Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

AWM Boer Wall Nominal Roll, Murray p. 460 remarks that Harry Mantel also served in the Egyptian Campaign, 1882-4.

Harry Mantel served twice in the South African (Boer) war and was recorded incorrectly on his second service as Harry Mantle. This is clarified further in the body of the biography below. First service was as a Private rising to Sergeant S.N. 56 in the 2nd Queelsland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as a Private rising to Regimental Sergeant Major S.N. 607 in the 1st Draft of the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

When he joined the 2nd QMI in 1900 he was recorded on the original nominal roll for the 2nd Queensland Contingent, held by National Archives, under the name Harry Mantel with his address c/- T. Woolstein (likely Wollstein), Stock Exchange, Brisbane.

The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 2nd QMI, Bk 1 p. 88, notes he joined the South African Police on 1 May 1900 before rejoining the contingent on 1 Jun 1900. He served the full tour with the 2nd QMI and was discharged in Brisbane on 17 May 1901.

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 held by Qld State Archives. In his entry, under the name Harry Mantle, it is noted he rose through the ranks (Priv.; Sgt. Maj.; and Reg. Sgt. Maj.) serving with the 5th QIB. Newspaper reports note when the 5th QIB returned to Australia a number of men remained in South Africa for various reasons including being discharged for employment.

Report in The Queenslander, 24 May 1902, notes when the 5th QIB embarked to return to Australia that, S.N. 607, R. S. Major Harry Mantel remained in South Africa having been discharged there for employment. This clarifies that both services in the 2nd QMI and 6th QIB were undertaken by the same person, Harry Mantel.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 460 & 518; National Archives Australia- B 5172 Nominal Roll of 2nd Queensland Contingent Queensland Defence Force for service in South Africa, p. 1; National Archives Australia- Boer War Service Dossier 1st service; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 2nd QMI, Bk 1 p. 88 and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 45; Fifth Contingent: Discharged in Sth. Africa For Employment - The Queenslander, 24 May 1902, p. 1118).