HOLPEN, Archibald
| Service Numbers: | 679, 329 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Queensland, Australia, 17 December 1875 |
| Home Town: | Hemmant, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 1 August 1945, aged 69 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Hemmant Cemetery and Crematorium, Brisbane, Queensland Plot: Monument C. 3. 36. |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 679 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 329, Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
| 18 May 1900: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 329, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 475 notes 4th QIB embarked 18 May 1900 aboard Manchester Port arriving Beira 14 Jun 1900. | |
| 10 Aug 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 329, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 477 notes 4th QIB embarked 5 Jul 1901 aboard Britannic returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 5 Aug 1901, disbanded 10 Aug 1901. | |
| 20 Aug 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 679, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 519 notes part of 1st Draft of 6th QIB embarked at Sydney 20 Aug 1901 aboard Britannic arriving Cape Town 22 Sep 1901. | |
| 23 Jun 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 679, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 508 notes 6th QIB embarked at Durban 17 May 1902 aboard Devon returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 17 Jun 1902, disbanded 23 Jun 1902. |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Aug 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, National Archives Australia WW1 service record notes enlisted 21 Aug 1914 in the 2nd LHR but was discharged before embarking overseas. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Archibald Holpen was born on 17 Dec 1875 in Brisbane, a son to Worthy Holpen and Sarah Ann Holpen (nee Ball) who were residing at Hemmant in Qld. He would reside at Hemmant throughout his life.
He served twice in the South African (Boer) War and enlisted again in 1914 for WW1 but was discharged before embarking overseas. His first service under the name of Archie Holpen (he listed Worthy Holpen as NOK) S.N. 329 was as a Private in the 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer War. His second service as Archibald Holpen S.N. 679 was as a Private in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer War. When he enlisted on 21 Aug 1914 he noted his previous two tours to South Africa and gave his NOK as his mother Sarah Holpen (his father had passed in 1911).
(source AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 486 & 519; National Archives Australia WW1 service record).
Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Note- his younger brother Frederick Ernest Holpen also served in the same Boer War contingents, Private S.N. 352, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen and Private S.N. 678, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen 2nd Draft, and enlisted again in WW1.
Archibald (Archie) Holpen served twice in the South African (Boer) War and enlisted again for WW1 but did not embark. First service was as a Private S.N. 329, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. Second service was as a Private S.N. 679, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (2nd Draft).
When he joined the 4th QIB in 1900 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 19 May 1900, he noted his N.O.K. as Worthy Holpen, Lindum, Hemmant. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 4th QMI, Bk 3 p. 8, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Mrs. Sarah Holpen, Lindum, Hemmant. He served the full tour of the 4th QIB and returned to Brisbane for discharge on 10 Aug 1901.
A short time 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. 120, where it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Mrs S. Holpen, Hemmant. 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 notes he returned to Australia and was discharged in Brisbane on 9 Aug 1902.
He enlisted again in 1914 for the AIF 2nd Light Horse to serve in WW1 but was discharged before he embarked. On his Attestation Paper, dated 21 Aug 1914, it was noted that; he was born at Hemmant and was 38 years 4 months of age; he was single and a labourer; his N.O.K. was his mother Sarah Holpen; and he had previously served in the 4th and 6th QIBs in South Africa.
Archibald Holpen was born on 17 Dec 1875 at Hemmant, a son to Worthy Holpen and Sarah Ann Hoplen (nee Ball).
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 486 & 519; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 4th QIB, Bk 3 p. 8, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 120; National Archives Australia- WW1 service record).
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