Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Military commanders of the Second Queensland Mounted Infantry, believed that the war was coming to a close and actively encouraged and advised the troops to join one of the various units engaged in police work.

This is exactly what Private John E. Donkin did, during his remaining time during the Boer War he served in various constabulary units such as the Pretoria Mounted Police, Orange River Colony Mounted Police and South African Constabulary.

Private Donkin was to call South Africa home and upon discharge from the Colonial Police he turned to farming. During the First World War, John Donkin was a district commandant on the Instructional Staff and would reach the rank of Major.

'Mr. John Donkin, of the Upper Manning, is leaving for South Africa as a volunteer, in the s. s. Maori King, which has left Brisbane direct, without calling at Sydney' from The Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of New South Wales 7 Jan 1900 (nla.gov.au)

'Wingham.

Mr. J. Donkin, who left by the Maori King with the Queensland volunteers, for the seat of war, is a son of Mrs. E. Donkin, of Karraak Flat. Mr. Donkin is a fine strapping young man, a genial good fellow, and an excellent bushman. His brother, Mr. Thos. Donkin, has also volunteered, and leaves for Sydney by the next boat.' from The Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of New South Wales 20 Jan 1900 (nla.gov.au)

'OLD BOYS.

Sydney Kibble writes from the Maori King on his way to South Africa with the second Queensland contingent. Donkin was with him.' from Hawkesbury Advocate 9 Mar 1900 (nla.gov.au)

'QUEENSLAND SOLDIERS "MISSING AND PRISONERS."

Information has been received from the High Commissioner for South Africa that "76, Private Donkin, Q.M.I., was missing near Thabanchu, on 8th September." The man referred to is John E. Donkin, who accompanied the Second Contingent to South Africa. Information has been received from the same source that (201) Private F. Muir, of the "A" Company, and (235) Private E. Smith, of "B" Company, both of the First Contingent, who were taken prisoners, but were released, arrived at Ladysmith early in July.' from The Brisbane Courier 12 Sep 1900 (nla.gov.au)

'Safety of Trooper Donkin.

We are sorry to hear, that the report is confirmed that Trooper John Donkin, one of the Queensland Bushman in South Africa is missing. He was on military police duty at Thabanchu and had gained the reputation of being a brave and dashing soldier. Jack's friends will be sorry to hear if any serious misfortune has happened him; but they have the consolation of knowing that the "missing" somehow have a happy knack of turning up all right. Trooper John Donkin was a Karaah Flat boy, and his family there are naturally grieved and anxious about the uncertainty of his fate. We hope, however, they may soon receive reassuring news as to his whereabouts. Since the above was put in type, we hear that Trooper Donkin has "turned up." from The Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer 15 Sep 1900 (nla.gov.au)

'MISSING MEN SAFE.

Privates W. Seymour and J. Rogers, of the 1st Contingent Victorian Mounted Rifles, and Private J. Donkin, of the Queensland Mounted Rifles, who were lately reported missing at Thaba N'ehu, between Bloemfontem and Ladybrand, are all safe, and have rejoined their corps.' from The Age 14 Sep 1900 (nla.gov.au)

'H. A. COLLEGE.

From the H. A. College "Magazine" we take the following particulars of the where-abouts of many one-time students : — J. E. Donkin is farming at Thabanchu, S. Africa.' from Windsor and Richmond Gazette 27 Sep 1902 (nla.gov.au)

'COUNTRY NEWS.

Through the Allora sub-branch of the Returned Soldiers' League, Mr. E. Weatherley (Allora), a South African war veteran, has received a letter from a former comrade whom he had not seen since 1901. The writer, Mr. Rufus Donkin, of Brits, Transvaal, setled in South Africa at the conclusion of the war and now wishes to correspond with members of the Second Queensland Contingent.' from The Courier-Mail 31 Jan 1935 (nla.gov.au)

'WHEN BOERS WERE WILD, OUR MEN WHO DONNED KHAKI.

ALLORA VETERANS.

Memories of the intense war excitement that ushered in the present century have crowded back to Mr. Ernest Weatherley, of Allora, into whose possession has come a letter from a former comrade with whom he trained in the Queensland Mounted Infantry in 1900, before they enlisted to participate in the South African War. Although in different contingents, they corresponded while in South Africa, but from the conclusion of hostilities lost trace of one another, until Mr. Weatherley received the brief note, from the Transvaal through the Allora sub-branch of the R.S.S.I.L.A.

Posted in August last year, the letter from Mr. Rufus Donkin, was first received by the Toowoomba sub-branch, which forwarded it to Allora, suggesting that it be handed to a South African veteran. In it, Mr. Donkin whose address is Box 104, Brits, Transvaal, asked members of any of the contingents who enlisted from Allora to correspond with him. Mr. Weatherley intends to reply immediately, and doubtless other veterans, when they learn the whereabouts of their former comrade, will do likewise.

Approached by a representative of the Daily News, Mr. Weatherley said he well remembered Mr. Donkin, who, prior to his enlistment, was a farm overseer on Talgai West station, where Mr. Weatherley also was employed amongst the sheep. Contentedly puffing his cigarette after the evening meal, Mr. Weatherley allowed his mind to wander back to the outbreak of the South African War, and the departure of Allora volunteers who served with the First Contingent.

"Not long afterwards," he explained, reminiscently, "a call was made for volunteers to form the Second Contingent, and 14 or 15 young fellows in the Allora half-squadron, in cluding Donkin and myself, stepped forward. A few days later, we went to Brisbane for examination. Donkin, who was particularly well built, was accepted, but the authorities had more men than they needed, and most of us were sent back home, some because they were not quite tall enough, but the majority because they were too young. I went down three times to Brisbane before they finally enlisted me, and eventually I got away with the Fifth Contingent. Altogether, there were six Queensland contingents, all of which boasted Allora volunteers, and finally others joined the Commonwealth Contingent.

"In South Africa, quite a number of Allora men renewed acquaintance, particularly when some of the depleted contingents were organised into the Queensland Imperial Bushmen. I was unable to meet Donkin who had transferred to the Pretoria Mounted Police, and subsequently to the Orange River Colony Mounted Police. From Bloemfontein he wrote suggesting that I join the police there, but, although the Bushmen were camped within gunshot of the town, I was not allowed to go. Shortly afterwards we moved away, and, when a truce was called before peace was signed, most of the Colonial troops were sent home. Later I heard that Donkin had settled in the Transvaal and had married."

Another South African veteran, Mr. C. E. Deacon, also of Allora, who saw the letter, recalled having known Mr. Donkin while he was in the district. Mr. Donkin had quoted the initials of six separate military organisations with which he had been connected in the campaign, but Mr. Deacon explained that early in 1900, after the First and Second Queensland Contingents had been in action, the military commanders thought the war would fizzle out, and officers advised the troops to join one of the various units engaged in police work. The Third Contingent, of which he was a member, entered the war zone by way of Portuguese East Africa and Rhodesia, and participated in the Relief of Mafeking. After that the column moved down to the Eland's River district, where it was engaged for another 18 months, incidentally capturing Pietermaritzherg. Mr. Donkin, he conjectured, had transferred to the South African Constabulary which took the place of the other smaller police units. In the Great War, as indicated in his letter, Mr. Donkin was a district commandant on the Instructional Staff.

Mr Deacon also recalled having met the late Mr. Edgar Wallace, writer of sensational novels, who at that time was a war correspondent. Edgar Wallace was then a slim young man and an excellent rider, who had a difficult task keeping in touch with all parts of the column to prepare his copy for various London and South African newspapers.

On the South African War Memorial in Allora, the name of E. J. Donkin appears, whereas the writer from the Transvaal gives his Christian name as Rufus. Mr. Weatherley, however, is certain that only one volunteer from Allora was named Donkin, and, as Mr. Rufus Donkin did not return to Queensland in which he had resided for only 12 months before he enlisted, the obvious mistake was excusable.

Altogether, 38 men enlisted from Allora for service in South Africa, Four were killed in action and one subsequently died of wounds, Although the majority returned to the district, many are now scattered all over Queensland, and some have been called to higher service. Nevertheless there Is a number still resident on the central Downs. Besides Messrs. Weatherley and Deacon, those In the district include Messrs. R. S. Thompson (Forest Plain), C. Cooke (Upper Pilton), C. H. Clarke (Upper Forest Springs), A. Masters (Hendon), and R, Wilson (Forest Plain), Mr. A. J. White and G. Davidson reside in Warwick.' from Warwick Daily News 26 Jan 1935 (nla.gov.au)