Erskin James CALDWELL

CALDWELL, Erskin James

Service Number: 629
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen
Born: Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, 22 June 1873
Home Town: Toowoomba, Toowoomba, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, 16 June 1927, aged 53 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery, Queensland
Plot: Sect. CE 3 Row 4 Plot 7
Memorials:
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Boer War Service

1 Oct 1899: Involvement Private, 629
20 Aug 1901: Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 629, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 506 & 518 notes part of 1st Draft of 6th QIB 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, 629, 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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Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey

Erskine James Caldwell served twice in the South African (Boer) War and then again in WW1. First service was as a Private S.N. 67 in the 3rd Queenlsand Mounted Infantry, Boer War. Second service was as a Private S.N. 629 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer War. Newspaper report from May 1902 indicates he remained in South Africa for further service when his unit returned to Australia, his discharge is assumed to be the date the unit was disbanded.

He renlisted for WW1 in 1915 As a Private S.N. 3911 originally with the 15th Infantry Battalion, later transfering to the 47th Infantry Battalion.

He lived his life in the Toowoomba region, born there on 22 Jun 1873 a son to David Caldwell and Mary Ellen Caldwell (nee Davies). He worked in the area as a labourer passing away there in 1927.

(sources- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p.468 & 518; National Archives Australia WW1 service record).

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