Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Richard Spencer Micklethwaite was born in Yorkshire, England. He emigrated to Australia and was living in Winton, Queensland when he first enlisted for the South African (Boer) War.

He would serve twice in the Boer War, first as a Private S.N. 343 in the 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, second as a Private S.N. 689 in the 2nd Draft of the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. It is unclear whether he was discharged from the 6th in South Africa, or returned there after discharge to take up employment as an Engineer in Pretoria. He applied for, and was granted approval, for repatriation from Pretoria to Melbourne in 1907.

(sources- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 486 & 519; National Archives Australia- Boer War Veteran Repatriation File).

Note- While his surname has been recorded as Micklethwaite in the AWM Nomial Roll compiled by Murray, other documents pertaining to his war service such as the Boer War Service Paybooks, Boer War Dossier, and newspaper articles and his NSW death registration, record his surname as Micklethwait.

Richard Spencer Micklethwaite served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First service was as a Private S.N. 343, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. Second service was as a Private S.N. 689, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (2nd Draft).

When he joined the 4th QIB in 1900 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 19 May 1900, he noted his N.O.K. as Mrs. Emma Micklethwait, Ackworth, Pontefract, Yorkshire, England. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 4th QIB, Bk 3 p. 67, it is noted he was invalided from service with the 4th QIB returning to Brisbane on 16 Sep 1901 with official discharge 23 Sep 1901.

Almost immediately he volunteered for the Second Draft of the 6th QIB and left by train on 24 Sep 1901 for Sydney where they embarked again for South Africa on 26 Sep 1901. All but one of the members of the draft had served previously in either the 3rd QMI or 4th QIB contingents in South Africa and were assembled as reinforcements for the 5th and 6th QIB contingents already in South Africa.

Men in the draft were not recorded in the original nominal roll for the 6th QIB. He is however, recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB (to which he was allotted), Bk 4 p. 130. The paybooks do not give a date or place of discharge, however, it appears he remained in South Africa to live and work.

His Boer War Dossier held by National Archives is made up of an application by him seeking government assistance for repatriation back to Australia in 1907. His application notes he was single, working as an engineer (possibly for the railways), residing at Rissik Siding (now a railway station) in Pretoria. The application was approved and he was returned to Melbourne in 1907.

Richard Spencer Micklethwait was born in 1865 at Ackworth, Yorkshire, England, a son to Edward Micklethwait and Emma Micklethwait (nee Spencer). He married Mary Ann Meek in 1920 at Petersham, Sydney, and they were living at Yowie Bay when he passed in 1944.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 486 & 519; National Archives Australia- Boer War Veteran Repatriation File; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 4th QIB, Bk 3 p. 67, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 130).