CASEY, James John
| Service Numbers: | 376, 93 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Ireland, 1869 |
| Home Town: | North Pine, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Licensed Victualler |
| Died: | Bald Hills, Queensland, Australia, 3 December 1937, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Lawnton Cemetery |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 376, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 1899: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 93, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 448 notes 1st QMI embarked 1 Nov 1899 aboard Cornwall arriving Cape Town 13 Dec 1899. | |
| 17 Dec 1900: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 93, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, B Coy, Bk 2 p. 16, notes invalided returned to Australia aboard Harlech Castle arriving Brisbane 10 Dec 1900, discharged 17 Dec 1900. | |
| 4 Mar 1901: | Promoted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Corporal, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 43, notes promoted to Corporal 4 Mar 1901. | |
| 6 Mar 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Corporal, 376, 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. | |
| 21 May 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Corporal, 376, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 43, notes discharged in South Africa 21 May 1901 to allow him to accept employment there with the Intelligence Department. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
James John Casey served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First service was as a Private S.N. 93, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as a Corporal S.N. 376, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.
When he enlisted in 1899 in the 1st QMI, "B" Company, and was entered on the original nominal roll for the 1st Queensland Contingent, held by National Archives, he noted his address as North Pine. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 1st QMI, Bk 2 p. 16, it is noted he was invalided from this service and returned to Australia where he was discharged in Dec 1900.
When he enlisted again in 1901 with 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 brother T. Casey, North Pine. In the original nominal roll for the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent, held by National Archives, it is noted his N.O.K. was his borther Thomas Casey, North Pine. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 43, it is noted this service was short with him being granted a duscharge in South Africa on 21 May 1901 in order to accept employment there under the Intelligence Department.
James John Casey was born in about 1869 in Ireland, a son to John Casey and Margaret Casey (nee Brennan). He married Hilda Hendrika Ehlers in South Africa prior to 1904 while he was residing there. When he and Hilda passed in 1937 and 1928 respectively, they were interred in the family plot of his brother Thomas Francis Casey. They had 4 children, with their first likely born in South Africa before they returned to settle in Australia, with the remainder born in Queensland.
He and his family were back in Australia when an article "A magnificent dairying district. Hopetoun, Kilcoy and Sheep Station Creek" was published in Queensland Country Life, 1 Jul 1905, p. 13-15. He is mentioned on p. 14 when the township of Woodford is discussed as per the following extract.
'A great peak rising abruptly away to the north was kept for many years by one of the oldest identities of this district, Mr. W. Tracey, but is now run by Mr. J. J. Casey, who thought so well of the Transvaal, when attached to a contingent of Queensland Volunteers, that on his return he brought back one of the best products of the country - a wife'.
He was granted the licensee of the Bushman's Arms Hotel on Woodford Road, Woodford, in Aug 1904, indicating he was back in Australia by then. He was living at Bald Hills, Brisbane, when he passed in Dec 1937 at the age of 68 years with his probate notice stating he was a retired Licensed Victualler. His funeral notice published in various newspapers was accompanied with a request "South African papers please copy".
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 454 and 501; National Archives Australia- B 5172 Nominal Rolls of 1st Queensland Contingent, p. 2, and 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent, p. 6, Queensland Defence Force for service in South Africa; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks, 1st QMI, Bk 2 p. 16, and 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 43; various newspaper articles- see links).