WOLLASTON, Herbert Newton Spencer
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 4th Victorian Imperial Bushman |
| Born: | Williamstown, Victoria, 1875 |
| Home Town: | Toorak, Stonnington, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Melbourne Grammar School |
| Occupation: | Solicitor |
| Died: | Natural causes, Brisbane, Queensland, 14 August 1969 |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Captain | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1900: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Captain, Officer, 4th Victorian Imperial Bushman, T.S. Victorian, Melbourne | |
| 11 Jul 1900: | Involvement Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Captain, 4th Victorian Imperial Bushman, Left for England aboard the ship "Idaho" on 12th July, 1901 on the way home |
Help us honour Herbert Newton Spencer Wollaston's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Herbert was born in 1875 in Williamstown, Victoria as Henry Newton Spencer WOLLASTON
His Father was Henry Newton Phillips WOLLASTON who was born in Western Australia and his Mother was Mary Annie HARKER who was born in Yorkshire, England - they had married in 1868 in Victoria
He joined the 4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen who sailed for England on 1st May, 1900 on the transport ship 'Victorian' to serve in the Boer War in South Africa - they reached their destination in Beira on 23rd May, 1900 and then entrained to Umtali and then marched to Marandellas which they reached on 11th July, 1900 - he was granted passage to England and then struck off on arrival.
The principal engagements of the Regiment were Ottoshoop, Malopo Oog, Wonderfontein, Hartebeestfontein, Uitval's Kop, Doornbult, Wolmaransstad, Hoopstad, Zeerust, Phillipstown, Reads Drift Sea & Cow River
The regiment was involved in many successful small actions but on the 11th & 12th January 1901 the Victorians occupied the town of Wolmaransstad after some resistance taking many prisoners and capturing arms, ammunition and supplies. The 4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen were the most highly decorated of all the Victorian Units
There is a book written about the regimental history by Robin Droogleever called "the Ragged Mob" which is a story of the Victorian 3rd and 4th contingents sent to the war in South Africa in 1900. In the campaign they rode into battle with soldiers from all states of Australia and also New Zealand and the Imperial Yeomanry.
Herbert left for England aboard the ship "idaho" on 12th July, 1901 on the way home - he was amongst the passengers on the "Oceana' which is expected to arrive on 29th October 1901.
Herbert was awarded the Queens South Africa medal with 4 clasps
In 1911 in St Johns Church in Toorak, Melbourne he married Beatrice Isabella MICHIE - Beatrice was born in Praham and died in 1960 in Armadale, Victoria
Herbert was still working as a Solicitor in Melbourne & sometime before 1968 he moved to Queensland and was living in Needham Street, Figtree Pocket in the Toowong area and was retired
He died on 14th August, 1969 in Brisbane, Queensland - burial place unknown
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