"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess
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Wednesday, 6 November 2002
212 Trooper James Edward Bodkin, NSW Citizens' Bushmen Topic: BW - NSW - NSWCBC
212 Trooper James Edward Bodkin, NSW Citizens' Bushmen
212 Trooper James Edward Bodkin
James Edward Bodkin was born at Binnaway, a small settlement near Yass in NSW, 1875, the son of George and Mary Bodkin. He enlisted with the NSW Citizens' Bushmen as 212 Trooper James Edward Bodkin. He embarked from Sydney on 28 February 1900 and sailed to South Africa the next day. After seeing out his allotted service in South Africa, Bodkin returned to Australia. He was awarded the Queen's South African Medal with the 1901 bar. Bodkin lived a quiet life, moving to Cobar where he died in 1943.
The mutual affection that exists between a bushman and his dog is well known. Recognising this, the Animals' Protection Society decided to present to the Bushmen going to South Africa a contingent dog. On the advice of the President of the Kennel Club, a useful and companionable canine belonging to Mr. Chiplin, of Wentworth Falls, was selected. Last week in the Chief Justice Chambers the ceremony of christening the dog was performed by the Lieutenant Governor. Sir Frederick Darley said: "He is a very beautiful dog and I wish him a hearty return from South Africa I name him Bushie." Our picture represents "Bushie" and his custodian, Mr. A. Battye. Mr. F. Montague Bothery, Secretary of the Animal's' Protection Society, has been looking after the dog in Sydney. He informs us that it was intended to present to Her Majesty the Queen a photograph enlarged from that from which our illustration was taken. Photo by Grouzelle, 308 George Street, Sydney.
Arthur Frederick Battye [b. 1845; d. 1924] married Susan Goodwin [b. 1847; d. 1914] at Forbes, 1869. They had 3 children.
Arthur EM Battye: b. 1869 Charles Herbert Battye: b. 1871 Leslie Norman Battye: b. 1875
He enlisted in the New South Wales Citizens' Bushmen January 1900 in the embarked from Sydney on the SS Atlantian, 1 March 1900. For the near utopian 2/3d per day he was given the task to keeping "Bushie" in good condition. After service in South Africa he was invalided back to Australia on 26 October 1900.
"Bushie" ended up with the King enjoying a rich retirement as a pet of the Royal Kennels. He also made it on a few post cards.
Thomas Neville Gunter served twice in South Africa. Thomas Neville Gunter was born in 1874 and named Robert Thomas Gunter. His place of birth is recorded as being in the Scone District of NSW. The reasons for the name change are unknown. His birth is registered twice, once as Robert Thomas Gunter and also as Robert Thomas Cundy (his mother’s maiden name was Mary Jane Cundy). There are doubts as to the paternity of Gunter. His mother, who had married Henry James Gunter in 1865 later married Samuel Dunbar and lived in the Tamworth region.
When young Robert Thomas enlisted in the NSW Citizen's Bushmans Contingent, he used the name Thomas Neville Gunter. His next-of-kin was given as Mrs S Dunbar at Glenrock, a hamlet near Nundle, NSW, she being his mother, Mrs Samuel Dunbar.
Robert Thomas (alias Thomas Neville) had a brother, John Cornelius Gunter who also served in the Boer War with the NSWIB. John Cornelius was the son of Henry James and Mary Jane Gunter. born at Scone in 1875. He was a shearer by trade and later lived near Nundle.
Gunter enlisted in the New South Wales Citizens Bushmen's Contingent in 1900. He was allotted to "D" Squadron and allocated the regimental number of "427", and served as 427 Trooper Thomas Neville Gunter.
After his first tour, Gunter re-enlisted in the 1st Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse (New South Wales).
The departure of the 1st Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse (New South Wales) at Woolloomooloo Wharf, 19 February 1902.
Sydney Mail, 1 March 1902, p. 537.
Gunter was awarded the Queen's South African Medal with two bars, South Africa 1901 and 1902.
After the war, Gunter went to New Zealand where it looks like he might have worked on the road from Wellington to Masterton. In 1910 Gunter married Kate Rubina Wiltshire at Hastings, north of Wellington in New Zealand. Gunter moved to Wellington sometime in 1915. Here, the Gunters raised their six children. Gunter died at Wellington in 1944.
Acknowledgement: Many thanks to Brian Gunter for providing the additional information about his grandfather and the permission to publish that information on the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre blog.
535 Pte George William Bolding, 3rd Bushmen Contingent, Victoria Topic: BW Gen - Soldiers
535 Pte George William Bolding, 3rd Bushmen Contingent, Victoria.
535 Pte George William Bolding
A farmer from Bairnsdale, 535 Pte George William Bolding enlisted with the 3rd Bushmen Contingent, Victoria. After some action at Elands River, he was struck down with Enteric Fever and died at Pretoria, 24 October 1900. Bolding's name was entered on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial.
535 Pte George William Bolding's Grave, Church Street Cemetery, Pretoria [Photograph by Peter Boyd]
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