LAX, John
| Service Numbers: | 125, 672 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 August 1901, Based on AWM nominal roll, Murray p. 519 he served as Private S.N. 672 under command of Capt. Echlin in 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. Murray p. 506 notes that this was the first of two drafts that occurred on 20 Aug 1901 to follow the original unit to South Africa. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 19 December 1877 |
| Home Town: | Red Hill, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Butcher |
| Died: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 7 May 1958, aged 80 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Toowong (Brisbane General) Cemetery, Queensland Plot: Mon 10 - 1/#/11 |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 125, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 672 | |
| 1 Mar 1900: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 125, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 463 notes 3rd QMI embarked 1 Mar 1900 aboard Duke of Portland arriving Cape Town 2 Apr 1900. | |
| 21 Jun 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 125, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 465 notes 3rd QMI embarked 9 May 1901 at Cape Town returning to Australia aboard Morayshire arriving Sydney 7 Jun 1901 (rail to Brisbane), disbanded 21 Jun 1901. | |
| 20 Aug 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 672, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Records, Murray 506 notes first draft left Brisbane for Sydney by rail on 18 Aug 1901 and embarked from Sydney 20 Aug 1901 aboard Britannic. | |
| 20 Aug 1901: | Enlisted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 672, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Based on AWM nominal roll, Murray p. 519 he served as Private S.N. 672 under command of Capt. Echlin in 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. Murray p. 506 notes that this was the first of two drafts that occurred on 20 Aug 1901 to follow the original unit to South Africa. | |
| 5 May 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 672, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 108, notes invalided and returned to Australia with 5th QIB aboard St. Andrew arriving Brisbane 1 May 1902, discharged 5 May 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
John Lax served twice in the South African (Boer War), first as a Private S.N. 125 in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry and second as a Private S.N. 672 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. (source AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 469 and 519- see note at bottom of page).
Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey
John Lax served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First service was as a Private S.N. 125, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as a Private S.N. 672, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (1st Draft).
When he joined the 3rd QMI in 1900 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 3 Mar 1900, it was noted he was single and from Federal St, Red Hill, Brisbane. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 3rd QMI, Bk 3 p. 23, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Mrs. A. Clarke, Federal St, Red Hill. He served the full tour of the 3rd QMI and returned to Brisbane for discharge on 20 Jun 1901.
Not long after he was selected in the First Draft of the 6th QIB and embarked again for South Africa in Aug 1901. The members of the draft mainly consisted of men who had served in previous 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 but he is recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB (to which he was allotted), Bk 4 p. 108, where it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Lavinia Clark, Federal St, Musgrave St, Red Hill, Brisbane.
It was not unusual for members of the 1st Draft of the 6th QIB to remain in South Africa for further service when the contingent they had been allotted to returned to Australia. However, the paybooks for the 5th QIB notes that John Lax was invalided from service and returned with the 5th QIB to Brisbane and was discharged 5 May 1902.
John Lax was born on 19 Dec 1877 at Brisbane, a son to John Lax and Lavinia Lax (nee Brothers). His father had passed in 1888 and his mother remarried to Alexander Clark in 1897. John Lax married Ann Hammond on 30 May 1905 in Queensland and they had 7 children. In his younger days prior to and after the war he was an accomplished athlete in the North Brisbane Harriers Club. After the war he worked as a butcher and lived at Red Hill and Bunyaville where he ran stock.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 469 & 519; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 3rd QMI, Bk 3 p. 23, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 108).
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