Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Albert Edward Spowart was born Albert Ernest Sopwart on 27 July 1879. At some point, he adopted Edward as his middle name. He was born in Victoria's Central Highlands, in a place called Avoca. His registered Victorian birth location.

He was the son of Thomas Spowart and Catherine Mary Annan. Albert had five brothers and five sisters. That was the norm because childhood mortality back then was quite high.

Albert lived in Deans Marsh where he worked as a Blacksmith. Needless to say, he liked working with horses and was a good rider. Albert volunteered for 5VMR. He would have passed the strict riding and shooting tests with ease.

He was amongst the first to make the cut. Albert had three weeks training before his embarkation. He departed on the Troopship "Orient" for the Transvaal War, as that conflict was initially called.

It is likely that Albert made himself useful on the trip over to South Africa because he was quickly promoted to shoeing smith. Later becoming a Farrier Sergeant.

That was an important job in a mounted unit. For re-shoeing horses on the veldt was very necessary for a mounted unit to retain effective mobility. 

Albert's unit suffered the heaviest casaulties amongst all the Australian Boer War Contingents deployed. For example, Eighteen were KIA at Wilmansrust Farm on 12 June 1901. That was a suprise Boer night attack which made it past 5VMR picquets. That caused numerous casaulties. That in turn led to a British Army Court of Enquiry.

However, picquets were place correctly according to Kings Regulations plus arms had been stacked for the night. Hence is was Boer stealth that enabled them to claim Wilmansrust as a victory. This coupled with the British practice of stacking arms outside Bell tents. The alternative was to sleep with rifles within reach.

That was a tried a true method that bushies have long used in hostile country. Hence, 5VMR suffered high casualties due to Kings Regulations being enforced as per British Army Encampment's arm stacking policy. 

For when the Boers attacked on that fateful night, the 5VMR soldiers resting in their tents did not have their rifles within reach. Hence very high 5VMR casaulty numbers sustained due to enemy action at the Wilmansrust Farm Encampment. 

However, about one half of our Boer War casualties succumbed to disease. Albert was reported as dangerouly ill from measels on 21 Sep 1901. This was a childhood disease which he as an adult was not immune from. For he had likely never had it as a child.

He eventually recovered from measles to return to effective service. He luck finally run out some four months later. For Albert contracted the ever present enteric fever. This time in his weakened state, he succumbed. 

Albert succumed to enteric fever on 15 Feb 1902.

He was first buried near the military hospital in which he died. However, post war he was re-interred in a war grave in what is now KwaZulu Natal.    

Albert was 22 years and seven months old when he died on active service.

Lest We Forget.