lfred Ernest Whye was born to Carry Francis Hilt, an Aboriginal woman, and Alfred Whye, a white man, in the late 1870s at Gongolgon, near Brewarrina, NSW. In February 1901, Alfred enlisted in Sydney as Trooper 3067 in the 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles, thus becoming one of the Aboriginal men known to have served in the Boer War. Arriving in Durban in May 1901, Alfred's unit took part in operations in the Eastern Transvaal and Eastern Orange River Colony, which included fighting against the Boer breakthrough at Langverwacht Hill in February 1902. Alfred returned to Sydney on the Aurania in June 1902 and was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal with five campaign clasps: Cape Colony, Transvaal, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902. His discharge papers rated his wartime conduct and character as "exemplary". Returning to life as an Aboriginal man in Gongolgon did not appeal to Alfred, who had experienced adventure and travel in the army. Besides, there was little available employment on any of the drought-stricken outback stations. After spending a year in Sydney without regular work, Alfred determined in 1903 to go on a working holiday to New Zealand before adventuring on to Canada. After six months' work in Waiuku, another Boer War veteran convinced him that he should settle in New Zealand. Taking this advice, Alfred explored the North Island before making his home in Otahuhu, South Auckland. He found employment with the railway signals department, a job he kept until he retired in 1940. In June 1904, Alfred married Mabel Anne Plumley. He and Mabel reared a happy family of five children, all of whom had professional careers and raised families. During the First World War, Alfred's name was placed on the New Zealand Army Reserve List for 1916-17, but was not called up. Mabel died in 1932, and Alfred married Ethel McCrory in 1935. They decided to become foster parents and cared for many children over the years. His grandchildren fondly recalled him waking early to work in his big vegetable garden. Although Alfred never returned to Australia, he kept up a correspondence with his friend Allan Yeomans in Sydney, who was a former station owner near Brewarrina. Alfred had probably worked for Yeomans before his Boer War service. Yeomans apparently kept Alfred's mother informed that he was doing well. interviewed in 1968, aged in his 90s, Alfred reflected on his Boer War experiences. He recalled that his unit had "chased the Boers around and about. We captured hundreds of them and took all their big guns. In the end all they were left with were their rifles. They were tough though, by gee. The gamest I ever saw. Some of them were boys, only 12 years old they were. And old men, with their clothes all patched up. But gee could they fight." Alfred Ernest Whye passed away on 28 April 1969 and was buried in Otahuhu Cemetery. PETER BAKKER. Peter Bakker is a history teacher in Melbourne. He has researched Indigenous involvement in the Boer War and other conflicts.
My great great uncle Arthur Bartle, a Darug man was in the Light Horse and went to South Africa where he was killed in action. Shane Smithers head of Program with the Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education. Arthur Bartle is born in 1869 at Eastern Creek, a descendant of Matora Bungaree, he joins the Australian Light Horse Brigade and serves in the Boer war. Arthur is the son of Mary Ann Bartle nee Thomas.
Source:# 1317 Houn Tas., "not black but dark", returned from Boer War with knife as souvenir, unconfirmed as an Aboriginal Boer War serviceman. Billy Miller - Tasmania – (in) Robyn Friend (1992), We who are not here: Aboriginal people of the Huon and Channel Today, Huon Municipal Association and South East Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation, Tasmania.
Two black trackers, E DAVIS & F KING, taken on strength of the Contingent in Sydney c16.1.1902. Roe: not identified in Aust. Commonwealth Horse (NSW) records. Two black trackers applied c1.1902 to be sent to the front to work as trackers. Source:# 1317 confirmed as an Aboriginal Boer War serviceman. Embarkation photo of 1ACH with one tracker identified plus 2 un-named individuals #31 in C Coy NSW and #35 in B Coy. NSW (DAVIS not identified). OzBoer Records
Teddy Collins is a very intelligent Australian black, who has been living here several years. He is reported to be a good black tracker. He is also one of our local crack sprinters. All of the men who have volunteered are general favourites here. Invalided to Australia arriving 16/9/1901.
Invalided to Australia aboard 'Damacus' arriving 1/9/1900. Discharged 8/9/1900 to Lacey's Creek, N.Pine.
Two black trackers, E DAVIS & F KING, taken on strength of the Contingent in Sydney c16.1.1902. Roe: not identified in Aust. Commonwealth Horse (NSW) records. Two black trackers applied c1.1902 to be sent to the front to work as trackers. Source:# 1317 confirmed as an Aboriginal Boer War serviceman. Embarkation photo of 1ACH with one tracker identified plus 2 un-named individuals #31 in C Coy NSW and #35 in B Coy. NSW (DAVIS not identified). OzBoer Records
In the course of a letter to his brother in Kiama, Trooper FL SINCLAIR, one of the NSW Mounted Infantry in South Africa, says - 'We are getting a fearfully rough time of it. You could hardly believe that men could be so badly treated. We are only allowed half rations — three biscuits a day, and to-day one biscuit and a pint of flour between two men. We have been in three engagements, 400 British and 700 Boers being killed in the last one, and were chasing the enemy for days across country till we arrived at Bloemfontein. Several horses were shot, and we have lost about half ours through heavy marching. I had several narrow escapes, my horse being killed the first day I was out. I had three horses in the first week. The last one got knocked up, and I was lost, being missing for two days before I turned up again all right. All the Australians are camped about here. Groceries here are terribly high-priced — sugar 1s a pound, jam 2s a tin, and cigarettes 2s 6d a packet. Two men accidentally shot themselves, and one has since died. It is a terrible sight to see men and horses lying dead all round. While on the march we only got two meals a day. I was in Bloemfontein today, as an escort for some money, and it seemed strange to see women and children walking about, as we had seen nothing but soldiers since leaving Modder River. We are anxious to get the news, as we only hear what is going on around us. It is something grand to see our men stand under heavy fire. It is a curious sensation, but a glorious sight to see bullets and shells lodging all round us. It makes a man very determined to fight when he sees men and horses cut to pieces all round him. It rained something terrible last night, and we have no tents- nothing but the clothes we stand up in. We had to walk about all night to keep ourselves alive - in fact, it is wonderful it does not kill the half of us. This Free State country is a fine place.'
WESTBURY William Charles a labourer aged 37 in 1914 born in Mt. Gambier SA next of kin sister at Port McDonnell Bay SA, 18 months 5/6SAIB, L/Sergt. 50Bn. discharged medically unfit 28.7.1917. 'F'Sqn. 4th Troop SAIB arrived in Albany WA 22.4.1902 from Capetown via Durban per 'Manchester Merchant' for Adelaide.
H. E. Look has been recommended by Sub-inspector Travers for service in South Africa with the Federal Contingent as a tracker. Look, who is a colonial with an extensive bash experience, has spent 18 years of his life in the Barrier district, and is said to be a capable tracker. He has passed the necessary medical examination, and proceeds to Sydney. (in Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 - 1954), Thursday 6 March 1902, page 2)