GRIFFITHS, Michael
| Service Number: | 379 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Amby, Maranoa, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Station Hand |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 379, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 379, 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. | |
| 25 Jul 1901: | Imprisoned AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 501, notes captured and released at Palmietfontein 25 Jul 1901. | |
| 26 Mar 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 379, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Newspaper report notes discharged in South Africa on 26 Mar 1902 to allow him to take up employment there. |
Help us honour Michael Griffiths's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
When Michael Griffiths 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 uncle Mr. Cornelious O'Lachan (O'Loughlin), Rockhampton.
Prior to enlisting he was living and working at Amby Station, Amby, Qld. An article on local district news in The Western Star, 23 Jan 1901, p. 2, contains an excerpt describing the send-off and travels of four men intending to enlist from Amby Station, one of which was M. Griffiths. In his compliation of nominal rolls, Murray, only lists one soldier with the surname of Griffiths in the 5th QIB, Michael Griffiths. The excerpt from the article is provided below.
Four young men came to Roma by train last night intending to go to Brisbane to join the fifth contingent being formed there for service in South Africa. They are from Amby Station, and are well-known in the district. Their names are- G. E. Essy, H. McCarry, M. Griffiths and J. Harvey. The men stopped at Roma under the impression that they would be examined here by the Government Medical Officer Dr. L'Estrange but we understand instructions have been issued to forward all volunteers right on to Brisbane, so that they may go forward this morning. On leaving Amby the townspeople mustered in force, did some cheering, and gave them a good send off generally.
It was noted in a newspaper article "Fifth Contingent: Members left in South Africa" in The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, p. 8, that he was discharged in South Africa to allow him to take up employment there.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 501; newspaper articles, see links).
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