Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Members of the old 4th Contingent, South Africa, will hear with great regret the death of gallant old bushman Captain Jim Berry (Ironbark). Some of  the members of H Company will remember the day (writes a correspondent) that Lieutenant Higson was wounded (fatal in the end); how Captain Berry rallied his company and drove the Boers from a very strong position. 
Later on in the campaign the 4th Contingent was helping to drive De Wet in the Orange Free State. Rations got low. We had to live on the land; in fact,  for some days captured sheep--the only food available. "Ironbark" Berry led his troops with a very much burned leg of mutton hanging to his saddle  with a strap. He was the type of man, if his years were younger, who would have made a name for the Queensland bushman in the last war. I am sure while members of the late 4th live they will always think of his name with respect as a leader and a soldier.

The death occurred at Redcliffe early yesterday morning of Captain J.K. (Jim) Berry, of Chelmer, at his seaside residence, Dulla, Queen's Beach,  Redcliffe. The late Captain Berry suffered from a stroke which attacked him last Wednesday evening, and from which he never recovered. He had been  having a game of cards with his wife, when he fell forward on the table and never spoke afterwards. He had been in indifferent health for some time  before, but did not think there was anything the matter. Dr. Brockway was immediately summoned, but from the first held out no hope of his recovery. The various members of his family were summoned, and have been constantly near his bedside till the end came. The late Captain Berry came to  Australia with his parents from the north of Ireland in 1863, and followed various pursuits. He served through the Boer War with considerable  distinction, and saw a great deal of hard campaigning throughout South Africa. He was married twice, and leaves one son, Percy, and seven daughters, the issue of his first marriage. His second wife, who was a daughter of the late Mr. George Harden, of Brisbane, survives him. The funeral will leave his  daughter's (Mrs. Merritt) home, Prospect-street, Sherwood, to-day, at 10.45 a.m., for the Sherwood Cemetery, where many other members of the  family are buried.