Erskine James CALDWELL

CALDWELL, Erskine James

Service Number: 67
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry
Born: Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, 22 June 1873
Home Town: Toowoomba, Toowoomba, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, 16 June 1927, aged 53 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery, Queensland
Plot: Sect. CE 3 Row 4 Plot 7
Memorials:
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Boer War Service

1 Oct 1899: Involvement Private, 67, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry
1 Mar 1900: Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 67, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 463 notes 3rd QMI embarked 1 Mar 1900 aboard Duke of Portland arriving Cape Town 2 Apr 1900.
21 Jun 1901: Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 67, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 465 notes 3rd QMI embarked 9 May 1901 at Cape Town returning to Australia aboard Morayshire arriving Sydney 7 Jun 1901 (rail to Brisbane), disbanded 21 Jun 1901.

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Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey

Erskine James Caldwell served twice in the South African (Boer) War and then again in WW1. First service was as a Private S.N. 67 in the 3rd Queenlsand Mounted Infantry, Boer War. Second service was as a Private S.N. 629 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer War. Newspaper report from May 1902 indicates he remained in South Africa for further service when his unit returned to Australia, his discharge is assumed to be the date the unit was disbanded.

He renlisted for WW1 in 1915 As a Private S.N. 3911 originally with the 15th Infantry Battalion, later transfering to the 47th Infantry Battalion.

He lived his life in the Toowoomba region, born there on 22 Jun 1873 a son to David Caldwell and Mary Ellen Caldwell (nee Davies). He worked in the area as a labourer passing away there in 1927.

(sources- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p.468 & 518; National Archives Australia WW1 service record).

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