Boer War Indexes
Background
These Indexes record the names of all ranks who served in the South African War 1 November 1899 to 31 December 1901.
The two indexes are called:
1. Index to Military Service Records, 1899-1901 and,
2. Index to Pay Books, 1899-1902.
1. Index to Military Service Records, 1899-1901
This Index was compiled from QSA Item ID18351, Military service records.
This series is a Queensland Defence Force record of service in South Africa. The records have been arranged by Contingents numbered 1 to 6. Details listed for each entry include: Rank and Name, Regimental number, Company, Marital status, period of service, Casualties, Discharge, Medals, Address, and other remarks (however in the majority of entries not all columns have been used).
For Researchers looking for members of a particular contingent the table below lists each contingent, their arrivals and departures and the relevant pages in the Register.
| Contingent | Arrival/Departure | Date | References |
1st Contingent |
Left Brisbane |
1 Nov 1899 |
Pages 1-22 |
Arrived Capetown |
12 Dec 1899 |
||
Left Capetown |
13 Dec 1900 | ||
Arrived Brisbane |
16 Jan 1901 | ||
2nd Contingent |
Left Brisbane |
13 Jan 1900 | Pages 29-41 |
Arrived Capetown |
22 Feb 1900 | ||
Left Capetown |
31 Mar 1901 | ||
Arrived Brisbane |
03 May 1901 | ||
3rd Contingent |
Left Brisbane |
01 Mar 1900 | Pages 47-73 |
Arrived? |
|
||
Left Capetown |
09 May 1901 | ||
Arrived Brisbane |
13 Jun 1901 | ||
4th Contingent |
Left Brisbane |
18 May 1901 | Pages 81-113 |
Arrived Capetown |
|
||
Left Capetown |
07 July 1901 | ||
Arrived Brisbane |
05 Aug 1901 | ||
5th Contingent |
Left Brisbane |
06 Mar 1901 | Pages 121-166 |
Arrived Capetown |
30 Mar1901 | ||
6th Contingent |
Left Brisbane |
04 Apr 1901 | Pages 177-210 |
Arrived Capetown |
02 May 1901 |
The image below (click for larger image) depicts the first page of the Register dated 23 October 1899.
 |
Search the Index
Abell to Ziebell (PDF 92.1KB)
How to order Individual Entries
2. Index to Pay Books 1899-1902
This index has been compiled from Series ID 12345, Distribution of Pay Books created by the Chief Secretary’s Department recording the distribution of pay for the South African Contingents: 1st Contingent, A and B Companies 2nd Contingent 3rd Contingent, 4th Contingent of the Queensland Volunteer Defence Force.
Details listed for each entry may include some or all of the following information: rank, regimental number, pay details, return date to Queensland, and next of kin.
For Researchers looking for members of a particular contingent the table below lists each contingent and the relevant register.
QSA Item ID |
Description |
8863 (DEF/6) |
A Company, 1st South African Contingent, 1899 - 1901 |
8864 (DEF/7) |
B Company, 1st South African Contingent, 1899 - 1901 |
8865 (DEF/8) |
2nd South African Contingent, 1899 - 1901 |
8866 (DEF/9) |
3rd South African Contingent, A-H, 1900 - 1901 |
8867 (DEF/10) |
3rd South African Contingent, H-Y, 1900 - 1901 |
8868 (DEF/11) |
4th South African Contingent, A-H, 1900 - 1901 |
8869 (DEF/12) |
4th South African Contingent, H-T, 1900 - 1901 |
8870 (DEF/13) |
4th South African Contingent, T-Y, 1900 - 1901 |
8871 (DEF/14) |
5th South African Contingent, No. 1-334, 1901 - 1902 |
8872 (DEF/15) |
5th South African Contingent, No. 335-693, 1901 - 1902 |
8873 (DEF/16) |
6th South African Contingent, 1901 - 1902 |
Abbreviations of Boer War Ranks
Bugl - Bugler
Artif - Artificer
Pvte - Private
Corpl - Corporal
Sergt - Sergeant
Frst Sgt - Farrier Sergeant?
Far Sgt - Farrier Sergeant
Farrier Sergt - Farrier Sergeant
C Sergt - Company Sergeant or Color Sergeant
Co Sgt - Company Sergeant or Color Sergeant
Vet Sergt - Veterinary Sergeant
Staff Sergt - Staff Sergeant
Sergt Major - Sergeant Major
RSM - Regimental Sergeant Major
QMS - Quartermaster Sergeant
Q M Sgt - Quartermaster Sergeant
CSM - Company Sergeant Major
Lieut - Lieutenant
Supt Lieut - Supplementary Lieutenant
Lieut Col - Lieutenant Colonel
Vet Capt - Veterinary Captain
Supt Capt - Supplementary Captain
Capt Chap - Captain Chaplain
Capt - Captain
Major - Major
Spl SO - Supply Stores Officer or Specialist Service Officer
Search the Index
Abell to Young (PDF 151KB)
How to order Individual Entries
Explanatory Notes
- Check all possible spelling variants
- ? indicates there is doubt about the entry due to difficulty in interpreting handwriting
- More than one entry may be found for a person
- A blank cell indicates that there is no information in the original
- Some entries from DEF/16 do not have page numbers. These entries can be found at the beginning of the register in no particular order
- Check all SEE ALSO references
- All given names are abbreviated as initials as they appear in the original record
- O names are not indexed with an apostrophe e.g. O DWYER
- Mc and Mac names are interfiled
SEE ALSO: Brief Guide 21: Boer War Records.
