FARRELL, William Robert
| Service Numbers: | 156, 693 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Killybannon, Fermanagh, Ireland, 8 January 1879 |
| Home Town: | Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 16 May 1913, aged 34 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Toowong (Brisbane General) Cemetery, Queensland Plot: 1-86-4 |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 156, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 1900: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 156, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 463 notes 3rd Contingent embarked Brisbane 1 Mar 1900 aboard Duke of Portland arriving Cape Town 2 Apr 1900. | |
| 21 Jun 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 156, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 465 notes 3rd contingent embarked from Cape Town to return to Australia aboard Morayshire 9 May 1901 arriving Sydney 7 Jun 1901 (train to Brisbane), disbanded 21 Jun 1901. | |
| 26 Sep 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 693, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 506 & 519, the 2nd draft entrained Brisbane 24 Sep 1901, embarked from Sydney aboard Harlech Castle 26 Sep 1901, arrived Cape Town 26 Oct 1901. | |
| 23 Jun 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 693, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 508 notes 6th contingent embarked from Durban to return to Australia on 17 May 1902 aboard Devon, arrived Brisbane 17 Jun 1902, disbanded 23 Jun 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
William Rober Farrell served twice in the South African (Boer) War, first as a Private S.N. 156 in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry and second as a Private S.N. 693 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. (source AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray P. 470 and 519- see note bottom of page).
Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey
William Robert Farrell served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First service was as a Private S.N. 156, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as a Private S.N. 693, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (2nd Draft).
When he joined the 3rd QMI in 1900 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 3 Mar 1900, he was noted as single and his N.O.K. was T. Farrell (his father), Florence St, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 3rd QMI, Bk 2 p. 32, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Mrs. D. Farrell, Florence St, Fortitude Valley. He served the full tour of the 3rd QMI and returned to Brisbane where he was discharged 20 Jun 1901.
A few months later he was selected in the Second Draft of the 6th QIB and embarked again for South Africa in Sep 1901. All but one of the members of the draft had served previously in either the 3rd QMI or 4th QIB contingents in South Africa and were assembled as reinforcements for the 5th and 6th QIB contingents already in South Africa.
Men in the draft were not recorded in the original nominal roll for the 6th QIB. He is however, recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB (to which he was allotted), Bk 4 p. 134. Members of the draft remained breifly in South Africa on extended service after the 5th and 6th QIB contingents returned to Australia. The service paybooks note he was returned to Brisbane and discharged 9 Aug 1902.
William Robert Farrell was born on 8 Jan 1879 at Killybannon, Fermanagh, Ireland, a son to Thomas Farrell and Dorothea (Dorothy) Farrell (nee Irvine). At just over 1 year of age he emigrated with his parents to Queensland on the 'Queen of Nations' arriving at Brisbane in Apr 1880. He married Rebecca McKay Stevenson on 17 Jan 1903 in Queensland and they had 4 children. They were living in Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, when he passed in 1913.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray P. 470 and 519; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 3rd QMI, Bk 2 p. 32, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 134; Wiki Tree Online Genealogy- online bio).
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