BURNETT, William Harlock
| Service Number: | 157 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 16 May 1878 |
| Home Town: | Ipswich, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Traveller, Dentist |
| Died: | Complications following an operation in a Melbourne hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia., 14 February 1937, aged 58 years |
| Cemetery: |
Ipswich General Cemetery, Qld Plot: Congregational A, Grave number A7343 |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 157 | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar 1901: | Promoted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Corporal, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 6th QIB p. 164 notes promoted to Corporal 16 Mar 1901. | |
| 4 Apr 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Corporal, 157, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 506 notes 6th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 4 Apr 1901 aboard Victoria arriving Cape Town 2 May 1901. | |
| 1 May 1901: | Promoted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Sergeant, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 6th QIB p. 164 notes promoted to Sergeant 1 May 1901. | |
| 23 Jun 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Sergeant, 157, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 508 notes 6th QIB embarked at Durban 17 May 1902 aboard Devon returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 17 Jun 1902, disbanded 23 Jun 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
William Harlock Bunnett was born on 16 May 1878 at Brisbane, Queensland, a son to William Bunnett and Emily Bunnett (nee Whelan). The AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 513 appears to have incorrectly recorded him under the surname of Burnett. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 6th QIB, held by the Qld State Archives, he is recorded as William Harlock Bunnett. Similarly, The Queenslander newspaper, 13 Apr 1901, published his photo and N.O.K. details (W. Bunnett, North Ipswich) under the surname of Bunnett.
He moved to Ipswich at a young age and was educated at the Convent and Central Schools. He married Mary Nichol on 16 Dec 1903 in Queensland and they had 2 children. His wife predeceased him in 1923.
Prior to enlisting for the South African (Boer) War he worked as a traveller and then with a firm of Chemist's in Ipswich. After he returned from the war he trained as a dentist and practised in his own business in Ipswich. He was well known member of the Ipswih community and was a member of many organisations.
He had been ill for several months before embarking to Melbourne to undergo a serious opeartion at a hospital there. He died from complications not long after the operation was completed.
(sources- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 513; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 6th QIB, p. 164; Obituary, The Queensland Times, 9 Feb 1937 p. 6).
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