Robert Samuel THOMPSON

THOMPSON, Robert Samuel

Service Number: 36
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry
Born: Not yet discovered
Home Town: Elbow Valley, Southern Downs, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Soldier
Memorials: Allora Boer War Memorial
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Boer War Service

1 Oct 1899: Involvement Private, 36, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry
1 Nov 1900: Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 36, 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.
12 Dec 1900: Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 36, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 112, notes he requested his discharge in South Africa on 12 Dec 1900.

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Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey

When Robert Samuel Thompson 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. S. Thompson, single, Elbow Valley, via Warwick. The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 112, notes that like a number of the men he was seconded to the South African Police on 19 Jun 1900.

It appears he was still serving with the police when the contingent were about to embark for return to Australia. The paybooks note that he requested his discharge in South Africa on 12 Dec 1900. It is assumed this was granted as the paybooks contain no further details of return to Australia, or discharge. Further, he does not appear in the list of names of the contingent returning to Australia aboard the Orient published by newspapers in Jan 1901.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominl Roll, Murray p. 452; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 112).

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