Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Mentioned in Despatches

Lieutenant-Colonel John Joseph Byron R.A.A., Commanding Queensland Permanent Artillery, went from England—where he was spending his leave—to South Africa as a special  service officer. He was with Lord Methuen's army in the advance from Orange River lor the relief of Kimberley and was in the engagements at Belmont Graspan, Modder River, and Magersfontein. In the latter engagement, whilst rallying some cavalry, he was wounded In the leg, and invalided to Capetown. At Captetown Lieutenant-Colonel Byron joined the  staff of Lord Roberts and was present during the engagements in the vicinity of Paardenerg and at the surrender of General Cronje. Thence on was in the engagements of  Osfonteln, Poplar Grove, Driefontein, and Abraham's Kraal, and was with Lord roberts on his entry into Bloemfontein. Whiles at Bloemfontien Lieutenant-Colonel Byron suffered  from enteric fever, and for several days lay between life and death. On becoming convalescent he returned to Capetown, and then went to England invalided. He has now been commanded to join the staff of the Duke of York on the occasion of his Royal Highness's tour to Australia.

John Joseph Byron was born on 10 Mar 1863 at Harristown, County Wexford, Ireland, a son fo John Byron and Elizabeth Byron (ne Audley).

He arrived in Australia in the 1880s joining the Queensland Defence force in 1885 as a Lieutenant in the Brisbane Garrison Battery and the Queensland Permanent Artillery in 1886, promoted to Captain in 1888. In 1891 he went to England for training with the Royal Artillery passing with honours. He returned to duty in Qld and in 1877 was promoter to Major. He was appointed acting commander from 1896-1899 when he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

 He is reported to having married Scottish born Mary Anderson at Petersham, NSW on 25 Apr 1891. At the outbreak of the South African War in 1899 the Qld Government arranged for hiim to serve with the Imperial Army. In 1899-1900 he took part in the advance on Kimberley and was wounded in the leg at Magersfontein. In Feb 1900 he was appointed aide-de-camp to the commander-in-chief Lord Roberts, mentioned in despatches twice and appointed C. M. G. in 1901. In 1901 he returned to duty in Qld resigning from the army in 1903.

He moved to South Africa to manage the Duke of Westminster's estate at Cassigholt. He was a member of the member of the Orange River Colony Legislative Assembly 1907-1910 and from 1910 until his death a member of Union of South Africa parliament. During WW1 he served in South African Forces as a Colonel and temp Brigadier General. He commanded a British Artillery Group on the Western Front and was awarded the DSO and the Légion d'honneur.

(source- extracted from extensive biography on his Find A Grave memorial- see link on this profile to read full biography).