Kop I believe) with the rank of Sergeant and earned the QSA and KSA Medals. From the photo it would appear that he later served in Burma

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: William Woolmore, Blackburn South VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Great nephew

Details of the Middlesex Regiment in the boer war courtesy angloboerwar.com.
 

 


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