Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Connolly served twice in the South African (Boer) war. First service was as a Private rising to Corporal S.N. 92 in the 2nd Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as a Private rising to Sergeant S.N. 608 in the 1st Draft of the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

When he joined the 2nd QMI in 1900 he was recorded on the original nominal roll for the 2nd Queensland Contingent, held by National Archives, with his address given as Victoria Barracks, Brisbane. This indicates he was already serving in the permanent forces of the Queensland Defence Force.

His Boer War Dossier for his 2nd QMI service notes he was invalided and returned to Brisbane arriving 18 Aug 1900, where he was discharged 8 Sep 1900. His address post discharge was given as Mayfield, Southbrook, Toowoomba. It also noted he would rejoin the permanent forces from 25 Aug 1900.

He then later joined again with the 6th QIB and was selected as part of the 1st Draft of the 6th that embarked on 20 Aug 1901, some 4 months after the main 6th QIB had left. The men selected in the 1st Draft in the main consisted of men who had previously served in previous contingents in South Africa, and were being sent as reinforcements for the 5th and 6th QIB contingents already in South Africa.

The men in the draft were not entered on the original nominal roll of the 6th QIB but were recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB (which he was allotted to) held by Qld State Archives. Newspaper reports note when the 5th QIB returned to Australia a number of men remained in South Africa for various reasons including for further service.

Report in The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, notes when the 5th QIB embarked to return to Australia that, S.N. 608, Sergeant Jno. Connolly remained in South Africa for further service. The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 46, notes he was discharged in South Africa on 2 Jul 1902 and that he had previously recieved a gratuity payment as a Corporal with the 2nd QMI.

His father passed at his residence at Southbrook in 1920 with obituaries published in a number of local newspapers. One in the Pittsworth Sentinel, 14 Aug 1920, p. 2, noted that among children that survived him "There are two sons, John and Steven, who have seen active service for their country". John's younger brother Stephen had served in WW1, Private S.N. 4505, 31st Infantry Battalion AIF.

John Connolly was born on 9 Jun 1872 at Toowoomba, a son to Michael Connolly and Mary Connolly (nee Kennedy). He married Winifred Maude Askew on 6 Nov 1908 in Queensland and they had at least 5 children.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 461 & 508; National Archives Australia- B 5172 Nominal Roll of 2nd Queensland Contingent Queensland Defence Force for service in South Africa, p. 2; National Archives Australia- Boer war Dossier 1st service; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 2nd QMI, Bk 1 p. 27 and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 46).