DE VERDON, Nivel
| Service Number: | 39 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 October 1899, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia , 1875 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Melbourne C of E Grammar School; Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Miner/Police Officer |
| Died: | Accidental, Tangiers, Morocco, 12 September 1904 |
| Cemetery: |
Boroondara (Kew) General Cemetery, Victoria Cenotaph Only |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 19 Oct 1899: | Enlisted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 39, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, Brisbane, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 1899: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 39, 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. | |
| 25 Aug 1900: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 39, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Note- various documents and newspaper articles refer to him variously as Nevil de Verdon, Neville de Verdon, and Nevil Verdon. His registration of birth with BDM Victoria records him as Nevil Verdon.
When Nivel (Nevil) de Verdon enlisted in 1899 with the 1st QMI and his details were published with the rank and file in The Brisbane Courier, 18 Nov 1899, he was recorded as Private N. De Verdon, single, Police Depot, Petrie Terrace, Brisbane. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 35, it notes he was invalided from service and returned to Brisbane where he was discharged on 25 Aug 1901.
Nevil Verdon was born in 1875 at Melbourne, a son to Sir George Frederic Verdon and Dame Anne Verdon (nee Armstrong). Prior to enlisting he had spent time at Coolgardie, Western Australia, and at the time of enlistment he was a serving officer in the Queensland Mounted Police in Brisbane.
After his discharge in 1900 he travelled to Morocco to link up with his brother Egbert who was serving as the medical officer to the Sultan of Morroco. He secured the position of secretary to Kaid Sir Harry Maclean, K.C.M.G., instructor-in-cheif of the Sultan's army. In Sep 1904 he was experiementing with launching fire balloons (sky balloons- a lightweight paper construct with suspended flame similar in principle to a hot air balloon) from a high terrace when he accidentally fell from the terrace causing his death.
(source- AWM Boer Wr Nominal Roll, Murray p. 451; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 35; various newspaper articles- see links).
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