Robert ORTON

ORTON, Robert

Service Number: 212
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry
Born: 31 May 1856, place not yet discovered
Home Town: South Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Police Officer
Died: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 7 August 1928, aged 72 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Toowong (Brisbane General) Cemetery, Queensland
Plot: 5-66-4
Memorials:
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Boer War Service

1 Oct 1899: Involvement Private, 212, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry
1 Nov 1899: Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 212, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 448 notes 1st QMI embarked 1 Nov 1899 aboard Cornwall arriving Cape Town 13 Dec 1899.
26 Nov 1900: Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 212, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier, notes invalided returned to Australia aboard Delphic arriving Brisbane 19 Nov 1900, discharged 26 Nov 1900.

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Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey

When Robert Orton enlisted in 1899 in the 1st QMI and his details were published with the rank and file in The Brisbane Courier, 18 Nov 1899, he was recorded as Private R. Orton, married, Brooks St, South Brisbane. in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 89, it is noted he directed part of his pay to Mrs. R. Orton (his wife), Brooks St, Brisbane. He was invalided from service returning to Brisbane where he was discharged 28 Nov 1900.

Robert Orton was born about 1856, a son to Reuben Orton and Mary Ann Orton (nee McGuire). He married Ellen Winifred Angela Bourne on 17 Apr 1888 in Queensland and they had 3 children. Newspaper reports on his return home for the war indicate he was serving with the Queensland Police Service prior to enlisting. It appears after his discharge that he rejoined the police in 1901 serving through to 1906.

(spouce- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 451; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier; Qld State Archives- Boer Wr Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 89, Australian Boer War Memorial - Database Bio).

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