BYERS, John Jones
| Service Number: | 405 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Farrier Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Thornborough, Queensland, Australia, 12 February 1878 |
| Home Town: | Hughenden, Flinders, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Butcher |
| Died: | Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, 11 October 1943, aged 65 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
North Rockhampton Cemetery, Qld Plot: CHURCH OF ENGLAND Sec 4 Row 7 Grave No 44 |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 405, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Mar 1901: | Promoted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Farrier Sergeant, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 72, notes promoted to Farrier Sergeant 4 Mar 1901. | |
| 6 Mar 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Farrier Sergeant, 405, 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. | |
| 6 Mar 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Farrier Sergeant, 405, 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. | |
| 9 Dec 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Farrier Sergeant, 405, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 72, notes invalided returned to Australia aboard Damascus arriving Brisbane 2 Dec 1901, discharged 9 Dec 1901. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
When John Jones Byers 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 father J. J. Byers, Hughenden. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 72, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Mrs. E. Byers c/- J. J. Byers Crown Land Ranger, Hughenden.
John Jones Byers was born on 12 Feb 1878 at Thornborough (near Mareeba), Queensland, a son to John Jones Byers and Elizabeth Ann Byers (nee Gane). He married Susan Mary Williams on 13 Dec 1903 in Queensland and they had 10 children.
His father was considered a pioneer in the far north of Queensland involved in gold prospecting, trail blazing, butchering and later a Ranger and then Land Commissioner with the Crown Lands Department in Hughenden. Following his discharge from the 5th QIB John Jnr. returned for a while to Thornborough. He later ventured south settling with his wife in Proserpine where he worked as a slaughterman and butcher.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 502; Qld State Archive- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 72).
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