Archibald (Archie) HOLPEN

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:
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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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Biography 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).

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