ANSTEN, Thomas
| Service Number: | 536 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 December 1901, Enrolled in South Africa after arrival of 5th QIB. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 536, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Dec 1901: | Enlisted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 536, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Enrolled in South Africa after arrival of 5th QIB. | |
| 26 Jun 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 536, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 152, notes returned to Australia aboard Damascus arriving in Brisbane on 17 Sep 1902 and that his discharge was effective from 26 Jun 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Note- he is recorded as Thomas Ansten in the AWM Boer War Nominal Roll compiled by Murray, and as Thomas Austin in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB. In newspaper reports on men remaining in South Africa when the main body of the 5th QIB contingent returned to Australia, he is recorded as S. Austin.
Murray, in his compilation of the AWM Boer War Nominal Roll on p. 504 to 505, notes members of the 5th QIB who enrolled/enlisted in South Africa.
Thomas Ansten enrolled in South Africa with the 5th QIB and as such was not recorded on the original nominal roll for the 5th Queensland (Imperial Bushmen) Contingent held by National Archives. He is however, recorded as Thomas Austin in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 152. Unfortunately, the paybooks only record his gratuity payment fron 27 Jun to 28 Sep 1902. Its assumed he enrolled in South Africa on or about 1 Dec 1901.
The paybooks do not contain information regarding where he was from prior to enrolling with the 5th QIB or information on N.O.K. The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, reported that 536, Private S. Austin, remained in South Africa for further service when the 5th QIB returned to Australia. The paybooks note he returned to Australia aboard Damascus arriving in Brisbane on 17 Sep 1902 with prior discharge on 26 Jun 1902.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 505; National Archives Australia- B 5172 Nominal Roll of 5th Queensland (Imperial Bushmen) Contingent Queensland Defence Force for service in South Africa; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 152).