Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

AWM Boer War Nominal, Murray, p. 461 names him as Private George Edwin Thorburn S.N. 58 wherea, the National Archives Australia Boer War Dossier, Medical Exam and The Queenslander newspaper- 20 Jn 1900, p. 117 name him as Private George Edward Thorburn S.N. 58.

Note- his name has been variously recorded as, George Edwin Thorburn and George Edwin Thornburn by Murray on the AWM Nominal Roll, and George Edward Thorburn by newspapers reporting on the rank and file, and in his Boer War Dossier, of the 2nd QMI. His correct name was George Edwin Thorburn as noted in the Boer War Service Paybooks

George Edwin Thorburn served twice in the South African (Boer) war. First service was as a Private S.N. 58 in the 2nd Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as a Private rising to Corporal S.N. 613 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (1st Draft).

When he joined the 2nd QMI in 1900 he was entered on the original nominal roll for the 2nd Queensland Contingent, held by National Archives, with his N.O.K. recorded as Miss Thorburn, Wesleyan Parsonage, Wollongong, NSW. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 2nd QMI, Bk 1 p. 143, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his elder sister Miss Effie Thorburn, Wesleyan Parsonage, Wollongong, NSW

His Boer War Dossier for his 2nd QMI service notes he was returned to Brisbane arriving 15 May 1901, where he was discharged 17 May 1901. 

He then later joined again with the 1st Draft of the 6th QIB that embarked on 20 Aug 1901, some 4 months after the main 6th QIB had left. The men selected in the 1st Draft in the main consisted of men who had previously served in previous contingents in South Africa, and were being sent as reinforcements for the 5th and 6th QIB contingents already in South Africa.

The men in the draft were not entered on the original nominal roll of the 6th QIB but were recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB (which he was allotted to) held by Qld State Archives. Newspaper reports note when the 5th QIB returned to Australia a number of men remained in South Africa for various reasons including for further service.

Report in The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, notes when the 5th QIB embarked to return to Australia that, S.N. 613, Corporal Geo. Thorburn remained in South Africa for further service. The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 51, notes he was discharged in South Africa on 2 Jul 1902 and that he had previously recieved a gratuity payment as a Private with the 2nd QMI.

George Edwin Thorburn was born in 1873 at Patricks Plains, NSW, a son to William Thorburn and Mary Thorburn. George had nominated his elder sister Effie Thorburn as his N.O.K. when he enlisted. "Effie" Euphemia Ruth Thorburn was well known in religious circles serving with the Methodist Church. She made a point of placing death notices in NSW papers for any of her siblings that predeceased her overseas.

As noted above George was discharged in Jul 1902 in South Africa. It appears he stayed on in South Africa with a death notice placed by his sisters in The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 Nov 1911, noting that their dearly beloved younger brother George Edwin Thorburn passed on 2 Oct 1911 at Durban, Natal, South Africa.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 461 & 518; National Archives Australia- B 5172 Nominal Roll of 2nd Queensland Contingent Queensland Defence Force for service in South Africa, p. 1; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier 1st service; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 2nd QMI, Bk 1 p. 143, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 51; Death Notice- The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 Nov 1911, p. 18).