ARMSTRONG, John
| Service Numbers: | 97, 674 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Mount Morgan, Rockhampton, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Stockman |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 97, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 674 | |
| 1 Mar 1900: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 97, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 463 notes 3rd QMI embarked 1 Mar 1900 aboard Duke of Portland arriving Cape Town 2 Apr 1900. | |
| 21 Jun 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 97, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 465 notes 3rd QMI embarked 9 May 1901 at Cape Town returning to Australia aboard Morayshire arriving Sydney 7 Jun 1901 (rail to Brisbane), disbanded 21 Jun 1901. | |
| 20 Aug 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 674, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 506 & 519 notes part of 1st Draft of 6th QIB that embarked at Sydney 20 Aug 1901 aboard Britannic arriving Cape Town 22 Sep 1901. | |
| 23 Jun 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 674, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 508 notes 6th QIB embarked at Durban 17 May 1902 aboard Devon returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 17 Jun 1902, disbanded 23 Jun 1902. |
Help us honour John Armstrong's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
John Armstrong served twice in the South African (Boer) War, first as a Private S.N. 97 in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, and second as a Private S.N. 674 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. Newspaper report of 16 May 1902 has him remaining is South Africa for further service when the remainder of the 6th QIB set sail for return to Australia on 17 May 1902, with his actual date of discharge unknown.
(sources- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 469 & 519).
Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey
John Armstrong served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First service was as a Private S.N. 97, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as a Private S.N. 674, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (1st Draft).
When he joined the 3rd QMI in 1900 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 3 Mar 1900, he was noted as single and from Mount Morgan. A further article regarding enlistments from the Rockhampton district appearing in The Morning Bulletin, 27 Jan 1900, notes he was a stockman from Mount Morgan. He served the full tour of the 3rd QMI and was discharged in Brisbane on 20 Jun 1901.
Not long after he was selected in the First Draft of the 6th QIB and embarked again for South Africa in Aug 1901. The members of the draft mainly consisted of men who had served in previous contingents in South Africa and were assembled as reinforcements for the 5th and 6th QIB contingents already in South Africa.
Men in the draft were not recorded in the original nominal roll for the 6th QIB but he is recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB (to which he was allotted), Bk 4 p. 110. When the 5th QIB returned to Australia a number of the men remained in South Africa for various reasons. The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, notes when the 5th QIB embarked to return to Australia that, S.N. 674, Private John Armstrong, remained in South Africa for further service.
It appears John Armstrong was discharged in South Africa with the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 110, noting Armstrong wrote to the paymaster asking that all monies held as credit to him in his Govt. Savings Bank Acc. be forwarded in favour to Ida Baisden, Newcastle. The paybooks do not contain a discharge date or date of return to Australia suggesting he decided to remain and live in South Africa.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 469 & 519; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 3rd QMI, Bk 1 p. 21, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 110).
Click images to start slideshow.