525 Sergeant James Charles Power MiD

4^th Queensland Mounted Infantry

James Charles Power was born in Ballygrennan, Co Limerick, Ireland on 26^th April 1869. He was the seventh in line of the ten children born to parents Jeremiah Power and Honora Byrnes. They had married in in the church at Granagh, Parish of Ballingarry, Co Limerick in early 1859. There were six boys and four girls in the family. Two of the children, John and Margaret had sailed to New Zealand on separate ships and following that, Jeremiah and Honora and the other eight children sailed as a Colonial Nominated Family for settlement in Oamaru. The family sailed on the SS Invercargill and arrived in Port Chalmers, New Zealand on 2^nd October 1878. James was nine years old at this time and the family took up residence in Oamaru where his father worked as a labourer. Sadly, just five months later, his sister Margaret, who was a dressmaker, passed away at age 16 on 22^nd March 1879 from a brain fever.

James began shearing in New Zealand and at some time in the late 1800’s came to Queensland to follow the work around the shearing sheds in the central west area and was working around Barcaldine. By the 1900 Electoral Roll he was living at Ibis St., Longreach where he had purchased a house and was listed as a shearer. His parents had been removed off the roll in Oamaru in 1896 and his eldest brother William married Margaret Bresnahan in Wellington, NZ on 25^th April 1896. The Paemako area in the north island had just been opened up for farming and it appears that his father Jeremiah moved to that area with son William and his new wife Margaret to take advantage of the new opportunities. After this wedding, his mother Honora, brother Jeremiah and sister Annie travelled to Longreach, Queensland. It is not clear when the other brothers settled there, but Michael, who had been a compositor or type setter for the Oamaru Mail, took up employment at the Longreach Standard and then the Government Printing Office in Brisbane, but because the moist climate didn’t agree with him, he returned to Longreach and was employed at various sheds around the district. His health quickly deteriorated and he died of tuberculosis in Longreach at age 26 on 14^th December 1897. Youngest brother Jeremiah who was a tailor also passed away from tuberculosis in Longreach at age 27 on 5^th November, 1899. His mother Honora and youngest sister Annie had returned to New Zealand and Annie, who was a dressmaker, passed away at Paemako, also from tuberculosis at age 26 on 5^th January 1902. As history was to unfold, this was the day after James was killed in the Boer War in South Africa. His father Jeremiah passed away in Oamaru on 31^st July 1908 and his mother Honora passed away in Oamaru on 9^th October 1912. His eldest sister Mary, who married Michael McLaughlin on 24^th October 1880 had remained living in Oamaru and had fourteen children. One of their sons, Michael Joseph, was killed in France on 9^th September 1916 during WW1. James’s other sister Johanna, married James McMahon on 8^th January 1887 and they also lived in Oamaru and had ten children.

A brother, John Henry had moved to Longreach and was also a shearer. He married Mary Ellen Seaby in her home town of Barcaldine on 24^th May 1911. They had three boys, Edward James born in 1912, James Henry born in 1913 and John Jeremiah born in 1915. They also had two daughters, Honora Wilson born in 1917 and Letitia Margaret born in 1919. One of their sons, James Henry married Ida Adelaide Wager in 1934, and in World War 2 he served as Private Q214538 in the 14^th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (Queensland).

James’ other brother Patrick John who was also a shearer, married Alice Ethel Boswell on 27^th December 1905. They had no children. Alice had an adult son by a previous marriage. Patrick is buried in Charters Towers. James arrived in Queensland before 1893. Two newspaper articles in New Zealand in 1893 mention him. One states “James Power, the champion shearer of New Zealand, has been turning over 200 sheep a day off the Wolseley machines.” Another article talks about New Zealand shearers in Queensland and gives weekly lists of how many sheep each shearer shore. James seems to be at the top of each weekly list from late July to late August. As an example, for one week he shore 1290 sheep with daily totals of 222, 210, 229, 237, 247, and 145 on Saturday. This was contained in a letter to a New Zealand paper from Northampton Downs Station via Blackall. The author also says “James Power is the son of Mr J. Power, of Oamaru”. He also goes on to say “A lot more well-known New Zealand shearers are here, and very highly spoken of through Queensland by the squatters. Another New Zealand shearer, Dennis Noonan, has lately cut some big tallies up at Marathon Station and claimed to be the champion machine shearer. He was challenged by Mr M. S. Tolano, of Blackall, to shear James Power for from 50 pounds to 1000 pounds, but so far no notice has been taken by Noonan of the challenge.” At a sports day and concert at Saltern Creek in 1898, he was involved in a trial bicycle handicap where he came second in the final.

At a visit to Barcaldine Downs station in April 1899 by His Excellency Lord Lamington and Lady Lamington, James was one of the signatories on an address to them, welcoming them and showing their support. At the conclusion of the presentation, they were shown the usual operations in the shed, with the “sheep being shorn at the time were heavily fleeced ewes, but Jim Power shore one of them in less than two minutes by Lady Lamington’s watch, and her ladyship gracefully complimented the well-known champion of his feat.” There was also mentioned that the Barcaldine shed had been noted for many years for the large proportion of “gun shearers” that were usually employed there. In October 1899 he, amongst a lot of people including his brothers, gave a donation or subscription of 1 pound to the Longreach Hospital. A newspaper article in 1899, titled Round the Sheds, states that there “have been some big tallies shorn here the last day or two, J Power 164, … very good, as the men don’t get exactly the full time on account of the short days”. Another article has the “Hughenden paper, in referring to the Barenya shearing, says that a correspondent on the station declares “J. Powers’ tally is the highest ever done in one day in Australia, I believe in the world. I saw some time back, a record of the highest machine performances in the States of America, and to the best of my recollection it was 340 for 10 hours. Power’s 315 were shorn in seven hours 45 minutes. He is a phenomenal shearer – one man in a million – and he shears so clean that there is no chance for the boss of the board to ‘wire’ him. The highest individual tally was on the 20^th, when J. Power shore 315 mixed sheep and worked less than eight hours. J. Howe, who holds the Australian record, shore 321 sheep in eight hours 40 minutes, and the Power record is therefore better than that of Howe.”

With the Boer War raging in South Africa, James must have decided to join up. Candidates were required to be good shots, good riders, and practical bushmen of experience, to have good eyesight and hearing and sound health, which obviously James qualified for. He joined the 4^th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent as Private 79 and left with them on SS Manchester Port on 18^th May 1900. They arrived in Cape Town and disembarked on the 23^rd June. They joined General Hamilton’s force and were involved in numerous skirmishes and engagements against the Boers. An article in the Western Champion and General Advertiser for the Central-Western Districts (Barcaldine, Queensland) on Tuesday 1^st May 1900 in page 11 had “In Camp at Lytton.

Mr. LEN JOHNS writes under date April 20th:-Nearly all the chaps in camp are writing letters, so I will do the same, and let you know how we are getting along. There is plenty of hard graft attached to this game, but I like it all the same. I met a great number of Western chaps in the camp, including Jack Purcell, Jimmy Power, Jack Perkins, Joe Castles, Jack Coleman and others well-known in Barcaldine. The men are nearly all from out back, and the majority of them are very young.”

An excerpt from a letter that was published in a Barcaldine newspaper in 1901 from Private Joe Castles discussed some of the actions they were involved with and where they travelled to after they landed. He also writes “they had a very hard fight at Zeerust, where the Queenslanders were under fire for seven hours”. He also adds Jimmy Power is here with us now and wishes to be remembered to everybody. In another interview with Private David Walker in late 1901, he mentioned an action near Rhenosterkop where “four of the 4^th Queenslanders, including the well-known shearer Jimmy Power, were ordered on a patrol, after we had found out the Boers had gone in the morning. They went on to a kopje and saw four Boers coming up. They lay waiting until they came within close range; then they called on them to surrender, which the Boers did, being surprised at their own men having left the position”. He went on to discuss other actions they were involved in, coming home at the end of his term and what the countryside was like there. James decided to stay on in South Africa after the rest of the contingent was to return to Australia.

The Western Champion and General Advertiser for the Central-Western Districts (Barcaldine, Queensland) on Tuesday 13^th November 1900 in page 14 published a letter from him: “A Letter from the Front.

“JIMMY” POWER, the well-known shearer, and a member of the Queensland Bushman’s contingent, writes to his brother “Jack,” from Pretoria, under date August 29th. We have been courteously permitted to make the following interesting extracts :- “Pretoria, South Africa, August 29^th, 1900 Dear Brother, I would have written before, but I have had very little chance to do so. We landed at Capetown after calling at Biera and Port Elizabeth. We landed at Capetown on June 26th, and were sent by train to Kroonstad immediately after. The country is very indifferent until reaching Bloemfontein. There it becomes very good grassy land, and around Kroonstad the country is lovely, and will grow anything. There is plenty of good water everywhere. We had an eight days’ march around Kroonstad with Colonel Hickman’s column, and then we came on by train to Pretoria. Nearly all our horses have died. We have been with General Hamilton’s column. We cleared the railway up to Balmoral about six weeks, and since then we have been down to Rustenburg and around towards Pietersburg, arriving back here yesterday. Soldiering is a very rough game. We have never seen a bit of soap since we came here; in fact, I don’t think we’re ever supposed to wash. Biscuits and tinned beef is what we are mostly living on; we get fresh meat when the cattle are handy to kill. There are actually no sheep in the Transvaal except a few that are kept for mutton, and they are more like a goat than a sheep. I saw a few flocks of merino sheep in the Free State. I have been told that a man who owns ten or twelve thousand sheep in Cape Colony is looked on as a big squatter. Shearing all over South Africa is done by Kaffirs for something like five or six bob a hundred. I have not been in Johannesburg as yet. I would like to see it. When on our last march we crossed the Witwatersrand main reef near Krugersdorp. We had several small fights with the Boers, and some good artillery duels. We had a six hours’ artillery fight near Bronkhorst Spruit, when we were up there. We had 22 guns in action, and they must have made things very sultry for the Boers, who had to retreat. Our contingent has had three men killed or wounded, and four or five have died of fever. We arrived back here yesterday, and we expect to go up Leydenburg way with Hamilton tomorrow. We expect that there will be hard fighting up that way. By what I have seen of the Boers I do not think them very courageous or plucky. They will only fight where they have a very strong position and a good getaway, and then they do not make much of a stand. They fight well, I believe, if things are greatly in their favor. We had a very good trip coming over on the transport, and we were treated very well on the trip. I have not had any letters from home as yet. I hope we will be back in Queensland for Christmas, but there is small hope of it. There is some talk of giving us a trip to England after the war, but I don’t think I will go even if I get the chance. Jack Perkins and G. Livingstone are sergeants here. Jack Purcell and Jim Durack are still with the column, although they have both been sick for a few days. There have been several of our men invalided home already, and there are a lot in the hospital here. I am writing under difficulties so must close. Private JAMES C. POWER, Queensland Imperial Bushmans’ Contingent, S. Africa.””

In Army Order dated 20^th July 1901 in the Queensland Gazette, Private James Charles Power, 4^th Queensland Imperial Bushmen was to be Sergeant supernumerary to Establishment and it was dated on the 7^th. He enrolled in the 5^th Contingent in South Africa and was listed in Murray’s as Private 525 James Charles Power (but should be Sergeant). The 5^th replaced the 4^th Contingent in General Plumer’s column and had their fair share of work and captures with that column. James was killed in action on 4^th January 1902 as described in the following articles.

A few Queensland newspapers carried the news of his death. The Western Champion had an article about the “following casualties sustained by the 5^th Queensland Imperial Bushmen in a fight at Onverwacht on 4^th January” and included him in the killed in action list. Another article in that newspaper was an extract reprinted from a letter sent from a member of the 5^th Contingent. He discussed how they had had an exceedingly rough time there with both the weather and in fighting. In early December they came upon an enemy camp, which they attacked. They were hugely outnumbered but put up a good fight and retired after four hours of action with minimal casualties, which considering the heavy gunfire was surprising to him. On the 4^th January they ran into 1500 hidden Boers who opened fire and charged them on horses. Their pom-pom barely escaped, but lost some of its ammunition which had to be picked up by the troops. He commented on it being a very disastrous affair, with 20 killed and about 50 wounded. He continues- “Poor Jimmy Power fell here. He was one of the 4^th Contingent and decided to put in time with us as a sergeant, and, as you know, he was a champion machine shearer, holding the record for Australia, I believe. He was shot through the head and never moved.” The Maitland Daily Mercury in New South Wales also had an article written by Private A. W. Napier Craig of the 5^th Contingent, titled “A Great Fight with Botha, Queenslanders save the Position, A Real Australian Battle.” He goes on to say that after saving the gun they had to retire under murderous fire with no cover. He mentioned about all the men killed or wounded and how the Boers were doing great damage to them. He mentioned the Boer courage and stubbornness but they showed more valour and beat them, but not without losses. He continues with “on our right flank our noble dead lay thick. I came upon the dead body of the gallant Sergeant Power, late of the 4^th Queensland Contingent. He was the champion shearer of Queensland. His mates felt the loss. He died with a smile on his face. He was popular in the corps, knew his business, interfered with no one, was quiet to a degree, and always had an eye on the lookout for Boers on the skyline. His eye was sure to find them out. Of late he said he found the warfare harder and more dangerous. Right in front of Power lay a killed and a wounded Boer – since dead. Around the edge of the ridge lay heaps of dead and wounded, the result of battle.” Afterwards, the 5^th Contingent had 13 killed and 14 wounded according to him. The battle continued and after advancing under accurate and sustained fire from their pom-poms and guns, this caused the Boers to retire. The Brisbane Courier of 1^st March 1902 has an Official List of Casualties includes No. 525 Sergeant James Charles Power as one of those killed in action.

An article in The Queenslander 26^th April 1902 mentioned that he was killed in the engagement at Onverwacht. When his friends heard of it they did up an address of condolence to send to his parents. It was read to the employees at Barcaldine Downs station before they started shearing and was sent to Brisbane to be embossed and illuminated. The article noted that the “work has just been completed, and the handsome memorial was despatched to its destination last week.” The Ipswich Herald of 29^th April 1902 had an article which discussed his mention in despatches for conspicuous service at the end of 1901. A Major W T Deacon C.B. confirmed it was James who was with the 4^th Contingent, gained his sergeant’s stripes, remained behind and joined the 5^th. He spoke of him as a smart young fellow. Officially his address was given as Auckland, New Zealand, but the Major “thinks that he had been for some time in Western Queensland”, which was correct.

Murray’s also has a remark entered as Sergeant, Army Order, gallantry and good conduct in action. Killed at Onverwacht, 4.1.02.

He is listed on the Queens South Africa medal roll, with the 4^th Queensland Mounted Infantry as 79 Private J C Power and he was entitled to Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal clasps. It also notes the medal was issued on 5^th QIB and has a remark 494 Private 5^th QIB. He is listed in the N.C.O. page of the 5^th Queensland I. B. but it is crossed out with the comment that the application as already made on the 4^th roll. It also lists two service numbers 494 and 525. The roll also had entries for entitlement to the South Africa 1901 and 1902 clasps and originally had that he was not entitled to the King’s South Africa medal, which was changed to yes with a note to 4^th QIB and he was Private 79 in it. Remarks also include he was killed at Onverwacht, Transvaal and lists his service as 15^th June 1900 to 6 July 1901 and 7^th July 1901 to 4^th January 1902. Another roll for the 5^th QIB has the same details for his QSA and that he was previously with the 4^th. A final roll while with the 5^th Queensland Imperial Bushmen for the King’s South Africa Medal again notes his service times, date of death, previous service number and regiment, but also has a note that the medal was returned on 30^th October 1912.

He was also Mentioned in Depatches, with the entry reading Sergeant. J Power (killed) for gallantry in action at Onverwacht on 4^th January 1902. It was recorded in the London Gazette on 25^th April 1902.

Under Transmission by Death – Real Property Acts of 1861 and 1877, an entry in the Queensland Gazette of 23^rd May 1903 in the Central District has an entry for James Charles Power, formerly of Longreach, shearer, but late of South Africa, a member of the 5^th Contingent, Queensland Imperial Bushmen. The date of death was recorded as 4^th January 1902 and the name of the claimant was Honora Power, of Oamaru, New Zealand, wife of Jeremiah Power, of Paemako, near Auckland, farmer. The description and situation of land was listed as subdivision 2 of allotment 8 of section 7 and allotment 3 of section 11, town of Longreach. It was a fee-simple transmission with the will dated 26^th April 1900 and the date within which Caveat may be lodged was 6^th July 1903. An entry on 19^th July 1902 discussed his will and that probate would be granted to Alfred Down a solicitor in Brisbane and the sole Executor of the will.

Hi medals are Queens South Africa Medal with Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal clasps and Kings South Africa Medal with South Africa 1901 and 1902 clasps.

The museum just holds his Queens South Africa Medal.

Murray’s- The source used was Official Records of the Australian Military Contingents to the War in South Africa, compiled and edited for the Department of Defence by Lieutenant-Colonel P. L. Murray RAA (Ret.)

With thanks to Trish Sullivan for her information on James and the family and for re-writing the first few paragraphs including that.

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 belonging to the

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Private Charles Grafton Barnes, MiD

4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen

by Robert Simpson

Charles Grafton Barnes was born at Dryaaba Station in the Richmond River district, New South Wales on 24^th July 1873. He was one of 11 births to Henry Barnes and Grace Isabella Hindmarsh. They had been married on 3^rd August 1857 in New South Wales. Henry was born in England in 1818 and had arrived in New South Wales in 1842. Grace was born in New South Wales in 1837. Charles was their youngest son. Dyraaba was a station near Casino in New South Wales. It appears his Father built up a good property, was eventually a part owner of it and was well respected there. After the partnership dissolved, the station was in the hands of the family from the 1880’s until 1991. He also had other properties, one of which was in Queensland. Henry was also a J.P. He passed way on 17^th November 1896 after a long illness and in his obituary, it was noted he was one of the oldest surviving settlers of the Richmond district. It also said he had worked his way up the ladder by industry, perseverance and energy. He was a breeder of cattle and horses.

Photo of Charles as a child

One of his sisters, Susan Isabella Barnes (1868 to 1925) married James Allan Chauvel in 1893. James was awarded an OBE in WW1 as a Major in the Australian Remount Unit. His brother was Sir Henry George Chauvel who had a distinguished service in the Boer War, WW1 and afterwards. Their son, Charles Edward, was a famous film maker. He was awarded an O.B.E. for his work in the film industry.

Charles served in the 4^th Queensland Mounted Infantry in the Boer War as Private 159. He enlisted in Brisbane. Apparently, he was a top horseman, an excellent shot and a raconteur. He had joined to go and fight “to be in it”. They left for South Africa on 18^th May 1900 on Manchester Port. The ship arrived at the Port of Beira in Portuguese East Africa on 14^th June 1900. They were then redirected to Port Elizabeth and then Cape Town, arriving there on 22^nd June. They served from June 1900 until June 1901 in Orange Free State, Transvaal, and the battle of Rhenoster Kop (29^th November 1900), the great De Wet hunt, and advance on Pietersburg and into east Transvaal under General Plumer. The Australian Bushmen were well suited to match the unorthodox Boer guerrilla war tactics and did so on many occasions. On 2^nd April 1901, he was Mentioned in Despatches by Lord Roberts for his good work. The 4^th Contingent continued in their pursuit of the Boers until at Piet Retief, where they received orders to prepare to return to Australia. They left for Pretoria on 15^th June 1901. The contingent returned to Australia on 5^th August 1901 on the Britannic and he was discharged afterwards. He was entitled to the Queens South Africa Medal with Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and South Africa 1901 clasps.

On 2^nd April 1903, Charles married Daisy Rachel Finch Brodie in Queensland. The 1903 Electoral Roll has him living at Blackrock, so they must have married in or near Ingham. They had one daughter in 1904, Beryl Susan. Beryl married Harold Pain in 1920 in Sydney, and they had one child. They must have divorced and Harold moved to London in 1923 as a student. Harold remarried in 1926 in London. Beryl then married Sir Alan James Mansfield in 1933 at Stanthorpe. They had two children. She passed way in 1980. He was Justice of the Supreme Court from May 1940, was a member of the Australian commission of investigation into war crimes and in March 1966 was sworn in as the Governor of Queensland. He was also regularly involved with the University of Queensland including being chancellor.

According to the Electoral Rolls the family was living in Ingham between 1903 and 1913, and he was a grazier. They were living at properties called Blackrock and then Bronte station. The 1920-21 Queensland Brand Directory had him listed with a brand at Bronte, Townsville. By 1922 they had shifted to Southport and he lived there for the rest of his life. His Mother passed away on 17^th June 1925 at the age of 87 years and left an estate of nearly 30,000 pounds to her children and grandchildren. He lived in a couple of properties, Heathcote and Bronte in Queen St. Southport from 1925 to 1943 and Eltrick in Edgerton St from 1949 to 1958 as on the Electoral Rolls. He was still a grazier. It also appears on the 1930 Electoral Roll, that he had a property at Stanthorpe named Barelli. How long he owned that property and when he was there is not known.

Charles passed away on 17^th October 1958 in Queensland. Daisy passed way in 1968. He was buried in the family grave near the family homestead at Dyraaba Station. Unfortunately, there are no photos of the grave site.

His full entitlement: Queens South Africa Medal with Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and South Africa 1901 clasps.

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 belonging to the

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Private Edmund St. John Vincent Broderick

1^st Queensland Mounted Infantry

By Robert Simpson

Edmund St. John Vincent Brodrick, as the records have him, seems to be a bit of an enigma. Not much information can be found about his short life. The name is too common to establish a lot of details. There are few records listed in Australia or in Queensland. There was an Edmund James Vincent Broderick, born in Victoria in 1872. There are no direct matches listed as Brodrick, Brodbrick or Broadbrick. Further investigations of the Edmond born in Victoria reveal some clues on him. His parents were James Broderick and Mary Ann Neagle (1848 Ireland – 1907 Adelaide), who were married in 1871 in Victoria. They then had Mary Selina born in 1875 in Victoria before James (Father) died in the same year. Mary then had another son to another person illegitimately in 1878, the day after he committed suicide by strangulation as reported in the Evening Journal of Adelaide on Saturday 28 September 1878 in page 3: ‘KAPUNDA: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27. [Before Mr. J. Varley, S.M.] — Wansborough was charged on the information of Mrs. Broderick with refusing to maintain his destitute grandchild. Mr. Foster, from Mr. Emerson’s office, appeared for the informant, and Mr. Dashwood for the defendant. Informant deposed that in November, 1876, she went to live with defendant and his sons as housekeeper. She left at Easter time this year, and shortly afterwards the child was born. The father of it was James Howard Wansbrough, since deceased, son of the defendant. His Worship said that the child being illegitimate no claim could be made on the defendant to charge him as a grandfather within the meaning of the Destitute Act, and dismissed the information.’ Mary then had a de-facto relationship with John Diment Bagg (1818-1891 in Bridport, Dorset) and had two children, Rose Ann Bagg born 1881 in South Australia and Bartha Mary Bagg born 1882 in Dorset England. So, they had moved to England between the two births.

The 1891 England census shows the family was living at Bridport, Bradpole, Dorset, England at 129 St Andrew Villas. Mary (age 43) was the head and widow, living on her own means, with Edmond J V Broderick, her son age 18 (born in Victoria), a ‘Student (for the Army)’ and Minnie, Rose and Bertha as students. They also had a servant.

The London Gazette of 2 June 1893 on page 3183 has an entry for him under Militia: ‘5^th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (the Prince Consort’s Own), Lieutenant E. St. J. V. Brodrick, from the 4^th Battalion the Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment), to be Lieutenant. Dated 23^rd May, 1893.’ Why he changed his middle name from James to St. John is not known.

Edmund must have moved to Queensland at some time and joined the 1^st Queensland Mounted Infantry, in B Company as Private 134. He may have joined on 16 October 1899, as indicated in the below register. In the photos of the regiment before it left Queensland, he is listed as Broadbrick (shown below). A roll lists him as 134 S Brodrick and his next-of-kin address as St. Andrews, Bradford, Dorsetshire, England.

The Morning Bulletin of Rockhampton on Saturday 21 October 1899 in page 6 had:

‘THE TRANSVAAL CONTINGENT.

THE ROCKHAMPTON DETACHMENT.

ENTHUSIASTIC SEND-OFF.

At the invitation of the Mayor of Rockhampton (Alderman H. Fiddes) and a number of gentlemen over 200 citizens of Rockhampton met in the Belmore Arms Hotel last evening to say good-bye to the volunteers forming the Rockhampton detachment of the Transvaal contingent. The Mayor occupied the chair, and seated at the table with him were the nineteen members of the detachment. Among those present were the whole of the officers of the local military forces, the Medical Staff Corps, and the pipers. After a short delay, which was occasioned by having to wait for the remainder of the Mount Morgan men, during which time the pipers, at the request of the Mayor, played several airs.’

Edmond is mentioned twice in the long article:

‘Mr. E. S. V. Brodrick said it was the first time he had made a speech in his life, but he was thankful on behalf of himself and bis comrades for the kind way they were treated. He was not a native of Rockhampton, unfortunately, but he wished he was. At any rate it showed there was nothing like blood – blood was thicker than water. (Applause.)’

‘The following are the names of the Rockhampton detachment of the contingent who will leave North Rockhampton at 6 a.m. to-day by train for Brisbane’ :-

‘Edmund St. John Vincent Broderick, 25, employee Harbour Office, Second Lieutenant Fourth Battalion, Sherwood Foresters, in 1892; also Second Lieutenant with West Riding Regiment: also First Lieutenant Fifth Battalion Rifle Brigade, Imperial Army.’ This would indicate he was born in 1874 and is confirmed by the London Gazette entry above.

The same paper had an article on Monday 23 October 1899 in page 5: ‘The Rockhampton and Mount Morgan contingent for the Transvaal left by the train on Saturday morning at half-past six o’clock, there being upwards of 150 people present to bid them good-bye. His Worship the Mayor was in attendance, and called for three cheers for the departing volunteers, which were very lustily given. Mr. Broderick, one of the contingent, by some mischance missed the train, but left later on by the steamer Mullarra.’

The Brisbane Courier of Saturday 18 November 1899 in page 7 had a complete roll of the members of the Queensland Contingent to South Africa, which included in ‘B Company’, ‘Private S. Brodrick, single St. Andrews, Bradford, Dorsetshire, England’ (his private address), but there is no Bradford in Dorsetshire, it is in West Yorkshire. His address shown on the names and addresses of members of first Queensland Contingent is the same, so possibly they confused Bridport with Bradford?

He was in service before the Boer War, as noted above. Murray’s says the contingent was raised from men who were in or had been in the Queensland Mounted Infantry or Queensland Defence Force. It was raised between 13 and 28 October 1899 in Brisbane. The contingent was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo. They left on 1 November 1899, embarking on the SS Cornwall from Brisbane and arrived at Table Bay on 12 December. The disembarked at Cape Town the following day and went in two trains to Orange River. They proceeded to Belmont and played a prominent part in the action at Sunnyside on 1 January 1900, where the first Australian casualties occurred. They were also involved in the Relief of Douglas on the 2^nd and in February it was involved in the Relief of Kimberley. They proceeded to Koodoosrand and were employed in operations at Paardeburg between 17 and 26 February. The contingent was then involved in engagements at Poplar Grove on 7 March and Driefontein on 10^th, and the occupation of Bloemfontein on 13 March and rested at Springfontein until 31 March. They were involved in the engagement at Sanna’s Post on the 31 March, where the Boers ambushed the British and caused many casualties, took many prisoners and captured some guns and wagons. More serious than the loss in action was the loss of the water supply to Blomfontein, which was situated at Sanna’s Post. This greatly aggravated an epidemic of enteric fever, dysentery and cholera amongst the British army. In April they combined with other contingents to form the 3^rd Mounted Infantry Corps. They left Bloemfontein on 1 May, when the general advance on Pretoria commenced and were involved in various engagements in May and June.

The Morning Bulletin in Rockhampton on 19 May 1900 said Private Edmund St J Broderick (Queensland) was seriously ill at Cape Colony and he was from the Central Division.

In the list of Boer War Casualties, he is just listed as E Broderick with the QMI regiment and service number 134 and it states he died on 10 June 1900 at Wynberg. Murray’s remarks he died of enteric at Bloemfontein on 25 June and has his surname spelt Broderick. His listings at the Australian War Memorial have his surname spelt as Brodrick on the 2 pages he is mentioned in and he died on 25 June. So even in death confusion surrounds him. It may be Winburg he died at, as it is 120 kilometres north from Bloemfontein, on the road to Pretoria. Wynberg is a suburb Cape Town and to make things more confusing, also a suburb in Johannesburg. He may have died at Blomfontein and his body was transported to Wynberg for burial. His grave has now been shifted to Maitland Cemetery.

The Sydney Morning Herald of 18 June 1900 had an article under the heading of Queensland Casualties that ‘His Excellency Lord Lamington has received the following telegram from Sir Alfred Milner … and that Private E. G. Brodrick, of the First Queensland Contingent, died of dysentery at Wnyberg on June 5’.

Official records of the Australian military contingents to the war in South Africa, 1899-1902 by P L Murray list him in the nominal roll of B Company as ‘134. Brodrick, Edmund St. John Vincent Private Died of enteric at Bloemfontein, 25.6.00’. Also in the book, under the List of Officers and Others of Queensland Contingents who were killed or died, he is listed under 1^st Contingent as ‘134. Private Broderick, E. St. J. V.’ There is a document at National Archives Australia in Melbourne for ‘Brodrick E.S. – death in South Africa’ under NAA: MP744/3, 1900/6316, which is open but not online.

The Records of Deceased Soldier’s Effects shows record number 80097, Registry number 8259/3 for E S Brodrick Private 134 of Queensland Mounted Infantry died on 10.6.00 at ‘Winburg’ and had enlisted on 16.10.99 and was a Clerk. Recorded in the ledger is Account and Date ‘Cape “S” 4.01” for 10 pounds 10 shillings and 11 pence. Warrant 8/3161 on 14.10.01/3 to the Agent General of Queensland for that amount was entered in the ledger. In the notes on the right side of the ledger it has added ‘+ £5 under A.O. 150/1900’ and +£5 against Vote 1. S.A. War Grats.’ No family names are listed. Queensland State Archives also has an index to the Boer War Pay Books which includes E S Broderick under QSA Ref: COL/434. The museum has a copy of the page, but it is not able to be clearly read.

Edmond was entitled to the Queens South Africa medal with Paardeburg, Dreifontein and Relief of Kimberley clasps.

He is remembered at the Anzac Square Boer War Memorial in Brisbane which reads “In memory of the Queensland heroes who fell in the South African War 1899-1902”. Edmund St John Vincent Brodrick’s name is located at panel 1 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial. Edmund was initially buried in the Roman Catholic Allotment, Wetton Road, Kenilworth (a suburb in Cape Town and just above Wynberg) before being reinterred at Maitland (another suburb of Cape Town) (according to this site – https://familyhistoryact.org.au/boer_war/sa_memorials/person_search.php ).

His name is also on this memorial at Cape Town (Maitland) Cemetery, Cape Town, South Africa.

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 belonging to the

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Captain Alfred George Adie

1st Queensland Mounted Infantry

6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen

By Robert Simpson

Alfred George Adie was born on 1^st April 1873 in Staffordshire England to Joseph Adie and Sarah Holloway. They had been married in the 3^rd quarter 1871 in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. He was one of five known children to them and he was baptized on 6^th July 1873 in Longdon, Staffordshire, England. The family departed London on Scottish Admiral and arrived at Brisbane on 30^th October 1878. His father was a farmer at Clifton. Alfred married Agnes Scott Hunter on 20^th April 1898 and their home was at Clifton. He was registered on the 1899 Electoral Roll at Cambooya as a farmer on Section 1 and 2, Terra Bella Estate, Plain View, Clifton, registering on 19^th November 1898.

Alfred was commissioned as a 2^nd Lieutenant in the Queensland Mounted Infantry, a unit of the Queensland Defense Force on 8^th December 1898. On 11^th October 1899, the second Anglo-Boer War broke out and the Australian Colonial Governments were quick to offer assistance to Britain. Queensland’s contribution to the Boer War was 2913 men (of which 92 lost their lives) and 3209 horses. The first Queensland Contingent was formed then mainly from men of the Q.M.I. Lieutenant Adie was posted to A Company. His description then was: – English, age 26 ½, height 6 feet, weight 12 stone 12 pounds, chest measurement 36/41 ½ inches, hair dark brown, eyes hazel, complexion fresh, and a long scar 6 inches on the inner side right thigh.

They boarded the SS Cornwall at Pinkenbah on 1^st November 1899. The commanding officer was Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Ralph Ricardo. Lieutenant Adie was part of the honour guard that was presented the new colours by the Mayoress of Brisbane (Mrs. Seal). This was a handmade flag made by the women of Brisbane. The Cornwall arrived in Cape Town on 13^th December 1899 after an unpleasant voyage for the men, many whom were ill with influenza during the trip. They then proceeded to Orange River in two trains.

British troops, including the 1^st Contingent Queensland Mounted Infantry were camped at Belmont on 12^th December 1899, a few miles from Sunnyside. Sunnyside is near the western border of the Orange Free State and a report had been received that 180 Boers had a laager (camp) there. Lieutenant Alfred Adie and Troopers Rose, Herman, Butler and Jones were on patrol duty when they came across four Boers on a small kopje (hill) on their right. Lieutenant Adie had no arms and was not sure if they were friend or foe. They all dismounted, the Boers under cover. He ordered them to stop but they fired a short-range volley, which resulted in Jones being shot through the heart, killing him instantly. Another twelve Boers descended from the hill. Lieutenant Adie was shot in the stomach and back but was able to pull back with the others, dodging from bush to bush with the Boers pursuing and keeping up a brisk fire.

As they moved back, Adie’s horse was shot and Butler’s horse broke away. Rose rounded the horse up and made Adie mount it. This enabled him to get away, but terribly wounded. As Rose was about to double mount with Butler a bullet from the Boers hit him in the leg, just below the knee, and another killed the horse. Butler and Rose then ran for it, keeping with Adie, who was covered in blood. After riding for some distance, he fainted and fell off the horse. However, he recovered and struggled on towards the other British forces.

Meanwhile, Herman had come in for the ambulance and Captain Dodds met Adie in the veldt in a very exhausted condition. First aid was given but it did not look good. He had been shot right through the right side of the body, another through the right shoulder and a third went into the back and out the right shoulder. He was in shock and had lost a lot of blood and those who saw poor Adie reckoned his days were over. In three days, however, he was out of danger. Never was there a pluckier soldier. Smashed and wounded as he was, he chaffed and made jokes, and how he managed to struggle across the veldt, is a puzzle to everyone.

When the general advance was made by Colonel Pilcher, the Boers offered stern resistance initially, resulting in the death of Private D. C. McLeod. However, by 2pm the white flag was raised by the Boers and 35 surrendered. The bulk of the enemy fled, abandoning their positions.

The action at Sunnyside may well be regarded as a minor skirmish, but its significance in Australian military history ranks very highly. In this action, Private Victor Stanley Jones was the first Australian volunteer soldier to be killed in action on a foreign battlefield and Lieutenant Adie was the first officer to be wounded.

It is presumed Lieutenant Adie spent considerable time in hospital and convalescing, as he missed the unit’s next six engagements. He returned to action after about 10 weeks, for the battle at Driefontein on 10^th March 1900. He was involved in other actions up until November 1900, when orders were received for the First Contingent to return to Australia. It was disbanded on 23^rd January 1901. Murray’s records him as an A Company Officer and “Invalided to England, 16.11.00” but that is not right. He served with the 1^st QMI from 12^th December 1899 to 12^th November 1900 and with the 6^th QID from 2^nd May 1901 to 22^nd May 1902.

In the Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs General Advertiser of Saturday 6^th January 1900 on page 3 was

“The Wounded.

LIEUTENANT ADIE.

Lieutenant Adie, who is reported to have been seriously wounded at the engagement at Sunnyside, is au officer of the Clifton Company of the Queensland Mounted Infantry and has been in the force but a comparatively short period. He is a wheat farmer at Nobby, Clifton, and is well and favorably known in Toowoomba, where the heartiest wishes are expressed for his speedy recovery; Lieutenant Adie to a fine-looking officer, and a credit to Queensland. His early life was spent with his parents in Laidley, where he went to school, and he was a member of the Anglican choir and a pupil in the Sunday school there. After leaving Laidley he travelled for some time on the Downs with a wheat-threshing machine, and recently took up a farm on the Clifton Estate. During his absence bis father is taking charge of his farm. He is married to a daughter of Mr. Alexander Hunter, J.P., of Burnside (Laidley) and she and her 12 months old infant are at present staying at her father’s residence. The painful news that her husband has been wounded has been communicated to her. It may be mentioned that it was to Lieutenant Adie that the colors of the Queensland contingent were presented prior to their departure for South Africa.”

The West Australian on 4^th January 1900 had an article reproduced below-

The Warwick Examiner and Times of Wednesday 10^th January 1900 on page 2 had

“LIEUTENANT ADIE.

Word has been received that Lieutenant Adie, who was wounded in the recent engagement at Sunnyside in South Africa, is pronounced out of danger, and is expected to make rapid recovery.” He sent a message to his wife, as published in the Telegraph of Brisbane on Thursday 11^th January 1900 in page 2 “LIEUTENANT ADIE. Cablegram to His Wife. We learn that Mrs. Adie received a cablegram this week from her husband, Lieutenant Adie, in which he states that he is out of danger and progressing favourably towards complete recovery. Although cast-down over the losses, he will give a good account of himself to the Laidley boys, as he promised. Lieutenant Adie’s wife, his father and Mrs. Adie’s father, all desire to express their gratitude at the very widespread sympathy manifested towards them”

The Brisbane Courier of Monday 5^th March 1900 on page 7 had an article

“PORTRAIT OF’ LIEUTENANT ADIE.

Some little time ago a movement was set on foot by Miss M. Killop to purchase the large portrait of Lieutenant Adie, which was on view at the Tosca Studio, for presentation to Mrs. Adie The necessary amount of money was subscribed by sympathetic friends In Brisbane, and the enlarged photograph of her husband was sent as a gift to Mrs. Adie at Hill Crest, Laidley. The following letter will show how much this gracious act was appreciated Mrs. Adie writes –

Dear Miss M Killop I beg to acknowledge your kind and sisterly letter of the 16th instant, and also the arrival of the enlarged portrait of my husband. Nothing could have, been more acceptable to me than the form in which the sympathy of yourself and the ladies mentioned has been expressed. But while I much appreciate this expression of your sympathy, much more dearly do I value the feelings which promoted the gift, only one who has passed through the anxiety and fear can truly appreciate the warm sympathy which has thus been shown by so many of my fellow-women, and can also realise what consolation it is to me in such an anxious time. It is also very gratifying to know that my husband’s actions have been so highly thought of, and I am sure, if there is one thing he would have asked in return for any little assistance he may have given his country, nothing would have given him greater pleasure than your expression of sympathy to me. While I am personally proud that my husband’s valour should be thought worthy of notice, yet, as a British woman, I am still more proud at his valour as a British soldier, and of the hundreds that are so bravely risking their lives for the welfare of the British flag. I will ask you to convey my heartfelt thanks to all the ladies that have so thoughtfully and in such a practical manner tendered me their sympathies, and assure them that their kind action has enabled me to feel that if some self-denial has been exercised by me, though it is my duty as a soldier’s wife, I have the loving sympathy and affection of so many fellow daughters of Britain. In conclusion, I would also ask of you to forgive me should the foregoing lack anything as an acknowledgment for such kind expressions of sympathy as have been tendered me, under the circumstances words fail to convey to you my feelings, but, feeling sure you wall pardon me under the conditions,

Believe me to be, yours very sincerely, AGNES ADIE.”

In the Brisbane Courier of Saturday 7^th April 1900 in page 8 was

“LIEUTENANT ADIE’S SELF DENIAL.

Our Toowoomba correspondent reports that a letter from Captain Bailey to the “Darling Downs Gazette” states that Lieu tenant Adie, who was wounded at the Orange River, states that the Imperial authorities offered Adie six months leave and a free passage to England, but he gallantly declined the offer, and asked to be allowed again to join the First Queensland Contingent at the front. The letter states that the contingent are delighted at Lieutenant’s loyal and gallant behaviour. The letter also states that Colonel Hutchison is at the Modder River.

The Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser of Thursday 24^th May 1900 on page 5 had

“LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT ADIE. A letter has been received from Lieutenant Adie, in which he states that four out of the five officers of B company are laid up with fever, and that he is in command of the company. He further states that they are enjoying lovely weather, but that clouds of locusts are hovering over their camps.”

However, it appears Alfred may have had some problems with the wounds or his health as he arrived back in Brisbane on 19^th December 1900, upon the transport Sophocles. He was examined by Dr Wray, a medical officer on the 20^th and not invalided but was recorded in “good health”. He was given one months’ full pay and his address was given as Clifton.

Alfred served a second term in South Africa, this time as Captain in No. 1 Company, Sixth Contingent Queensland Imperial Bushmen. They embarked on the transport Victoria on 4^th April 1901 and arrived at Cape Town on 2^nd May. At this stage of the war, the Boers were much less organized as a fighting army than previously, and did not have the ability or strength to engage in large battles. They used ambush and hit and run tactics so the British and Colonial forces changed their operations to suit the conditions. They were involved in numerous skirmishes until the Q.I.B. embarked at Durban on 17^th May 1902 on the transport Devon and arrived in Brisbane on 17^th June 1902 and were disbanded on the 23^rd. Captain Adie took part in all campaigns. The service roll now has him as 27 years and 11 months, 6 feet tall, chest measurements 39/42.5 inches and married. There was a note on his pay for 16 shillings to be paid to his wife; Agnes Adie in the Queensland National Bank, Laidley and a note has been attached saying that “he joined camp on probation as a Captain and was entitled to be paid at that rank”, dated 28^th March 1901. He kept 5 shillings for himself. Interestingly, he signs the form with his signature and the rank of Lieutenant.

His actions were – Sunnyside, Johannesburg, Driefontein, Pretoria, Vet River, Reit Vlei, Zand River, and Zuliket’s Nek.

He was entitled to the Queens South Africa medal with clasps Cape Colony, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Orange Free State and Transvaal and the Kings South Africa medal with clasps SA 1901 and SA 1902.

Alfred was noted on a Nominal Roll 6^th Queensland Imperial Bushmen as a rank of Captain-Adjutant with previous service in 1^st Queensland Mounted Infantry Contingent.

He married Agnes Scott Hunter (aged 22) in 1898 and they had 4 children, Harold Clifton b.1899, Alfred Scott Hector b. 1901, Gordon Holloway b. 15^th May 1904 and Agnes Jessie Leola b. 1907.

After returning from the Boer War, he owned a few properties in Clifton, Laidley and Beaudesert that he farmed on and is noted in different directories as such and is recorded in them as a farmer. He registered for the Laidley Division on 25^th February 1904, a farmer with his residence on Rosewood Estate portion 450.

His younger sister, Gertrude, passed away in 1908.

Harold joined the AIF on 5^th February 1917 as 2332 Private in the 18^th Reinforcement of 11^th Light Horse. He was a farmer. Harold was discharged in Queensland on 29^th September 1919.

Alfred served in WW2 as Q71008, enlisting on 1^st November 1940 in Grovely Queensland and being discharged on 7^th February 1944 as a Sergeant in the 1^st Australian Artillery Training Regiment. His records are online, showing he was a tramway employee and he originally joined the 5^th Field Brigade on 1^st November 1935.

Gordon Holloway Adie served in WW2 as Private QX4992 with the 6^th AASC, joining on 1^st April 1940. He was a POW. It appears he was captured on 6^th April 1943 with a gunshot wound in left hand. He was discharged on 16^th January 1944. His service records are not examined yet and are not online and his picture is below.

Captain Alfred George Adie passed away on 29^th January 1915 at his home at Innisplain near Beaudesert. He is buried in Tamrookum All Saints Church Cemetery, Beaudesert.

The Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum has The QSA for Alfred (KSA is a replica) and the medals for Harold.

His original gravestone with current gravestone above.

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 belonging to the

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.