Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: Arthur James Spreadbury

Ancestor's date of birth: 30/01/1880

Ancestor's date of death: 30/10/1919

Cause of Death: Possibly related to disease exposed to in South Africa

Service and Life Before the Boer War: Arthur was born in England and migrated to Western Australia. He served 12 months with the 1^st Infantry Regiment WA Forces and 6 months as no 431 2^nd Field Battery prior to enlistment.

Service Number: 34

Colony or State of enlistment: WA, Place of Enlistment: Karrakatta

Unit: 1^st Western Australian Mounted Infantry

Rank attained in Boer War: PTE, Date Effective: 01/11/1899

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): No evidence of post Boer War service.

Murray Page: 402

Contingent: First Western Australian

Ship: SS Medic, Date of Sailing: 07/11/1899

Memorial details: Old section Merridan cemetery, WA

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Diamond Hill and Johannesburg clasps.

Personal Characteristics: Family man.

Reasons to go and fight: Patriotism

Details of service in war: Service: November 1899 - October 1900 in northern Cape Colony including defence of Australian Hill (9 February 1900), Free State, and Transvaal including battle of Diamond Hill (11-12 June 1900) and reverse at Palmietfontein (19 July 1900); part of Australian Regiment November 1899-April 1900, converted to mounted rifles December 1899, joined to 1st NSW Mounted Rifles April-October 1900.

Service and life after the Boer War: Returned to Australia on the SS Woolloomooloo to Adelaide then on the SS Paroo to Fremantle arriving on 15 December 1900. As he arrived before the main body of the contingent it is highly likely that he was being invalided home due to illness although this is not recorded officially. He received his QSA from the Duke and Duchess of York in Perth in July 1901. Family man who had 5 daughters and 1 son. Owned and worked his own farm in New Carnie District Merredin WA and two other properties in Thelma St, Mosman Park, Perth WA.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Robert Ernest Delaney, City Beach WA
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand Son

Name of Descendant: Wendy Kaye Johnson, Kalbarri QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand daughter

Name of Descendant: Julie Mary Izzard [nee Delaney and Dyball], Bexley NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great grand daugther

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