MATHIAS, Harold Rolleston
| Service Number: | 357 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand, 1864 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Christ's College, Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Occupation: | Sheep Farmer |
| Died: | Lawrence, Otago, New Zealand, 8 April 1954, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 357, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 357, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 488 notes 5th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 6 Mar 1901 aboard Templemore arriving Port Elizabeth 1 Apr 1901. | |
| 6 Dec 1901: | Wounded Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 357, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 501, notes slightly wounded at Familie Hoek 6 Dec 1901. | |
| 5 May 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 357, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 491 notes 5th QIB embarked at Cape Town 27 Mar 1902 aboard St Andrew returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 30 Apr 1902, disbanded 5 May 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
When Harold Rolleston Mathias enlisted in 1901 in the 5th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 16 Mar 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as his mother, Mrs. Mathias, Merivale, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Harold Rolleston Mathias was born 1864 at Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand, a son to Octavius Mathias and Harriett Mathias (nee Bowron). He married Ella Laura Ann Robinson in 1911 in New Zealand and they had 2 children. They were sheep farmers at Lawrence, Otago, New Zealand and he passed there in his 90th year in 1954.
An obituary was published in the Press newspaper, Canterbury, New Zealand which is transcribed below.
Obituary- Mr. H. R. Mathias- Press, Volume XC, Issue 27323, 13 April 1954, Page 12.
Mr. Harold Rolleston Mathias, whose death occurred at his home at Tuapeka Flat, Lawrence, recently, was a prominent Canterbury cricketer and Rugby player in the 1880's.
A son of the Ven. Archdeacon Octavius Mathias of Merivale, Mr. Mathias was educated at Christ's College from 1875 to 1881. He was a prefect and a member of the first eleven and first fifteen.
On leaving Christ's College Mr. Mathias joined Christchurch Rugby Football Club, for which he played in senior club matches in 1882, and represented Canterbury against Auckland in 1883. He was one of the oldest surviving senior players of the club.
As a member of Canterbury cricket teams Mr. Mathias played against Tasmania 1884, Otago in 1887, and England and Australia in 1888. He went to the South African war and later became a sheepfarmer near Lawrence.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 501; Obituary- Press, Volume XC, Issue 27323, 13 April 1954, Page 12).
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