The Australian Boer War Memorial
Anzac Parade Canberra

 
 
Sergeant William Cracknell

Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: William Cracknell

Ancestor's date of birth: 12/09/1876

Ancestor's date of death: 06/11/1930

Cause of Death: Recurrence of old war injuries. Note these were never officially recorded.

Service and Life Before the Boer War: William was born in NSW and at the time of enlistment was a butcher in Zeehan.

Service Number: 2

Colony or State of enlistment: TAS, Place of Enlistment: Launceston

Unit: 1st Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen

Rank attained in Boer War: SGT, Date Effective: 01/04/1900

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): No evidence of post Boer War service

Murray Page: 558

Contingent: Third Tasmanian

Ship: SS Manhattan, Date of Sailing: 26/04/1900

Memorial details: Detail not provided.

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Cape Colony, Transvaal, Orange Free State and South Africa 1901 clasps.

Personal Characteristics: Detail not provided.

Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided.

Details of service in war: Service: June 1900 - June 1901 in Free State and northern Transvaal including ambush at Zwartkloof (1 September 1900) and as part of 4th Imperial Bushmen Regt at battle of Rhenoster Kop (29 November 1900), in great De Wet hunt, in advance on Pietersburg including ambush outside the town (8 April 1901), and in advance into east Transvaal. Cracknell headed his diary Regimental Sergeant Major so it seems that he may have acted as troop sergeant major as a Sgt. His OC Captain Lewis describes his experiences. "The Tasmanian Squadron was attached to Colonel Barker to form his cavalry to bring out empty and return with full convoy from Bethlehem and back; we arrived here yesterday morning. Since leaving Kroonstad, about five weeks ago, we have had plenty of active service, and all my men have gained the good opinion of those who have been over them. Colonel Barker specially requested that the Tasmanians should form part of his escort. We are the only mounted men that he has with him. All our horses are done up (in), and we are obliged to catch unbroken ones on the march and rule them, otherwise we could not do the work required of us." William Cracknell came down with Enteric fever and at one point was left behind in Bethlehem. This squadron had Guy Wylly and John Bisdee (both VC winners) in it as troopers.

Service and life after the Boer War: Arriving home William was one of the Tasmanian soldiers named by a temperance campaigner. The exact circumstances were not clear but the remarks seem to have been negative and caused controversy at the time.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Frank Cracknell, Corrimal NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Nephew

 


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