MACFARLANE, James Burns
| Service Numbers: | 104, 612 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Govan, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, 14 August 1851 |
| Home Town: | Sherwood, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk, Accountant |
| Died: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 10 March 1930, aged 78 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Toowong (Brisbane General) Cemetery, Queensland Plot: 20-52-19 |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 104, 2nd Queensland Mounted Infantry | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Jan 1900: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 104, 2nd Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 457 notes 2nd QMI embarked 13 Jan 1900 aboard Maori King arriving Cape Town 24 Feb 1900. | |
| 10 May 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 104, 2nd Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 449 notes 2nd QMI embarked at Cape Town 31 Mar 1901 returning to Australia aboard Tongariro arriving Brisbane 3 May 1901, disbanded 10 May 1901. | |
| 20 Aug 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 612, 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. | |
| 15 May 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 612, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 50, notes returned to Australia aboard Columbian arriving Brisbane 15 May 1902, discharged 15 May 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
James Burns Macfarlane served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First service was as a Private S.N. 104, 2nd Queensland Imperial Bushmen. Second service was as a Private S.N. 612, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (1st Draft).
He was in a slightly unique position in that his son John George Macfarlane (Corp. S.N. 164, 5th QIB) also served in the Boer war. His son was K.I.A. on 4 Jan 1902 at Onverwacht which may have been motivation for James to return to serve in the Boer war a second time.
When he joined the 2nd QMI in 1900 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 20 Jan 1900, he noted he was married and his address was Chelmer, Brisbane. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 2nd QMI, Bk 1 p. 87, it notes he directed part of his pay to his wife Mrs. Mary Macfarlane, River Bank, Chelmer. He served the full tour with the 2nd QMI and was discharged in Brisbane on 10 May 1901.
He then later joined again and was selected as part of 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 were recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB held by Qld State Archives. In his entry it is noted he directed part of his pay to his wife Mrs. Mary Macfarlane, Sherwood, Brisbane. Newspaper reports note when the 5th QIB returned to Australia he was among a number of men who remained in South Africa for further service. He returned to Australia and was discharged in Brisbane on 15 May 1902.
James Burns Macfarland was born on 14 Aug 1851 at Govan, Lanarkshire, Scotland, a son to Rev. John Macfarland and Janet Jamieson Macfarland (nee Kidston). On his medical report report on his 2nd QMI Boer War Dossier, dated 6 May 1901, his age was given as 46 years 8 months suggesting he lowered his age to serve. He married Mary O'Neill in 1875 at Weymouth, Dorset, England. With 3 young children they emigrated to Queensland in 1883 settling in Brisbane and had a further 2 children.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 461 & 518; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier 1st service; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 2nd QMI, Bk 1 p. 87, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 50; Ancestry.com- Bio; Find A Grave- son's memorial bio).
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