DEAR, James
| Service Number: | 321 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, 12 April 1876 |
| Home Town: | Ma Ma Creek, Lockyer Valley, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Timber Getter |
| Died: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 20 December 1929, aged 53 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Ma Ma Creek Anglican Cemetery, Queensland |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 321, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 321, 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. | |
| 5 May 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 321, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 491 notes 5th QIB embarked at Cape Town 27 Mar 1902 aboard St Andrew returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 30 Apr 1902, disbanded 5 May 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Also served in WW1, Private S.N. 6073, 25th Infantry Battalion AIF.
When James Dear 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 sister Mrs. R. J. Dear, Ma Ma Creek, Grantham.
He enlisted again in 1916 for WW1 and on his Attestation Form, dated 28 Aug 1916, he noted that; he was born at Ipswich, was 40 years 4 months of age and working as a timber getter, he was single and his N.O.K. was his sister Mrs. Annie Dear, Ma Ma Creek, Grantham; and he had previously served in South Africa.
James Dear was born on 12 Apr 1876 at Purga (Ipswich), a son to Reuben Dear and Margaret Dear (nee Forbes). In his infancy he went to live with his grandparents at Mt Brisbane, where he lived until 1901 when he enlisted for the Boer War.
On his return from the Boer War he worked as a timber getter in the Esk district until he enlisted in 1916 for WW1. His obituary published in newspapers indicate he was seriously wounded during his WW1 service and returned to Australia, but never fully recovered. However, his WW1 service record indicates he was taken ill on active service and diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis/Tuberculosis. When he returned to Australia he spent some time in hospital before discharge, after which he could no longer work and on receiving a pension resided at Bribie Island. He passed in Dec 1929 at Brisbane General Hospital.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 500; National Archives Australia- WW1 service record; Obituary- The Queensland Times, 7 Jan 1930, p. 3).
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