Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Thomas BUFFETT and Louisa nee QUINTAL

Husband of Dinah nee QUINTAL

Father of 7 children

Having arrived in Sydney from Norfolk Island on 20.1.1900 he enlisted in Sydney where he undertook training until embarking in Sydney on SS “Armenian” for South Africa with the 6th Imperial Bushmen, arriving at Beira on 15.5.1900. Moving inland to Marandellas as a member of the Bushman’s D Company (Squadron) he served with the 6th Bushmen until D Company was selected to serve as the personal bodyguard of Lieutenant General Lord Methuen on 17.9.1900. D Company served as Lord Methuen’s bodyguard until 29.5.1901. Their guard duties in late 1900 took them away from the 6th Bushmen as they went with Metheun into Grigualand West then back into West Transvaal.

It appears that Buffett returned with D Company to the 6th Imperial Bushmen and embarked for Australia on 18.6.1901. Arriving back in Sydney on 17.7.1901, he was discharged and returned to Norfolk Island arriving on 13.8.1901.

Medals – South African Queens Medal and four clasps (Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Rhodesia)

Two young men belonging to the Norfolk Islands named John Snar Buffett and Rupert Young, went to the Transvaal with one of the contingent forces  and fought for the flag. Returning recently to their Island home, they were enthusiastically received. Buffett and Young are descendants of the Bounty  Mutineers, who downed the flags in the South Seas in the evening twilight of the 18th century. By the way, this is the latest characteristic item from the quaint survivors at Norfolk Island.