"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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41 Trooper John Theodore Brunning, NSW Citizens' Bushmen
On Monday, 29 January 1900, John Theodore Brunning turned up with his saddle to Randwick Race Track in Sydney and enrolled with the NSW Citizens' Bushmen. After a couple days rigorous testing which involved a medical, a shooting test and a riding test.
John Theodore Brunning after attestation and allotment to "A" Squadron
At the end of the month, on 28 February 1900, the men of the contingent boarded the SS Atlantian from Cowper Wharf where they remained for the next 24 hours. The next day, following Admiralty rules, on 1 March 1900, the ship departed Sydney Heads for South Africa.
41 Trooper John Theodore Brunning
John Theodore Brunning was born 1876 at Queanbeyan, NSW. A stock rider by trade, Brunning enlisted in the NSW Citizens' Bushmen becoming 41 Trooper John Theodore Brunning and allotted to "A" Squadron. Brunning is recorded in Murray, p. 76. Brunning took part in the action at Elands River. Brunning was awarded the Queen's South African Medal with the Cape Colony and 1901 bar.
New South Wales Citizens Bushmans Contingent (NSWCBC), Roll of Honour, Edward Brown Chesher Topic: BW - NSW - NSWCBC
New South Wales Citizens Bushmans Contingent (NSWCBC)
Roll of Honour
Edward Brown Chesher
Edward Brown Chesher's name on the Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial
Edward Brown Chesher
Service number: 333
Rank: Lance Corporal [L/Cpl]
Unit: NSW Citizens Bushmen, "C" Squadron
Service: Colonial Military Forces
Conflict: South Africa, 1899-1902
Date of death: 2 September 1900
Place of death: Kaneel Poort
Cause of death: Killed
Source: AWM142 Roll of Honour cards, War in South Africa, 1899-1902
Edward Brown Chesher
[Sydney Mail, March 1900]
Edward Brown Chesher
[Town & Country, March 1900]
Edward Brown Chesher
[Town & Country, December 1900]
A brief military biography of Edward Brown Chesher
Regimental number
333
Religion
Church of England
Occupation
Farm Labourer
Address
Eugowra Springs, NSW
Marital status
Single
Date of Birth
3 June 1879
Age at embarkation
21
Next of kin
Father, Donald Chesher (1844 - 13 October 1908), Eugowra Springs, NSW
Other Family
Mother: Isabel Mary neé Anderson (1850 - 13 February 1887)
Siblings: Donald Chesher, born 14 November 1872 at Abercrombie River, Oberon NSW, Reg. Hartley, Certificate No. 11748, (D. 25 May 1910). George Chesher, born 17 June 1874 at Trunkey Creek NSW, Reg. Hartley, Certificate No. 12195, (D. July 1942). Annie Chesher, born 1876 at Eugowra, Reg. Molong, Certificate No. 14827, (D. 25 November 1940). Christina Chesher, born 1877 at Eugowra, Reg. Molong, Certificate No. 15329, (D. 24 April 1919). Edward Brown Chesher, born 3 June 1879 at Eugowra Springs, Reg. Molong, Certificate No. 17420, (D. 2 September 1900). Arthur P Chesher, born 1881 at Eugowra, Reg. Forbes, Certificate No. 15033, (D. 1882). Richard F Chesher, born 1883 at Eugowra, Reg. Forbes, Certificate No. 17129, (D. 1940). John Douglas Chesher, born 1884 at Eugowra, Reg. Forbes, Certificate No. 18829, (D. 1969). William M Chesher, born 1886 at Eugowra, Reg. Forbes, Certificate No. 20351, (D. 1886).
Badly wounded and captured by Boers during ambush at Elands River, 2 September 1900. Boer report of 22 September 1900 that Chesher died of wounds. Place of burial unknown. Memorialised at Petronella, 14 kms north of Pretoria, South Africa
Notification of Chesher's capture.
[Town & Country, September 1900]
Obituary in a local (unknown) newspaper.
Under the African skies, the Petronella Boer War Memorial
[Chesher's name is third from the top although incorrectly listed with the Queensland Imperial Bushmen.]
Acknowledgement: Many thanks are given to Helen Reichenbach who has generously made available photographs, newspaper articles and other information about Edward Brown Chesher for this site.
29 Trooper Frederick William MARKS Topic: BW - NSW - NSWCBC
29 Trooper Frederick William MARKS, NSW Citizens' Bushmen
29 Trooper Frederick William MARKS
Frederick William MARKS was born in 1865 and was a drover by trade giving his address as Bowen, Queensland at the time of enlisting in the NSW Citizens' Bushmen Contingent. Marks was enlisted as 29 Trooper Frederick William MARKS and allotted to "A" Squadron. He was listed in Murray, p. 77. When Marks arrived at Cape Town with the Atlantian, he was discharged from the NSW Citizens' Bushmen Contingent on 1 April 1900. The reason for his early discharge in South Africa is unknown although there were complaints from officers that some men enlisted specifically for the free trip to South Africa. There is no record of his reasons for discharge. Field Court Martial records do not indicate that he was dishonourably discharged. Once Marks reached Cape Town in South Africa and was discharged, all available records about him appear to cease.
26 Trooper Fergus Stewart Frater, NSW Citizens' Bushmen
On Monday, 29 January 1900, Fergus Stewart Frater turned up with his saddle to Randwick Race Track in Sydney and enrolled with the NSW Citizens' Bushmen. After a couple days rigorous testing which involved a medical, a shooting test and a riding test.
Fergus Stewart Frater after attestation and allotment to "A" Squadron
At the end of the month, on 28 February 1900, the men of the contingent boarded the SS Atlantian from Cowper Wharf where they remained for the next 24 hours. The next day, following Admiralty rules, on 1 March 1900, the ship departed Sydney Heads for South Africa.
26 Trooper Fergus Stewart Frater.
Fergus Stewart Frater was born in 1876 at Yarraman, NSW. to parents Alexander and Penelope Frater. He was a shearer by employment. In February 1900 he enlisted in the NSW Citizens' Bushmen as 26 Trooper Fergus Stewart Frater, "A" Squadron. Frater is recorded in Murray, p. 76. Frater was awarded the Queen's South African Medal with the 1901 bar. Frater signed up for further service in South Africa with the Canadian Scouts. His term was from 8 October 1901 to 14 April 1902.
After returning to Australia Frater went back to shearing again. In 1912, Frater married Blanche Beaton. The family settled in Narrabri.
NSW Citizens' Bushmen, Roll of Honour, James Edwin Walker Topic: BW - NSW - NSWCBC
NSW Citizens' Bushmen
Roll of Honour
James Edwin Walker
James Edwin Walker's name on the Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial
James Edwin Walker
Service number: 75
Rank: Trooper [Tpr]
Unit: NSW Citizens Bushmen, A Sqn
Service: Colonial Military Forces
Conflict: South Africa, 1899-1902
Date of death: 17 August 1900
Place of death: Elands River
Cause of death: Killed
Source: AWM142 Roll of Honour cards, War in South Africa, 1899-1902
James Edwin Walker
James Edwin Walker was born in 1868 at Yorkshire, England. A drover by trade, Walker enlisted in the NSW Citizens' Bushmen becoming and 75 Trooper James Edwin Walker and allotted to "A" Squadron. Walker is recorded in Murray, p. 78. At the end of the month, on 28 February 1900, the men of the contingent boarded the SS Atlantian from Cowper Wharf where they remained for the next 24 hours. The next day, following Admiralty rules, on 1 March 1900, the ship departed Sydney Heads for South Africa. Walker was wounded in action at Elands River and subsequently died of his wounds on 17 August 1900.
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