Private James Wells

Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: James Williams Wells

Ancestor's date of birth: 08/08/1878

Ancestor's date of death: Detail not provided

Cause of Death: Detail not provided

Service Number: 270

Colony or State of enlistment: QLD, Place of Enlistment: Detail not provided

Unit: 3^rd Queensland Mounted Infanry

Rank attained in Boer War: PTE, Date Effective: 1900

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): No evidence of post war service.

Murray Page: 472

Contingent: Third Queensland

Ship: Duke of Portland, Date of Sailing: 01/03/1900

Memorial details: Detail not provided

Awards and Decorations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Orange Free State, Transvaal, Pretoria and Rhodesia clasps.

Personal Characteristics: Detail not provided

Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided

Details of service in war: 'He always told me he first left for South Africa from Sydney in the 1^st Queensland Mounted Infantry in October 1899. He contracted Double Pneumonia and was sent back to Sydney and when he was well enough he set off again in March the following year. He talked of places not happenings, Cape Town, Transvaal, Rhodesia, Orange Free State, Pretoria and Mafeking.'

April 1900 - April 1901 in Rhodesia, west Transvaal including relief of Mafeking (16-17 May 1900), defeat at Koster River (22 July 1900) and defence of Elands River Post (4-16 August 1900), and under Plumer in northern Transvaal including battle of Rhenoster Kop (29 November 1900), and advance on Pietersburg.

The Contingent departed for home on the 9 May 1901 on the transport Morayshire, landing in Sydney on the 7 June 1901 and then by rail to Brisbane.

Service and life after the Boer War: Was an Armourer during WWII. Employed at USA Depot in Brisbane as a storeman, and had the last shot at Enoggera, and the first at Belmont Rifle Range.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Laurel Carruthers, Alexandera Headlands QLD

Relationship to Ancestor: Daughter

Return to Descendant Database

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