Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

His funeral notice in The Courier Mail, 18 Dec 1945, noted he had served in both the South African (Boer) War and WW1.

His full name was Dante Cicero Vincent Vanza. His records of service are complicated through his interplay in the use of his various given names when he enlisted. The following services appear on military records-

1901- Vincent Vanza Private S.N. 4, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer War. He is the only Vanza on the AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 493. In the original 5th QIB nominal roll (NAA- B 5172) he recorded his N.O.K. as his father Joseph Vanza, Allora. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 1 p. 32, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Mrs. C. Vanza, Palmerin St, Warwick.

21/08/1914- Vincent Vanza Private S.N. 221, 2nd Light Horse Regiment AIF, WW1. Records indicate he was discharged on 14/10/1914 less than 2 months after enlisting. His attestation noted he was; born at Warwick; single and 33 years 6 months of age; a horsebreaker; and N.O.K. was his sister Mabel Louisa Vanza, Warwick. No mention of South African service.

3/08/1915- Cisero Vanza Private S.N. 1230, 11th Light Horse Regiment AIF, WW1. His attestation noted he was; born at Warwick; single and 34 years 5 months of age, a horsebreaker; N.O.K. was his sister Mabel Vanza, Warwick; and he previously served 15 months in South Africa.

BDM Qld birth and death registers do not contain separate entries for either Vincent or Cisero Vanza.

Appearing on p. 17 of the WW1 service records held by NAA for Cisero Vanza is a letter dated 27/12/1945 from the South African Soldiers' Association stating that, Vincent Vanza, late S.N. 4, 5th Qld Imperial Bushmen, had died suddenly on 15/12/1945. It noted he also served in WW1 and as there was property to distribute, they were enquiring whether he had a will made on WW1 enlistment and whether a N.O.K. was given. If so they requested if certified copies could be provided to Mabel Louisa Vanza c/- their office. It noted that Vincent may have enlisted under an assumed name but had been in receipt of a service pension.

Army records responded to the above by letter dated 15/01/1946 noting there was no record for a Vincent Vanza and instead provided the details for Cisero Vanza and that no will was held. This suggests that all of the above relate to the same person, Dante Cicero Vincent Vanza.

Dante Cicero Vincent Vanza was born on 19 Feb 1881 at Warwick, Qld, a son to Joseph Anthony Alexander Vanza and Caroline Wilhelmina Vanza (nee Burre). He married Louisa Ann Flack on 16 Aug 1921 in Queensland.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 493; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 1 p. 32; National Archives Australia- WW1 service records; Funeral notice- The Courier Mail, 18 dec 1945).