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: |
Biography 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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