Major Frederick William Christian Geyer
6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen
13th Light Horse Regiment AIF
By Robert Simpson
Frederick William Christian Geyer was born on 25th July 1863 in Norwood, South Australia. He was a son to Friedrich Wilhelm Christian Geyer and Josephine Frances Bunn who had been married on Saturday 21st March 1857. They were both living in Adelaide at the time. The Adelaide Times of Monday 23rd March 1857 on page 2 had under “MARRIED. On Saturday, the 21st March, at Christ Church, North Adelaide, by the Kev. W. J. Woodcock, Frederick William Christian Geyer, of Adelaide, to Josephine, second daughter of Francis Bunn, also of this city.” Friedrich had been born in Hessen, Germany in about 1826 and was a Chemist, and Josephine had been born in St Albans England in 1830. Her father was a farmer and had moved his family to Adelaide at some time. Frederick had only one sibling, a sister, Eva Geyer, who was born on 10th July 1860. Friedrich had an advertisement in a local South Australian Newspaper in 1874 for “MAIN & GEYER, CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS, No. 9, HINDLEY-STREET, AND 56, KING WILLIAM-STREET.” It highlighted a list of preparations and family medicines that could be purchased there. In 1879 they advertised for a wet nurse. Another advertisement in 1882 was for vaccinations being done in one of their shops for a few days in one week. Friedrich died on 5th October 1863 in Kapunda, Adelaide at the age of 37. In the Adelaide Express of Wednesday 1st June 1864 on page 4 was a notice which read “IN the MATTER of the ESTATE of FRIEDERICH WILHELM CHRISTIAN GEYER, late of Hindley street, Adelaide, in, the Province of South Australia, Chemist and Druggist, deceased.—Notice is hereby given in pursuance of Clause No. 24 of Act No. 6 of 1860, to all Creditors of Friederich Wilhelm Christian Geyer, late of Adelaide aforesaid, Chemist and Druggist, deceased, who died on or about the fifth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, to send to the undersigned, or to Messrs. Belt, Cullen, and Wigley, solicitors, King William-street Adelaide, on or before the tenth day of June, 1864, their claims against the Estate of the said Friederich Wilhelm Christian Geyer, or in default, thereof they will be peremptorily excluded from the benefit of enforcing their claims against the Estate of the said Friederich Wilhelm Christian Geyer, deceased, which is now in course of administration by his Executors. Dated this nineteenth day of March, 1864. F. C. Bayer M.D. E. Geyer.” The family was rocked again when Eva died on 10th May 1864 in Little Hampton, Mount Barker, South Australia and was buried in Adelaide in West Terrace Cemetery in plot Road 3. Her death notice appeared in South Australian Register on Wednesday 11th May 1864 on page 2 as “GEYER. —On the 10th May, at Little Hampton, of scarlatina, Eva, the beloved and only daughter of the late Mr. F. W. Geyer, of Hindley-street, aged four years.” The South Australia Police Gazette in 1886 has an entry under the heading “Stealing” an entry “On the 6th instant, from the bicycle of Frederick W. C. Geyer, off Gawler-place, Adelaide, three steel wrenches.-(C.273.)”
Josephine was mentioned in the Chronicle of Adelaide on Saturday 25th July 1903 on page 32 under the heading Law Courts – The Donnelley’s again at the Court, where “Charles Francis Donnelly and Henry James Donnelly, who were recently committed for trial on a number of indictments were brought up at the Adelaide Police Court on Monday morning on remand” for “stealing 3 brooches and a silver watch and chain; and stealing a gold chain, a gold brooch, gold earrings, 2 gold rings, and 3 gold bracelets from the residence of Josephine Geyer, at Eighth avenue, East Adelaide, on May 22” amongst other items elsewhere. Josephine died on 18th September 1927 in Adelaide and was buried on the 20th in West Terrace Cemetery in the same plot as Eva.
Frederick was baptised on 19th December 1875 at Christ Church, North Adelaide. He married Ada Francis on 17th September 1898 in Holy Trinity Church in Adelaide. Ada had been born on 6th January 1869 in Halifax Street, South Adelaide, a daughter to Walter James Francis and Jane Veronica Carroll. She was baptised on 31st October 1869 in St Paul, Adelaide. Their marriage appeared in the Evening Journal of Adelaide on Tuesday 11th October 1898 on page 2 under “MARRIAGES. GEYER—FRANCIS.—On the 17th September, at Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide, by the Rev. Webb, Frederick William Christian, only son of the late William F. C. Geyer, to Ada, third daughter of Walter J. Francis, both of Adelaide.”
The South Australian Advertiser of Friday 18th February 1887 in page 7 had from the Government Gazette of 17th February and entry under Local Military Forces for “Mr. Frederick William Christian Geyer to be a lieutenant in the S. A. Militia Infantry”. In the South Australian Weekly Chronicle on Saturday 15th December 1888 in page 11 was an entry “The riflemen who will represent this colony at the intercolonial rifle matches, to be held in Tasmania, have left Adelaide for that purpose.” “By Wednesday afternoon’s express the South Australian riflemen who will take part in the Tasmanian rifle matches left for Melbourne en route for the tight little island. The men who took their departure were— Captain Drysdale, Lieutenants Geyer and Robertson; Sergeant Major Rowell, Sergeants Larkey and Arnold, Bombardier Baldock, Lance Corporal Murphy, Privates Binney, Crittenden, and Marrson. Lieutenant Colonel Madley, who is in charge of the team, left by the same train.” The South Australian Chronicle on Saturday 31st August 1889 in page 23 had an article in “GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. Thursday, August 29.” under “LOCAL MILITARY FORCES …Lieutenants Malcolm George Hipwell, Frederick William Christian Geyer, David Morton Tweedie, and Isaac Killicoat to be captains in the S A. Militia Infantry…” In the Chronicle of Saturday 15th August 1896 in page 15 from “THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. Thursday, August 13” was an entry after “The following appointments have been made in the South Australian Military Forces (active) supernumerary list in terms of the Defences Act” and “to be captains” – Frederick William Christian Geyer was listed as one of several. The Express and Telegraph of Adelaide on Friday 25th August 1899 in page 3 recorded under Personal “His Excellency the Governor has placed the undermentioned Infantry officers on the retired list, with permission to retain their rank and wear the uniform of their former corps:—Captain Frederick William Christian Geyer…”.
In 1891, F W C Geyer departed Melbourne on the Innamincka bound for Sydney.
Their only child, Maidie Geyer, was born in New South Wales in 1899. She was baptised on 4th August 1901 in All Souls’, St. Peters, South Australia, but unfortunately died on the same day in Norwood, East Adelaide.
The Queensland Government Gazette in 1901 recorded that Acting Lieutenant F W C Geyer was to be a Lieutenant in in connection with the Sixth Queensland Contingent from 19th March 1901 on page 1195 (also an Acting Lieutenant in the Queensland Land Defence Force) and on page 1209 was to be Captain. The Gazette of 1902 on page 10 recorded that Captain Geyer had a “Cancellation of Appointment for Special Duty”, due to their return to Queensland and whose services were no longer required for such special duty.
The Queenslander of Saturday 13th April 1901 in page 713 had pictures of the officers of the Sixth Queensland Contingent and had an entry for “COMMANDING No. 3 COMPANY. Captain Frederick William Christian Geyer, care of Mrs. W. C. Geyer, Eighth-avenue, St. Peter’s”.
“Photos, by Tosca.”
Frederick was listed in the Nominal Roll of the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen as a Captain. Captain F W C Geyer of the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Regiment was awarded the Queens South Africa medal with clasps Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902. He was not eligible for the Kings South Africa Medal. He had served for 15 months there. The medical history sheet for members of the 6th Contingent that returned on TSS Devon showed that Captain F W C Geyer had brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. His description on enlistment continued with his height as 5 foot 7½ inches, weight 10 stone and chest measurement of 34 to 36½ inches. On returning his age was 38 years and 11 months.
Frederick was in the British Army List of 1902 in the List of Officers of the South Australian Military Forces as a Captain.
By the 1903 electoral roll, Frederick and Ada had moved to Bauple in Queensland and he was a sugar-planter and she was doing domestic duties. The same details were recorded in 1905 and 1906. They were still there in 1908 and he was listed as a planter and in the 1909, 1910 and 1912 rolls he was listed as a farmer. In the 1913 roll, he was an excise officer and they were still at Bauple. The 1914 State Electoral Roll still had him listed as a farmer at Bauple, registered on 4th June 1906, and Ada was listed as living at Kincora, Bauple, registered on 22nd December 1905. Frederick was still listed in the 1915, 1916 and 1917 rolls with all the same details. Ada was listed in the 1915 roll, but not the other two.
In the London Gazette of 5th September 1905 on page 6059 is an entry under “The undermentioned Officers of the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen are granted temporary rank in the Army, whilst serving in South Africa, as follows” and under the heading “To be Captains” was Captain Frederick William Christian Geyer, dated 14th March 1901.
A family history site has recorded that Frederick “fathered an illegitimate son in Sydney in 1906-7.” The person writing that point was distantly related to him. There are no details on who that was.
A newspaper article from a person reminiscing of the “old days in Wide Bay” had in the article “Then there were the Geyers also, of Mount Bauple; one of them was another Boer War veteran, who also fought in the Great War. They now live in Chatswood, near Sydney.”
Frederick enlisted for the term of the war and 4 months after. His application for a Commission in the AIF was filled out on 26th May 1915. He spent 6 years as a student at St Peter’s College Adelaide and listed for his military qualifications that his first appointment was with the South Australian Militia in 1887, Captain 1889, Adjutant 1st Regiment 1891-6, Orderly Officer O.C. Brigade 1896-9, Captain of Squadron with the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen South African Campaign and Captain, Reserve of Officers. Frederick qualified at a competitive examination for first appointment as 2nd Lieutenant in February 1887. His present civilian employment was as a cane farmer and his religion was Church of England. Being born on 25th July 1863, he was a 51 year and 10-month-old British subject who was married. His address was c/o Miss Scougall Railway Parade Clayfield Brisbane and his next of kin was his wife. His Statement of Service record lists his next of kin as Ada Geyer Bauple via Tiaro Queensland. The medical certificate showed he was 5 foot 8½ inches tall, weighed 10 stone, had a chest measurement of 38 to 40½ inches and had good eyesight. He was recommended by the Commanding Officer to be a Major and command B Squadron.
On the embarkation roll of the 13th Light Horse Regiment 4th Light Horse Brigade, under B Squadron was Major Frederick William Geyer, a 51-year-old cane grower who was married. His next of kin and address was Ada Geyer, care of “Miss Stongall”, Clayfield Brisbane. (It should be care of Miss Scougall, but it is spelt like that on the Nominal Roll). His religion was Church of England and he joined on 4th March 1915. His rate of pay was 30 shillings a day of which 18 shillings was allotted to Australia, 7 shillings to himself and 5 was deferred. They embarked on HMAT Persic A34 in Melbourne on 28th May 1915. They disembarked at Egypt on 29th June 1915.
The Daily Standard (Brisbane) of Wednesday 16th June 1915 on page 5 had under Military Matters and AIF Appointments “Captains. F. W. C. Geyer and, J. Loynes to be majors”.
The regiment disembarked at Gallipoli on 11th September 1915 and spent most of its’ time there manning the trenches at Lone Pine. They evacuated on 20th December 1915.
On 26th March 1916 he was allotted for duty with the Training Depot at Ismailia. He transferred to the 1st Light Horse Training Regiment at Tel-le-Kebir on 17th April 1916. On 28th May 1916 he embarked on HMT Corsican at Alexandria for overseas.
On 7th February 1917 he was acting as an escort to H.M. The King on the occasion of the opening of Parliament.
He was admitted to hospital on 21st July 1917 with arthritis (mild). His wife was advised of it on 26th July 1917.
The Telegraph (Brisbane) on Friday 10th August 1917 in page 2 was a list of casualties, wounded and ill which included Major F W C Geyer of Clayfield in the ill list.
On 1st September 1917, AIF Administrative Headquarters in London wrote to the AIF Depot at Tidworth saying “On handing over Major GEYER is not to be sent overseas, but may be employed by you in some appointment suitable for his rank. If you are unable to so employ him arrangements will be made for his return to Australia as unabsorbed.” Their reply on the 8th said “The G.O.C.A.I.F. Depots in U.K., directs me to say that he is unable to find further suitable employment for Major Geyer.” They also wrote to the Transport Section on the 14th, saying that “Approval has been given for the return to Australia as unabsorbed of the above-named Officer now at the Light Horse Training Depot, Salisbury. Will you arrange his passage by first available transport. Instructions have been issued for Major Geyer to report to the No.2 Command Deport, Weymouth.” They sent a note to Headquarters AIF Depot at Tidmouth, advising them to send Major Geyer to the Depot and to forward copies to Defence in Melbourne.
The Light Horse Training Depot at Candahar Barracks Tidworth wrote to Headquarters AIF Depots on 12th September 1917 about Major A N Aitken taking over Command of the Depot, stating “Major F.W. GEYER begs to apply to be posted to the 11th Light Horse Regiment now serving in Egypt. In support of this application he would like to point out that before leaving Australia the 11th Regiment was his old Regiment, he being transferred to the 13th Regiment only about a fortnight prior to that Regiment sailing from Australia. Failing this application not being considered he respectfully applies to be posted to the Egyptian Cavalry.” A note underneath from Brigadier-General C V Lumley commanding the 2nd Reserve Cavalry Brigade noted “Forwarded for favourable consideration. This Officer has been in command of the Australian Light Horse attached to the Brigade under my command for 15 months and has always given satisfaction and been attentive to his duties.” They were forwarded on.
AIF Administrative Headquarters in London wrote a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Defence in Melbourne on 3rd October 1917, with copies, about Major F W C Geyer 13th Light Horse Regiment. “The Transport section of these Headquarters has been asked to arrange passage to Australia by first available transport of the above-named Officer, approval for whose return for termination of appointment as unabsorbed has been given by the G.O.C.A.I.F., and he has been ordered to proceed to No.2 Command Depot, Weymouth to await embarkation.”
Frederick marched out to return to Australia as a Staff Officer at Plymouth and embarked on the Athenic on 9th October 1917 as a Major with the 13th Light Horse. A record in his file said he was “Unabsorbed” and he was struck off strength in England. He disembarked at Durban on 14th November 1917 from the Osterley after being transhipped from HMAT Athenic to Hanstephan Castle on 8th November and from there to the Osterley on the 13th. In his service record the next line under that says “detained as witness G.C.M.” He had duty there in connection with a court martial. Another entry says “A32 Court Martial proceedings being quashed Vide C2 sub paras 194-198”. Another record says he returned to Australia on Themistocles, disembarking in the 2nd Military District on 3rd January 1918 and thence overland to Brisbane. His appointment with the AIF was terminated in Australia on 17th January 1918. A pension of 47 shillings and 6 pence was grated to Ada from 18th January 1918 as wife of Major Frederick William Geyer 13th Light Horse Regiment. Her address was recorded as 110 Campbell Street Kirribilli Point North Sydney. At some time, Ada had moved to New South Wales during the war and after the war they stayed there.
His application for war service leave gratuity was passed on 24th February 1919 with account number 7436. The form of Commission was sent to the AAG in the 1st Military District on 22nd September 1919, but was returned and sent to the AAG of the 2nd Military District on 11th November 1919.
Frederick still appeared in the electoral roll in Bauple as an excise officer in 1919.
District Headquarters in Sydney sent a copy to Base Records on 21st November 1919 stating “Receipt is acknowledged of FORM of COMMISSION for Major F.W.C.GEYER, forwarded under cover of your BRM.31/1339 of 11.11.19.”
The Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser of Wednesday 4th August 1920 on page 8 had an entry from the Principal Electoral Officer for names erased from the roll and included 4096 Geyer, Frederick William Christian as having left the district.
Frederick sent the CO Base Records, in the 3rd Military District, a letter in 1923, which they received on 6th February, from 2 Kareela Road Cremorne NSW asking “Will you kindly forward any Medals to which I am entitled, to the undermentioned address. I left Melbourne with the 13th Light Horse Reg. A.I.F. in the “Persic” on the 28th May 1915, with the rank of Major, & was demobilised in Sydney in Jan. 1918, still holding the same rank. I shall be pleased if you will see that the Medals bear my correct rank, viz Major, & not Captain as was the case on my 1914/15 star.” At that stage he was on the Reserve of Officers list, as he signed the letter and added his address.
A letter from Base Records to Headquarters 1st District Base on 9th February 1923 said: “I shall be obliged if you would kindly make arrangements for the early transmission of British War Medal (Serial No. 4504) and Victory Medal (Serial No. 4436) to Major F.W.C. GEYER, ex-13th Light Horse Regiment, whose present address is :- Major F.W.C. Geyer, 2 Kareela Road, Cremorne, NEW SOUTH WALES.” On the same day they replied to Frederick, saying: “I have to acknowledge receipt of your communication, and to state that arrangements are being made for your British War and Victory Medals to be forwarded to your address as early as possible. It is regretted your 1914/15 Star was incorrectly inscribed with the rank Captain, and if you care to return same to this office the necessary amendment will be made.” He was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Decoration and it was recorded in the Commonwealth Gazette No 16 of 6th March 1924.
In the 1930 electoral roll they were residing at 103 Holt Avenue Neutral Bay, with Ada doing home duties and Frederick was a clerk. By the 1935 roll they had moved to 18 Johnson Street Chatswood, North Sydney, and had the same occupations. The same information was recorded in the 1937 roll.
Ada wrote a series of letters to a friend of the family, Edith MacKellar of Cowal Farm at Mount Bauple, which the museum has. Most of the letters were small talk and about the MacKellars visiting them. Ada gave her address as Gloucester 18 Johnson Street Chatswood NSW. Edith’s husband Alexander was also a cane planter. Some of their family also served as recorded here – https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/multimedia/publications/candour-stories-words-those-who-served-191418/yours-lovingly-private-robert . Ada commented in one letter “You know how successful Fred always is with his garden.” In another she said “Fred is well, he does not alter very much, only older looking, works hard in the garden, we never have to buy vegetables & always have plenty.” She commented how Fred would like to live in Bauple again as he liked it better than Sydney, in another letter. In the last letter she wrote, she mentions how awful the war was and how she was getting “those awful heart attacks. They seem to be getting worse…” None of her letters had a date. Fred wrote a letter to Edith, dated 19th March 1940 in which he noted how poor Ada’s health was and she could not even write as it exhausted her.
Ada Geyer died in 1941 in Chatswood, New South Wales. Frederick was still living at the same address in the 1943, 1949 1954 and 1958 rolls, with the same occupation listed.
A record dated 7th December 1950 from the Repatriation Commission in Sydney to Base Records in Melbourne refers to a telegram from Sydney on 3rd January 1928 asks for his different file records from his service to be sent to them and has a note saying “no medical papers held”.
On 24th August 1959 Miss Dorothy Davis, Supervisor at the Red Cross Welfare Service in Sydney wrote to the Officer in Charge at CARO in Melbourne; asking “if it would be possible to ascertain the Service particulars of Mr Geyer.” She had headed the letter with his details as Major Frederick Geyer, 13th Australian Light Horse. She went on to say: “Mr. Geyer is a patient at our Lady Gowrie Home for Ex-Servicemen. He is 95 years old, and has no documents with him to establish his Army service. He states that he served in the Boer War and the first World War, having held the rank of Major at the end of the first World War. We would appreciate any information you may be able to help us with confirming Mr. Geyer’s service.” Their reply on 1st September 1959 for Major Frederick Geyer (1914-1918) said: “Your letter 32.DM.PN of 24th August, 1959, is acknowledged. According to records held at this office, the abovenamed was appointed to the Australian Imperial Force on 20th March, 1915, and embarked for overseas on 28th May, 1915. After service in Egypt and England, he returned to Australia on 3rd January 1918, and his appointment was honourably terminated on 17th January, 1918. Major Geyer previously served with an Australian contingent to the War in South Africa from 4th April 1901, until disbandment of the contingent on 23rd June, 1902.” The reply was sent to the Service at 27 Jamison Street Sydney.
Frederick William Christian Geyer passed away on 24th January 1960 in Sydney.
His medals are Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Transvaal and Orange Free State (also entitled to South Africa 1901 and 1902 clasps but not on the medal), 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Colonial Auxiliary Forces Decoration.
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women
whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the
Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,
Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.