Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

It appears Alfred Plowman (Alfred James Plowman) served twice in Queensland Contingents in the South African (Boer) War being invalided for discharge on each occasion. First service was as a Private S.N. 143 in the 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (note NAA Boer War Dossier record on invalided shows his name as S.N. 143 Alfred James Plowman). Second service was as a Private S.N. 281 in the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

Records held on the Anglo Boer War database appear to show he made his way back to South Africa (or was possibly granted discharge from 5th QIB as newspaper report indicates he did not sail with others invalided for Australia) and joined the South African Imperial Light Horse in Durban on 16 Nov 1901, discharged 9 Jun 1902 at Pietermaritzburg.

(sources- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 482 & 499; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier; AngloBoerWar.com database South African Imperial Light Horse).

Postscript to earlier Biography entry

Since compiling the earlier biography the Boer War Service Paybooks for Queensland Contingents held by the Queensland State Archives have been accessed. Murray in the nominal roll had recorded an Alfred Plowman S.N. 143 as serving with the 4th Qld Imperial Bushmen and an Alfred James Plowman S.N. 281 as serving with the 5th Qld Imperial Bushmen. The service paybooks entries for each have both recorded as Alfred James Plowman, and the entry for the 4th QIB includes a note in red on the far right of the page noting he had returned to South Africa with the 5th Contingent.

When Alfred James Plowman first enlisted in 1900 in the 4th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 19 May 1900, he noted his N.O.K. as Mrs. Plowman, Enmore, Sydney. When he enlisted again in 1901 in the 5th QIB and his details were published in The Queenslander, 16 Mar 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as his sister Mrs. C. H. D. Hunter, Stanmore, NSW.

It appears he returned to South Africa after his war service and was working as an accountant in Durban when he married Harriet Emily Heal (commonly known as Emily Heal), who travelled there from NSW, on 6 Mar 1903 at St Paul’s (as reported in Queensland Figaro, 12 mar 1903, p. 7). They made a number of trips back to Brisbane as it appears Emily’s health was affected by the South African climate. After arriving on 6 Jan 1904 in Brisbane it was reported in newspapers she may not return to South Africa with Alfred, due to her health (Brisbane Courier, 9 Jan 1904, p. 10).

They had returned to Australia again in 1905 and were residing in Victoria when Emily bough court action against Alfred for apparently pawning her jewellery without he consent. Newspaper reports note he had been working as a warehouseman in South Africa when they returned to Australia looking to find work without success (Geelong Advertiser, 27 Jul 1905, p. 1). Other reports on the matter indicate that he was 35 years old at the time this occurred. Emily’s health does not appear to have fully recovered from her time in South Africa with her passing away suddenly on 8 May 1906 at Urana, NSW, while with her father and sister (Queensland Figaro, 17 May 1906, p. 11). No further details could be located for Alfred.