BURNS, William
| Service Numbers: | 663, 62 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Farrier Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Queensland, Australia, 12 July 1865 |
| Home Town: | Mareeba, Tablelands, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 663 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 62, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry | |
| 1 Mar 1900: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 62, 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, 62, 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, 663, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 506 & 519 notes part of 1st Draft of 6th QIB embarked at Sydney 20 Aug 1901 aboard Britannic arriving Cape Town 22 Sep 1901. | |
| 1 Jan 1902: | Promoted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Farrier Sergeant, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
| 23 Jun 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Farrier Sergeant, 663, 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. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
William Burns served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First service as a Private S.N. 62 in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, and second service as a Private (rising to Farrier Sergeant) S.N. 663 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. Newspaper report on 16 May 1902 has him remaining in South Africa for further service when the rest of the contingent embarked to return to Australia, his actual date of discharge is unknown.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll- Murray p. 468 & 519).
Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey
William Burns served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First service was as a Private S.N. 62, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as a Private rising to Farrier-Sergeant S.N. 663, 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, his contact details were c/- J. Fenwick, Mareeba. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 3rd QMI, Bk 1 p. 55, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Mrs. Kate Burns, Blenheim, Laidley. He was invalided from service and returned to Brisbane and discharged 27 May 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. 99, where it is noted he directed part of his pay to his sister Nettie (Janette) Burns, Deeside, Laidley.
The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, notes when the 5th QIB embarked to return to Australia that, S.N. 663, Farrier-Sergeant Wm. Burns, remained in South Africa for further service. The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 99, notes he was discharged in South Africa on 16 Apr 1902.
William Burns was born 12 Jul 1865 in Queensland, a son to Robert Burns and Catherine Burns (nee Roney/Rooney).
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 468 & 519; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 3rd QMI, Bk 1 p. 55, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 99).
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