Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Private Anthony Waltisbuhl appears to have served twice in the South African (Boer) War, first as a Private S.N. 105 in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infanrty and second as a Private S.N. 632 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen and remained in South Africa for further service when the the Queensland Imperial Bushmen returned to Australia. He was a member of Doyle's Scouts mentioned in despatches by Lord Kitchener, 30 July 1902, London. (source Oz-Boer Database Project).

Note- Anthony (Anton) Waltisbuhl and his family were living in Sydney when around 1919-20 they adopted the family name of Walters. The background information to this is presented later in this bio.

Anthony Waltisbuhl served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First service was as a Private S.N. 105, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as a Private S.N. 632, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (1st Draft).

When he joined the 3rd QMI in 1900 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 3 Mar 1900, it was noted he was married and living at Lovenberry St, Red Hill, Brisbane. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 3rd QMI, Bk 4 p. 31, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his wife Rose Waltisbuhl, Rosenberry St, Red Hill. He served the full tour of the 3rd QMI and was discharged at Brisbane on 20 Jun 1901.

He then later joined again with the 6th QIB and was selected as part of the 1st Draft of the 6th 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. He was, however, recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB (to which he was allotted), Bk 4 p. 70, where it is noted he directed part of his pay to his sister-in-law Lavinia Waltisbuhl, Swan Hill, Brisbane. 

Newspaper report in The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, notes when the 5th QIB returned to Australia, 632, Private Anthony Waltisbuhl, remained in South Africa for further service. It appears he was promoted to Corporal and joined Doyles Australian Scouts, a service for which he was mentioned in dispatches. He was also selected in the Coronation Contingent to attend the ceremonies for the coronation of King Edward VII in England. He later returned to Australia aboard Runic and was discharged on 10 Nov 1902.

Anthony (Anton) Waltisbuhl was born on 27 Jun 1876 in Queensland, a son to Anton Waltisbuhl and Christina Waltisbuhl (nee Strabble). His father and mother were natives of Switzerland and appears were married there before emigrating to Queensland in 1871. The lanuage and pronunciation is possibly behind Anthony's birth being recorded on BDM Qld birth register as Anton Wallisbahl. Anthony Waltisbuhl married Rose Madeline McCrystal on 12 Jan 1897 in Queensland and they had 3 sons in Queensland between 1897 and 1907.

Sometime between 1907 and 1912 Anthony relocated the family to Sydney where he plied his trade as a bootmaker. In Nov 1912 while living at Moore Park the family suffered Ptomaine poisoning after eating tinned apples, as reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, 15 Nov 1912. As a result their second son, 5 year old Anthony Frederick Waltisbuhl, passed away. 

It was difficult to find more information until a biography relating to his eldest child, son Patrick Joseph (Joe) Walters, né Waltisbuhl (1897-1958) was found on the Biographical Register of the Australian Labour Movement, 1788-1985 undertaken by Australian National University, cited as 'Walters, Patrick Joseph (Joe) (1897–1958)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/walters-patrick-joseph-joe-35072/text44228, accessed 15 July 2025.

His son Patrick had followed him into the bootmaker trade and served on the executive of the union that represented the trade, including president in 1935. He became a member of the Australian Labor Party and was an alderman and later mayor of Newtown Council. His invlovement in the union and ALP leading to the biography.

The biography notes Anthony's service in the 3rd Queensland contingent in the Boer war, and he and his family were in Sydney by 1912 when the Ptomaine poisoning occurred. It also noted that they adopted the family name of Walters about 1919-20. No reason was given, it may have been as simple as anglicising the name for easier use. Anthony and Rose had 3 further children in NSW, all daughters, the first 2 born 1913 and 1917 were registered under Waltisbuhl, and the last born 1924 was registered under Walters. Both the deaths of Anthony (1960) and his wife Rose (1956) were registered and interred under the name Walters.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 469 & 518; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 3rd QMI, Bk 4 p. 31, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 70; 'Walters, Patrick Joseph (Joe) (1897–1958)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/walters-patrick-joseph-joe-35072/text44228, accessed 15 July 2025).