Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Hugh Prior WOODHAM was born in 1876 in Farley, Hampshire, England

His parents were William WOODHAM and Jane WILKINSON who had married in 1869 in Ashton under Lyne district in Lancashire UK

He was a Trooper with the 4th Imperial Bushmen (South Australia) in the Boer War

The 4th Imperial Bushmens Contingent left Port Adelaide on 1st May 1900 on transport ship Manhatten & went to South Africa via Fremantle  in W.A. where they picked up more troops -They arrived in Port Elisabeth on 19th June

He was invalided back to Australia & died at sea on 28th February 1901 en route to Albany, Western Australia  on the ship S.S. Britannic aged 25 - cause of death Measles & Bronchitis

Hugh is buried in the Albany Memorial Cemetery in Western Australia

There is also a wall plaque for him in St Augustines Anglican Church

ALBANY ADVERTISER - 15th November 1948

Mrs. W.A. Paynter of Henley Beach SA showed an Adelaide newspaperman a photograph she took in the Albany Cemetery of the grave of Trooper Hugh Prior Woodham, a comrade of her husband in the 4th Imperial Bushmens Corp in the South African War.  Trooper Woodham then 25 died at sea on the homeward voyage two days before they reached Albany in 1901

The reporter noted fresh lilies on the grave and Mrs. Paynter told this interesting story

"My husband and I were walking along Albanys main street, we saw thousands of lilies in bloom in a paddock.  We asked a man in an adjoining garage if we could pick some and told him we wanted to put them on Hugh Woodhams grave.  To our surprise he said "I am the man who buried him" "We took this picture of the recent veterans service here and a lot of the men remembered poor Woodham"

The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA: 1867 - 1922) Wednesday 24 July 1901

Colonel J. Rowell, C.B., officer commanding the Fourth Contingent, telegraphed from West Australia on Tuesday that Trooper Hugh Prior Woodham had succumbed to an attack of measles and bronchitis. The deceased soldier had been right through the campaign with his comrades, and had enjoyed fairly good health.   His father resides at Hampshire, England, and a brother lives at Renmark. The Chief Secretary has communicated with the relatives, informing them of their loss, and offering, on behalf of the Government, sincere condolences.  

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article210523308

Renmark Pioneer (SA: 1892 - 1913) Friday 26 July 1901

TROOPER H. P. WOODHAM.

Inexorable death has taken toll of our brave young soldiers, in beckoning away Trooper Hugh Woodham, just as he was pressing eagerly forward to land once more on the soil of his adopted country. Well-known and popular in our midst for some years, he joined the Imperial Bushmen's Contingent for service in South Africa; and seems to have sustained the hardships and risks of the campaign with positive advantage to his health and spirits, only to succumb t0 insidious disease, when a few hours would have brought him to his loved ones. On Tuesday last, our flags drooped mournfully at half mast, in token of general neighbourly sorrow and sympathy; and on the same day, his comrades lowered to a last resting place among strangers all that was left of him, to whom they were knit by that subtle and beautiful tie, which binds those who have faced common dangers together. We all must and do lament the loss of a young and vigorous life, just expanding into achievement; and fully   conscious of the impossibility of human consolation, our hearts go out to his own bereaved people. We hope and believe that, when the soft   touch of Tune has soothed the crash and ache of this stunning disappointment and grief, there will come to them a hallowed and peaceful memory of their gallant young hero, and that they will find a solace and   mournful pride in the old truth:

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article124978029