Not many people are aware that the Gunnedah region was a significant recruiting centre for the Boer War.
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With a starting point of 29 people on the Boer War Memorial in Kitchener Park, Gunnedah’s Geordie Clark and Grace Turner have now identified 66 persons ‘of interest’.
These include people who were born in the area or who came to the region after the end of the war.
With so many new Boer War identities found, Geordie and Grace have approached Gunnedah Shire Council with the idea of having the additional names memorialised on the Boer War Memorial in Kitchener Park.
Grace said that the council is keen to assist but that the time limit for inclusion is the end of May.
“This means it is the last chance for people to let either Geordie or myself know if they have any additional names for us to consider before time runs out,” Grace said.
“We are still collecting information and have queries and information coming to us from all over the world.”
Geordie Clark said he had been contacted only recently by a descendent of Major Arnold – one of the 29 listed on the Boer War Memorial.
“She supplied new information, photos and details about his medals – so it is very exciting,” he said.
“While we are still collecting information for our upcoming book, the time is running out for inclusions on the Boer War Memorial – so anyone who has anything else to add please contact either myself or Grace immediately.”
List of possible inclusions:
A: Cpl Charles Andrews, Tpr Ernest Albert Appleby, Tpr John Henry Appleby, Sgt-Maj Herbert Arnold, Cpl Henry Charles Avern.
B: Maj Arthur Brander Baker, Tpr Frederick Frank Bashford, Tpr Herbert Henry Berriman, Tpr John Arthur Berriman, Tpr William Thomas Berriman*, Sgt John Alfred Berry, Tpr Isaac Bewley*, Thomas William Blackler, Cpl David Henry Trayer Booth, Tpr James Herbert Bowen, Tpr Henry Joseph Brosi, Tpr Frederick Charles Brown.
C: Tpr John Cobb, John Thomas Comyns-Moore, Tpr George Courtney, James Joseph Curley.
D: Lieut Arthur Erroll Ernest D’Arcy, Pte Henry Davison, Farrier-Sgt James Denny, Tpr Albert Aloysius Donnelly.
E: Sgt Charles Ellis, Tpr Cyril Poulton Erratt.
F: Cpl Samuel Reginald Fallick, Cpl John Meredith Ferrier, Cpl William Newton Fewkes, L-Cpl George James Firman, Lieut John Roberts Frend.
H: Tpr James Hooper French, Sgt Francis Benjamin Hamilton, Tpr Claude Frederick Henry Russell Heine, Tpr Arthur Albert Hobden, Tpr John Hogan, Sgt Thomas Holland, Tpr Reginald Arthur Hopkins, Tpr Charles Eastaway Hunt, Tpr Arthur Ernest Huxley.
J: Tpr William Charles Jackson*, Tpr Frank Hall Johnston, Tpr William Joseph Johnston, Tpr Alfred Richard Jones, Tpr James Allen Jones.
K: Tpr William Kensell.
M: Tpr David Alexander Martin, Pte Charles Fleming Mackenzie, Tpr James McCormack, Tpr Mortimer Patrick McMahon.
N: Sgt Vincent Newell, Sgt Archibald Frederick Nowland.
O: Tpr William O’Malley.
P: Tpr Richard Hawke Peard, Cpl William Ernest Peard, Tpr Robert Chaffey Pole.
R: Tpr John Elwood Rowe*, Tpr Frederick Winter Russell*.
S: Tpr William Speight, Tpr Albert George Sterritt, Tpr Ewen Gore Stewart, Tpr Peter Stewart, Tpr William Henry Stratton.
V: Pte Edward Vinall.
W: L-Sgt William Wallace.
* denotes died on service in South Africa.
• Anyone who would like to contribute is asked to email Grace at Grace@writerightmedia.com.au or Geordie at Geordie@writerightmedia.com.au or phone 0427 425 564.