Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The death occurred on Saturday, March 21, 1936 at his home in Wanda Road, Caulfield of Major David John Ham. Major Ham was a son of the late Mr. David Ham M.L.C. of Ballarat, and a brother of Dr. Hedley H. Ham, of Toorak, and Dr. Bernard Ham of London. He was bom at Ballarat, and was educated at Grenville College in that city. In his early life he was a station hand and manager working on properties in northern Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, before owning property at Westernport and in the north of the Victoria. He served with distinction in the Boer war. His contingent formed a part of the British force which was trapped by the Boers at Elaand's River and a vivid account of that engagement, written by Major Ham, was published in "The Argus." When the war ended Major Ham returned to Australia with the Bushmens contingent in June 1901. 

But he had a desire to return, and in May 1902 he arrived in South Africa to pursue his interests in agriculture and trade. By 1903 he had established in Johannesburg a stock auctioneers business in association with Donald Munro of Melbourne. In early 1904 Ham and Munro expanded the business, becoming general commission agents and salesmen for a variety of produce and goods in the Transvaal.

Later he contracted a spinal maludy which left him permanently an invalid, and because of that he returned in 1906 to Victoria. Although physically incapacitated, Major Ham was mentally very active, and he devoted much of his time to literary pursuits and support of community organisations and educational establishments.

Major Ham, who was aged 77 years, leaves a widow.

Reference: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page573226