ALDER, Joseph
| Service Number: | 394 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | England, United Kingdom, 1878 |
| Home Town: | Thornton, Lockyer Valley, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Drover, Farmer |
| Died: | Accidental Drowning, Mackay, Queensland, Australia, 10 April 1910 |
| Cemetery: |
Walkerston Cemetery, Qld Plot: C of E Section 1, Line 8, Plot 43 - NO HEADSTONE |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 394, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 394, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 488 notes 5th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 6 Mar 1901 aboard Templemore arriving Port Elizabeth 1 Apr 1901. | |
| 5 May 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 394, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 491 notes 5th QIB embarked at Cape Town 27 Mar 1902 aboard St Andrew returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 30 Apr 1902, disbanded 5 May 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
When Joseph Alder enlisted in 1901 in the 5th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 16 Mar 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as his sister Miss M. Alder, Brisbane. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 61, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Mrs. M. Alder, Thornton, Laidley, Qld.
Joseph Alder was born about 1878 at Northumberland, England, a son to William Alder and Margaret Alder (nee Wren). Its unverified when his parents migrated with their family to Queensland, Australia, but evidently Joseph was still a young child at the time. A newspaper article reporting on his untimely death noted he had spent most of his short life living at Thornton, Qld.
He was accidently drowned in Apr 1910 near Mackay with the evnet reported in The Queensland Times, 19 Apr 1910, p. 7, extracts of which are transcribed below:
Drowning Accident
It will be remembered that information was recieved in Laidley early last week to the affect that Mr. Jos. Alder (third son of Mrs. William Alder, of Thornton) had been accidently drowned at Mackay. He was well known and highly respected in the Thornton district, having practically lived there all his life. He was a member of the fifth contingent which went from these shores to South Africa. On his return to his home he made one of a party who took a mob of Mr. A. J. Cotton's cattle to the Gulf country, where he remained for a period of 2 years prior to returning home. Subsequently he migrated to Mackay, where he followed the occupation of a farmer.......
.....Referring to the sad occurrence The Daily Mercury (Mackay) of the 11th instant, says :- "A young man by the name of Joseph Alder, an employee of Mr. R. Noble, of Woodford, was drowned in the river near the Bowen Crossing yesterday afternoon. Alder swam the river after a horse, but, owing to the strong current, he could not bring the animal over. The unfortunate chap then attempted to swim back, but was carried away before the eyes of Mr. Noble and his son, who were unable to render any assistance....."
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 501; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 61; Newspaper report of his death- The Queensland Times, 19 Apr 1910).
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