Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Contributed by Robert Scott – May 2018

George Henry Wall was one of the Australian veterans who served in the 2nd Boer War. He was born at Currajong-Bushman’s in 1872, (renamed Parkes in 1873) in Central Western New South Wales. Little is known of George, his family or background until his Boer War service. Records show that his “next of kin” were located at the township of Young, N.S.W. What we do know of George is that he would have been around 27 or 28 at the time of his enlistment. He would have been single, have a chest measurement of 34 inches or greater, be a good rifle shot and also a good horseman as these were some of the selection criteria for Boer War Volunteers. We have been told, first hand, that George was around six feet tall.

George joined “D” Squadron, 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles as a Trooper and his service number was 1408. Following initial training in very early 1901, “D” Squadron sailed for South Africa on the 15th March 1901 aboard the “SS Marplemoor”. On the 18th April 1901, Trooper Wall and his Squadron disembarked at Port Elizabeth, South Africa under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Frederick Cox who had already served in the Boer conflict, as had all the officers of “D” Squadron.

From the 3rd May 1901 until the 28th April 1902, George and his Squadron were attached to British Colonel Remington’s column which served in the Eastern Transvaal and the Eastern Orange Free State as this was where the main military action was taking place at that time. The tactics had, by now, changed primarily to that of Guerrilla Warfare. Both the 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles and the defending Boers were well suited to this form of combat. These Guerrilla manoeuvres included many “Drives” (military sweeps) with the principle engagements being:
• The “Harrismith Drive” which took place in the early part of 1901 and resulted in the capture of 251 prisoners, 26,000 cattle and 2,000 horses;
• Participation in the Boer Breakout at “Langverwacht” which occurred in February 1902.

On the 4th May 1902, Trooper Wall and “D” Squadron, 3rd New South Wales Rifles, again under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Cox embarked at Cape Town for Australia aboard “RMS Aurania”. The Squadron reached Sydney on the 3rd June 1902, after stopping at Albany, Adelaide and Melbourne.

Following his discharge from the 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles, George once again faded into obscurity. The N.S.W. and Victorian Electoral Roles show that he resided at:
• 1930 – Labourer at Howlong – N.S.W.
• 1936 – Miner at Wooragee – Victoria.
The Admission Register of the Ovens Benevolent Asylum in Beechworth record that George was an impatient there from the 6th April to the 5th November 1936. It could be assumed that on his discharge from that Institution he then settled in the Wooragee Valley. This picturesque valley is situated to the east and below the Goldfields Town of Beechworth in North-East Victoria. It was first settled in the 1840’s, primarily for agricultural and pastoral pursuits, along with some tin and gold mining exploitation. It would appear that George lived in the Wooragee Valley as a miner from December 1936 until his death in mid-1949. Here he lived alone in a canvas tent on the Fanning property which is still owned by the family today.

On the 25th July 1949, Trooper George Wall was again admitted to the Ovens Benevolent Asylum in Beechworth where he died the following day. The cause of his death was recorded as “old age”. He was buried in the Beechworth Cemetery on the 29th July 1949, aged 77 years in an unmarked grave which is located in Roman Catholic Section A – Plot 124. Tragically, George is buried with two former patients from Mayday Hills Mental Hospital. This signifies that he was likely to have been buried as a pauper. The only attendees on the day of his funeral were:

• Father Ryan – the Roman Catholic Priest,
• a Beechworth R.S.L. Sub-branch Bugler;
• the grave digger & his assistant, and;
• the Wooragee property owner, Tom Fanning and his wife Margaret, along with their young children.

The Beechworth Cemetery Trust, in conjunction with the Beechworth R.S.L. sub-branch arranged the funding and erection of a headstone in memory of Trooper Wall, recognising his service to his country. This culminated with a headstone unveiling and official R.S.L. Memorial Service which was held on the 31st May 2017 – (National Boer War Day) - exactly 115 years to the day of the ending of the 2nd Boer War.

Medals.

Queens South Africa Medal with five Clasps
• South Africa 1902
• south Africa 1901
• Transvaal
• Orange Free State
• Cape Colony