Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

He was variously known as John Kyle Little, John Little and John Kyle-Little, and to his friends simply as "J. K.".

When John Kyle Little enlisted in 1901 in the 6th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 13 Apr 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as Mrs. Kyle Little c/- Macdonald and Cardno, Brisbane. In the original nominal roll for the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent, held by National Archives, it is noted his N.O.K. was his mother.

John Kyle Little (birth registered under John Little) was born on 1 Jul 1875 in Queensland, a son to Robert Kyle Little and Dorothea 'Dora' Kyle-Little (nee Irwin). He married Norma 'Nona' May Tracey on 24 Mar 1902 at St Andrew's Church, Lutwyche, Brisbane. They had 7 children, one born in Tasmania, one in NSW, and the remainder in Queensland.

When John Kyle-Little passed in 1953 various obituaries were published in newspapers including, "Culkah" has penned his last "Par", Queensland Country Life, 15 Oct 1953, p. 7, from which the following information is obtained. He was well know in regional newspaper circles having penned may published stories on outback life under the pen name of "Culkah" or "Culkar"

John Kyle Little's father was Captain Robert Kyle-Little of the Indian Army serving in the Indian Mutiny and the Relief of Lucknow. When he retired he relocated to Queensland where he became an inspector in the Native Police and acquired pastoral interests dying suddenly at Birdsville at the age of 58. John was bought up in the outback and at 18 years of age was known as the "boy drover" operating his own droving plant. He later joined the Native Police and was stationed near Burketown where he enlisted for the Boer war in 1901.

On his return from the war he rejoined the Native Police stationed at Coen, the last to operate in Queensland. He then took up station management managing Rokeby in the Peninsular, Rocklands (Camooweal), Yugilbar (Clarence River NSW), Elsey (N.T.) and managed properties for Vesteys. One of his sons, David Knox Kyle-Little served in WW2, RAAF Sgt. S.N. 6584 and was K.I.A. on 23 Jan 1945.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 517; National Archives Australia- B 5172 Nominal Roll of 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent Queensland Defence Force for service in South Africa, p. 5; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 6th QIB, Bk 2 p. 155; newspaper articles- see links).