Elwin Egerton SOUTH

SOUTH, Elwin Egerton

Service Number: 659
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen
Born: Columbo, Ceylon, 31 January 1876
Home Town: Not yet discovered
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Memorials:
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Boer War Service

1 Oct 1899: Involvement Private, 659
20 Aug 1901: Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 659, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 506 & 519 notes part of the 1st Draft of the 6th QIB embarked 20 Aug 1901 from Sydney aboard Britannic arriving Cape Town 22 Sep 1901.

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Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey

Edwin (Elwin) Egerton South appears to have served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First service he is recorded with first name of Edwin and served as a Private S.N. 236 in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service he is recorded with first name of Elwin and served as a Private S.N. 659 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. Newspaper reports note he remained in South Africa for further service after the rest of the 6th QIB returned to Australia, date of his return and discharge is unknown. (source AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 472 & 519; The Brisbane Courier 16 May 1902).

With the outbreak of WW1 it appears he enlisted to serve twice recorded as Elwin, with service records noting previous service in South Africa. First service was as a Driver S.N. 6752 in the 1st Divisional Train. Second service was as a Private S.N. 1341 in the Australian Naval and Military Expiditionary Force (source National Archives Australia WW1 service records).

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