Lieutenant Jarlath Duffy

Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: Jarlath Stephen Duffy
Ancestor's date of birth: 31/10/1870
Ancestor's date of death: Detail not provided
Cause of Death: Detail not provided
Service Number: Officer - no number
Colony or State of enlistment: WA, Place of Enlistment: Detail not provided
Unit: 2^nd WA Mounted Infantry
Rank attained in Boer War: LT, Date Effective: 25/03/1901
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): CAPT, Date Effective: 18/3/1915
Murray Page: 405
Contingent: Second Western Australian
Ship: Surrey, Date of Sailing: 02/02/1900
Memorial details: Perth Boer War Memorial.
Decorations: Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps. 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Personal Characteristics: Detail not provided
Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided
Details of service in war: March 1900 - March 1901 in north-west Cape Colony, Free State, and east Transvaal. On the 7 November 1900 most of the unit left Cape Town in the transport Wooloomooloo, and arrived on the 8 December at Fermantle. Disbanded on the 7 March 1901.
Note:- Although the bulk of the Company left as stated some remained and were employed in the Cape Colony, assisting to drive out the invaders. At Klipplast,on 5 February 1901 Lt Oliver was sent in command of a small force of twelve of the 7^th Dragoon Guards, twelve Western Australians and three Cape Police, to carry despatches from Colonel Haig to another leader. This little party was suprised by several hundred of the enemy. They kept a steady fire,as occasion served, from 11 am until sundown, but eventually were all overpowered. Four Dragoons were killed, Lt Oliver and several others wounded.
Lieutenant Duffy commanded the last draft of the contingent to return to Australia on 31 March 1901.
Service and life after the Boer War: Returned to Africa after War as staff officer to chief censor. Stock and station Agent in Perth, 1915. We understand he was an engineer and built bridges in WA. He Lived at Fremantle and was a key player in the Point to point racing club.
Enlisted in the AIF March 1915 and appointed a captain in the Australian Service Corps. Served in Egypt with 16 Coy ASC from 4 January 1916, on 13 January 1916 he was sick with bronchitis and emphysema, sent to England for treatment then invalided to Australia 17 March 1917. On 2 May 1916 he was classified as suitable for light duties in Australia. On 25 November 1917, he was on a liason course with the AFC whilst serving with 57 Bn. On 11 April 1918 he was serving with 14 Trg Bn on secondment from 57 Bn.
After WW1 he returned to his life in Perth.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Suzanne and James Landers, Bandon Grove NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Niece and nephew

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