Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edwin Huxtable served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First service as a Private (rising to rank of Sergeant) S.N. 227 in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, and second as a Private S.N. 616 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. Newspaper report on 16 May 1902 notes Huxtable remained in South Africa for service when the rest of the 6th QIB returned to Australia and were disbanded 23 Jun 1902, with no date available for Huxtable's return and discharge. (source AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray, p. 471 & 518; The Brisbane Courier, 13 May 1902, p. 8).

Edwin Huxtable served twice in the South African (Boer) war. First service was as a Private S.N. 227 in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as a Private rising to Quartermaster Sergeant S.N. 616 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (1st Draft). He also served with the 11th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment during WW1.

In 1900 Edwin Huxtable was working as a tailor and living at Oxford Street, Thompson Estate, South Brisbane, Queensland, when he was declared insolvent by the Supreme Court on 10 Jan 1900. It appears he almost immediately volunteered for service in the Boer War with the 3rd Queensland Contingent.

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 single and noted his N.O.K. as Mrs. Clements, Thompson Estate, South Brisbane. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 3rd QMI, Bk 3 p. 4, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his sister Mrs. Emma Clements, Oxford St, Thompson Estate. He served the full tour with the 3rd QMI and was discaharged in Brisbane on 20 Jun 1901.

He then later joined again with the 1st Draft of the 6th QIB that embarked on 20 Aug 1901, some 4 months after the main 6th QIB had left. The men selected in the 1st Draft in the main consisted of men who had previously served in previous contingents in South Africa, and were being sent as reinforcements for the 5th and 6th QIB contingents already in South Africa.

The men in the draft were not entered on the original nominal roll of the 6th QIB but he was recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB (which he was allotted to), Bk 4 p. 54, where it is noted he directed part of his pay to his sister Mrs. Emma Clements, Oxford St, Thompson Estate, South Brisbane.

His sister, Emma Huxtable, had married George James Clements on 24 Apr 1883 in Queensland. George passed in 1901, perhaps why Edwin directed part of his service pay to her, with Emma remarrying to Charles Burridge on 4 Aug 1904.

Newspaper reports note when the 5th QIB returned to Australia a number of men remained in South Africa for various reasons including for further service. The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, notes when the 5th QIB embarked to return to Australia that, S.N. 616, Private Edwin Huxtables, remained in South Africa for further service. The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 54, notes he returned to Brisbane and was discharged from 14 Aug 1902. The Paybook also notes that at some point following his discharge he returned to England with his address being c/- C. G. P. Huxtable, No. 1 King Street, South Molton, Devon.

When Edwin passed in 1915 an obituary was published in a number of Brisbane newspapers, one of which is transcribed below.

Death of Sergeant E. Huxtable: Former Toowong Resident.- The Telegraph (Brisbane), 8 Jun 1915, p. 6)

News has been received from England of the death of Mr. Edwin Huxtable, whom many will remember as a former resident of Toowong who took an active part in the working of the Fire Brigade. At the time of his death he was master tailor to the 13th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment, holding rank as sergeant. He was in Queensland when the Boer war broke out, and he served his Empire in the struggle, as a member of the Queensland Mounted Infantry. He was among those engaged in the exciting pursuit of General de Wet and when the war was over he left the army with the rank of colour-sergeant. While in Queensland he entered the Masonic craft. On returning to England he formed a lodge in his neighbourhood. He was 52 years of age when he died, and he leaves a widow and one son.

Edwin Huxtable was born in 1863 at South Molton, Devon, England, a son to William Huxtable and Sarah Huxtable (nee Passmore).

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 471 & 518; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 3rd QMI, Bk 3 p. 4, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 54, South Molton 1914-1918 War Memorial- soldier bio; Obituary- The Telegraph, 8 Jun 1915, p. 6).