Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Birth names: Sidney Collin McFarlane

Mother: Miriam McFarlane (nee Smith) 

Father: David Muir McFarlane 

Educated at Hahndorf and later worked at Port Lincoln South Australia before relocating to Western Australia

Slightly wounded at Vet River 05/05/1900 when serving with  the 2nd Western Australian Contingent as a Trooper.

Remained in South Africa and during the Zulu uprising served with the Johannesburg Mounted Rifles

Died of wounds 10 June 1906 after being wounded in action fighting Zulu rebels.

Buried at Eshowe, South Africa

The following information was provided courtesy Mr John Sweetman 24 May 2016 

S.C. MacFarlane DSO.

As a Lieutenant in the 6th South Australian Imperial Bushmen's Contingent, he was promoted to Captain and awarded the DSO, along with Captain J. Watt, of the 5th Contingent " for conspicuous gallantry and fearless leading in night attack on Smut's laager at Grootvlei on 1 August 1901.

Captain MacFarlane was reported killed in action on 10 June 1906 whilst serving with the Transvaal Mounted Rifles during the 1906 Zulu Rebellion.

Mentioned in Lord Kitchener's Despatch of 8 August 1901 : London Gazette 15 November 1901, page 7378.

Awarded the DSO : London Gazette 31 October 1902, page 6909.

Awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal, with 4 clasps.

In the citation for Captain Watt's DSO, the scene of the action is given as Grootvalliers Farm.

Reference : Australian and New Zealand Honours and Awards of the Boer War, 1899 - 1902, by Ronald J. Austin, 2010, page 37 and 56.

THE LATE CAPTAIN MACFARLANE.
ONE OF AUSTRALIA' S BEST.
Captain Sydney Colin MacFarlane was the son of D. M. MacFarlane, of Malvern, South Australia, a farmer and merchant trading at Port Lincoln. Deceased came to South Africa in December, 1899, as a trooper in the 2nd West Australian, with which he served until March, 1901. He was afterwards  given a commission and placed in command of the South Australian Bushmen, and continued with them until November I8 of the same year. He also  served with the 6th South Australian contingent until 1902., when he was transferred as adjutant to the Australian Conmmonwealth Forces, with which  he served until the end of the war. As adjutant he served with De Lisle in the chase after De Wet. Captain MacFarlane saw considerable fighting during  the war, and had only one spell of rest during the period.
Early in the war's stages he was wounded in the ankle, and was in valided to England for special treatment. This was successful, and he returned to  South Africa via Australia.  He took part in the operations in the Transvaal in May and June, 1900, including the actions near Johannesburg and at  Diamond Hill, and he was also engaged in the opelrations east of Pretoria. He was also present at the action at Belfast on August 27-28, 1900. In the  latter stages of the war he was awarded D.S.O.
In the final operations he served under Brigadier-General Williams' force as adjutant of the Commonwealth Forces, and did meritorious work between  Klerksdorp and Vryburg. At the close of hostilities he brought the Australian troops in the Klerksdorp district to Germiston, and supervised their disbandment.
Captain MacFarlane was awarded the Queen's medal with four clasps and the King's medal with two clasps. When peace was proclaimed he came to Johannesburg, afterwards taking a farm with his brother near Vredefort. In March, 1903, he joined the J.M.R. He volunteered for service in Zululand,  and was selected to command the J.M.R.. squadron. He was a zealous and courageous officer, well respected by all ranks, and his loss will be deeply  felt. Great sympathy will be felt for deceased's parents, who visited their son in this country 18 months ago. Captain MacFarlane was unmarried.