Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Herbert William Bodman was born in England in ca 1866. In the 1881 UK Census, there is a Herbert W Bodman aged 15 (born ca 1866), born London, Middlesex, England, living with his parents John Watts Bodman and Sarah Jane Bodman in 2 Newland Villa, Camberwell. John Watts Bodman is listed as a Boot Shoe Maker.

His name is listed on the passenger manifest for the "Indus", which sailed from London on 20 June 1884 and arrived in Brisbane on 22 August 1884 (Source: QLD State Archives: http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/Researchers/ImmigrationIndexes/Documents/Indus_1884_Aug_QSA_Item_18481.pdf ). He is listed on the first page, as a "Bounty" immigrant, single, male and aged 17 years.

In Brisbane, in 1891, he married Esther Sophia Bodman, [cousin??] who had emigrated aboard the "Merkara", arriving on 25 June 1889. Esther Sophia is listed as "Sophia" on the passenger manifest, aged 24 years, single, female, Domestic Servant, can read and write and of the Protestant religion, from Wiltshire.

1891 B15257 Herbert William Bodman Esther Sophia Bodman

Herbert and Sophia had four children over the next seven years:

Herbert John Bodman in 1892 (QLD BDM: 1892 REF: B50575)
Valentine William Bodman in 1894 (QLD BDM: 1894 REF: B54092) - would later enlist in AIF in WW1.
Joe Ernest Bodman in 1896 (QLD BDM: 1896 REF: B58449)
Edith Rose Bodman in 1898 (QLD BDM: 1898 REF: B62279)

Herbert enlisted in the Fifth Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent (he had initially signed up for the Third Contingent, but did not embark with them).

The Fifth Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent sailed on 6 March 1901 aboard the transport 'Templemore' taking 22 Officers, 479 other ranks and 450 horses. A detachment followed a few days later by transport 'Chicago' consisting of 1 Officer, 25 other ranks and 26 horses. The first detachment arrived in Capetown 31st March 1901. These men were specially selected. No man was to be above 177 cm or below 167 cm. After a very busy time in many different locations in South Africa (Pretoria, the Kimberly, the Transvaal), on 27 March 1902 embarked per transport “St Andrew” arriving Brisbane on 30 April 1902 having called at Albany and Melbourne. The unit disbanded on 5 May 1902.

Pay Rates: Private: 5 shillings (50¢) per day from date of embarkation plus 1 shilling (10¢) per day extra being ‘Colonial Allowance’.

(Source: http://bwm.org.au/site/5QIB.php)

Following his return from South Africa in 1902, Herbert returned to work as a Labourer. In the 1903 and 1905 Electoral Rolls, Herbert and Sophia are living at Ann Street, Fortitude Valley and Herbert's occupation is given as labourer.

By the 1908 Electoral Roll, they had moved to Ipswich Road, South Brisbane and Herbert's occupation was as a tramway employee.

In 1912 the family were living at Heidelberg Street, East Brisbane, when Herbert William had an accident. He was working for Bryce Limited and fractured his leg jumping from a dray at Woolloongabba:

MAN'S LEG FRACTURED,
A married man named Herbert Bodman, aged 42, residing at Heidelburg street, . East Brisbane, and employed by Bryce Limited, jumped from a dray at
Woolloongabba yesterday, and fell, one of the wheels passing over his right leg,
which was fractured. The Ambulance Brigade was called, and after giving first
aid, conveyed Badman to the Mater Misericordiae Hospital. (Source: "MAN'S LEG FRACTURED." The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947) 23 April 1912: 8).

In 1913 they had moved to Edgar Street, East Brisbane and he was employed as a carter.

In 1919 there is a Herbert William Bodman, labourer, listed at Agnes St, Torwood (near Auchenflower). In the same year, there is a Herbert William Bodman, carter, listed at Ewart St, West End. Sophia is not listed at either location and is not found on the Brisbane electoral roll elsewhere.

Sophia Esther Bodman passed away in February 1921, and was buried at Toowong Cemetery (Location 5-117-6) on 21 February 1921 (Source: BCC Grave Location Search).

Herbert passed away in Brisbane in 1925 (Source: QLD BDM: 1925 B47127 Herbert Bodman [parents unknown]** born England aged 59 years). He was buried at Toowong Cemetery on 27 October 1925, in location 2-35-12 (Source: BCC Grave Location Search).


*There is a Hubert William Bodman, m., Windmill-street, Brisbane (Number #32) in the list of rank and file of the Third Queensland Contingent, as published on page 7 of the "The Brisbane Courier"23 February 1900. When the list and photographs of the men of the rank and file in the Third Queensland Contingent is published in "The Queenslander" on 3 March 1900, page 406 holds the photograph of #32 - but in the listing of names on page 408, there is no corresponding name against #32 (i.e. the numbering skips from #31 to #33).

In looking up the Boer War Pay Books on the Queensland Archives site, it seems he enlisted with the Third Contingent but did not end up embarking with them.

BODMAN Herbert W Pvte 3rd 138 8867 DEF/10 Z4202
BODMAN Herbert William Pvte 5th 150 8872 DEF/15 Z4222

(Source: QLD State Archives: http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/Researchers/CollectionsDownloads/Documents/pay_books_sid_12345_index.pdf)