SCHIPKIE, John Charles Frederick
| Service Numbers: | 1937, 169 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 April 1900, Noted in Boer War Dossier. |
| Last Rank: | Quartermaster Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse |
| Born: | Mackay, Queensland, Australia, 3 June 1876 |
| Home Town: | Mackay, Mackay, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Stockman |
| Died: | 13 July 1963, aged 87 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 169, Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Sergeant, 1937, 3rd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse | |
| 24 Apr 1900: | Enlisted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 169, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Noted in Boer War Dossier. | |
| 24 Sep 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 169, 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier notes invalided at Cape Town due to acute bronchitis returned to Australia aboard Harlech Castle arriving Brisbane 16 Sep 1901, discharged 24 Sep 1901. | |
| 2 Feb 1902: | Enlisted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Farrier Sergeant, 1937, 3rd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse | |
| 25 Mar 1902: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Farrier Sergeant, 1937, 3rd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 527 notes the unit embarked from Brisbane 25 Mar 1902 aboard Englishman arriving Durban 10 May 1902. | |
| 22 May 1902: | Promoted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Quartermaster Sergeant, 3rd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse, AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 527 notes promoted to Farrier Quartermaster-Sergeant 22 May 1902. | |
| 19 Aug 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Quartermaster Sergeant, 1937, 3rd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 527 notes the unit embarked at Durban 11 Jul 1902 returning to Australia aboard Drayton Grange arriving Brisbane 13 Aug 1902, disbanded 19 Aug 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
John Charles Frederick Schipkie served twice in the South African (Boer) War, first as a Private S.N. 169 in the 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, and second Farrier-Sergeant (promoted to Farrier Quartermaster-Sergeant) S.N. 1937 in the 3rd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse (source AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 482 and 527).
Boer War Dossier notes that in 1952 he approached the Qld branch of The Returned Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen's Imperial League of Australia with a medal in his possession which he claimed was a Victoria Cross (No. 64) that he was awarded in the field during his second service he was wounded while saving a English officer.The R.S.S.A.I.L.A sought confirmation from AIF Base Records. Federal parliamentarian C. W. Davidson who had sighted the medal and described as a rather crude bronze Maltese Cross also sought confirmation.
During the investigations it appears Schipkie admitted that the name he enlisted under was not his birth name which in fact was Anton Charles Weiske ( a search of Qld historic Births, Deaths & Marriages records indicates his name was actually Antonio Charles Weiske and that in fact his father and a older brother were both named John Charles Frederick Weiske). Notes on the dossier indicate the 3rd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse in which he served the second time did not see any action in South Africa. After enquiries of London Army Records advised all enquirers that there was no record of the awarding of a V.C. to either Schipkie or Weiske (source National Archives Australia-combined Boer War Dossier).
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