Private Robert Kolbe

Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: Robert Albert Kolbe/y 09/01/1881
Ancestor's date of death: 25/12/1936
Cause of Death: Coronary Disease Myocardial Failure
Service and Life Before the Boer War: Apprenticed to Hardy and Company West Hartlepool UK as a Taylor.
Service Number: 33144
Colony or State of enlistment: Not Australia, Place of Enlistment: Newcastle On Tyne
Unit: 110^th Company, 2^nd Battalion, Imperial Yeomany
Rank attained in Boer War: PTE, Date Effective: 05/03/1901
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): PTE, Date Effective: 09/03/1915
Murray Page: Not applicable did not serve in an Australian unit.
Contingent: Second Yeomanry (UK)
Ship: Not known, from the UK, Date of Sailing: 25/03/1901
Memorial details: West Hartlepool Boer War Memorial (UK)
Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queens South Africa Medal with clasps. 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Personal Characteristics: Height 163 cm; weight 56 kg (1902), 75 kg (1915); of dark complexion with blue eyes and brown hair.
Reasons to go and fight: Unknown, possibly 5 shillings a day.
Details of service in war: Enlisted 5 March 1901, discharged 3 September 1902. Served in the war from April 1901 'till May 1902. Some details of the service of the second yeomanry contingent follow. The first engagement was at Vlakfontein on the 29 of May 1901. The force under Brigadier General Dixon consisted of yeoman, artillery, some Scottish Horse and some men of the Derbyshires. The rear-party, consisting of the yeoman, 100 Derbyshires and 2 guns were attacked by 500 Boers. Near Rustenburg in September 1901 they fought off an attack on a column which cost it 12 dead and in a hard fought engagement at Moedwil on the 30 September the yeomanry and Scottish Horse gave a good account of themselves On Christmas morning 1901 they were caught by De Wet in an awful position that they had been ordered to occupy. The Boers had quickly taken a position overlooking the British camp and from there they fired mercilessly into the tents of the sleeping men below. Despite attempts by various officers and S.N.C.O.'s the camp was taken and 289 yeoman were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. There were also countless actions both large and small in which they performed heroically in the best traditions of the army to which they had volunteered. CLICK HERE to download Robert Kolbe's record of service with the Imperial Yeomanry.
Service and life after the Boer War: Married Emma. Served in the Royal Naval Reserve. Migrated to Western Australia on the TSS Gothic 6 September 1912. Had children Nell and Maisie. Served in the Light Horse. Was living in East Fremantle in 1915. Joined the AIF 9 March 1915. Served in France with 7 Machine Gun Company, did not rise above the rank of private. Returned to Australia 20 December 1917, suffering from "sciatica". Discharged 26 February 1918 (medical grounds).

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Glenys Cooney, Rouse Hill NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Granddaughter

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