LEIGHTON, Charles Hill
| Service Numbers: | 271, 610 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | England, United Kingdom, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Gympie, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 271, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 1900: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 271, 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, 271, 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, 610, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 506 notes the First Draft of the 6th QIB embarked at Sydney 20 Aug 1901 aboard Britannic arriving Cape Town 22 Sep 1901. | |
| 9 Aug 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 610, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 48, notes returned to Australia aboard Manchester Merchant arriving Brisbane 2 Aug 1902, discharged 9 Aug 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Charles Hill Leighton served twice in the South African (Boer) War, first as a Private S.N. 271 in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, second as a Private iS.N. 610 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (source AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 472 and 518).
Newspaper report indicates he remained in South Africa for further service when the rest of the 6th QIB returned to Australia. Date of his return and discharge after his second service is unknown.
Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Charles Hill Leighton served in both The First Boer War (Transvaal War 1880-1881), and the South African (Second Boer) War on two occassions. First service was in the First Boer War known by several names including the Transvaal War (1880-1881) as later detailed in this biography. Second service was as a Private S.N. 271, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry. Third service was as a Private S.N. 610, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (1st Draft).
When he enlisted in 1900 in the 3rd QMI and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 3 Mar 1900, it was noted he was single and N.O.K. was R. Tompkins, Catharaba Hill, Gympie. He served the full tour with the 3rd QMI and was returned to Australia and discharged in Brisbane on 20 Jun 1901.
Volunteers from Gympie for the 3rd Contingent were also reported in, Notes and News- The Gympie Times, 15 Feb 1900, p. 3, where it was noted "...Some of the men have seen active service before, and Mr. Leighton had served under Lord Roberts and at Majuba Hill". Majuba Hill was the site of a battle in the First Boer War that resulted in a disastrous defeat of the British on 27 Feb 1881 leading to independance for the two Boer states. Based on service in the first Boer war it is assumed he was born in England.
He then later joined again with the 6th QIB and was selected as part of the 1st Draft of the 6th 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 were recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB (which he was allotted to) held by Qld State Archives. 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.
Report in The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, notes when the 5th QIB embarked to return to Australia that, S.N. 610, Private Chas. H. Leighton remained in South Africa for further service. The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 48, notes he returned to Australia aboard Manchester Merchant and was discharged in Brisbane on 9 Aug 1902.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 472 and 518; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 3rd QMI, Bk 3 p. 25, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 48).
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