Military Service in Boer War and War Diary Extracts - WW1 - October 1916
Australian Peter JENSEN - died 27th October 1916
3RD NSW IMPERIAL BUSHMEN - 1901-1902 Strength: c. 1000, probably no more than 600 at any time Subunits: several mounted rifle squadrons Commanding officer: Lieutenant-Colonel R. Carington Formed May 1901 in Klerksdorp around reinforcements intended for Citizen and Imperial Bushmen contingents from drafts in the Imperial Draft Contingents. 2nd Draft (NSWIB) 63, ‘Ranee' 21 March 1901, 3rd Draft (NSWCB) 143, ‘British Princess’, 4th Draft (spare) 84, ‘Antillian’, 5 April 1901. 50 Officers as well as other time expired men joined at Klerksdorp in South Africa. Maximum strength at any time was about five hundred. Two further squadrons were recruited from Australians in Capetown in January and February 1902. 200 reinforcements raised in the NSW Riverina by J S Horsfall (Carington's father-in-Law) departed with the 3rd ACH on the 'Manhattan' 2 April 1902 under the command of Maj H H Browne. Service: May 1901 - May 1902 in west then east Transvaal under Ingouville Williams then west Transvaal under Ian Hamilton Fatal casualties: four killed or died of wounds, 18 died of disease Decorations: one DSO and one CVO (Carington), one DCM (J. W. Porter) Returned to Australia: mid 1902 on Ansonia, 11 August 1902 on Drayton Grange NSW IMPERIAL BUSHMEN/6TH IMPERIAL BUSHMEN Original strength: 762 Subunits: six mounted rifle squadrons Commanding officers: Colonel J. A. K. Mackay, then Lieutenant-Colonel H. Le Mesurier Left for South Africa: 23 April 1900 on Armenian Service: May 1900 - May 1901 in Rhodesia under Carington and west Transvaal including capture of de la Rey’s convoy and guns at Wildfontein (24 March 1901) Fatal casualties: 13 killed or died of wounds, nine died of disease Decorations: one CB (Mackay), four DSOs (H. H. Browne, R. D. Doyle, W. E. O’Brien. K. Wray), one DCM (P. J. Moy) Returned to Australia: 17 July 1901 on Orient Useful sources: regimental order books (State Records NSW, 4/7649-51), Mackay papers and H. S. Targett papers (Australian War Memorial, PR87/207 and PR88/171) The New South Wales Imperial Bushmen was one of a number of regiments raised in the Australian colonies in response to a request from the British government asking for “hardy bushmen” - men who could ride, shoot, and navigate in the bush. The idea was to find men who could employ the same type of guerilla tactics as the Boer and beat them at their own game. Volunteers came from Cootamundra, Gundagai, Wagga, Young, Hay, Cooma, Moree, Cobar, Tenterfield, and Bourke. The New South Wales Imperial Bushmen was a mounted unit, consisting of six mounted rifle squadrons. Later, during its time overseas, the regiment’s name was changed to the 6th Imperial Bushmen. The bushmen left Sydney, on board the transport Armenian, on 23 April 1900. The regiment originally numbered 40 officers with 722 other ranks, and 800 horses. They were the fourth contingent sent from New South Wales to the war. During 15 months in South Africa, the regiment served in Rhodesia and in west Transvaal. From June to August the bushmen served with the 2nd Brigade, Rhodesian Field Force; then Lieutenant General Lord Methuen’s No. 2 Column, from September to December; the Mounted Brigade, under the command of the Colonel R.G. Kekowich, from December to January 1901; then finally the Mounted Brigade, under Major General J.M. Babington, from January to May 1901. During this time, from September 1900 to May 1901, the regiment’s D Squadron served as Methuen’s personal bodyguard. Principal operations in which the contingent was engaged: Relief of the Eland’s River garrison: 5 August 1900 Marico River: 6 August 1900 Occupation of Ottoshop: 14 August 1900 Buffel’s Hoek: 18-19 August 1900 Jacobsdal: 22 August 1900 Malmani: 27 August 1900 Wonderfontein: 10-11 September 1900 Manana and Lewerpan, where a 15-pounder and a pom-pom gun were captured from the enemy: 12 September 1900 Re-occupation of Lichtenberg: 28 September 1900 Oliphant’s Nek: 5 October 1900 Magatas Pass: 10 October 1900 Riekerton: 16 October 1900 Lead Mines: 24 October 1900 Kaffir Kraal: 1 November 1900 Re-occupation of Klerksdorp: 16 November 1900 Wittepoort and Bulkop: 26-27 December 1900 Syferfontein: 5 January 1901 Occupation of Ventersorp: 10 January 1901 Klip Drift: 17 January 1901 Valkfontein: 26 January 1901 Magalisburg Valley, where a 9-pounder and a pom-pom gun were captured from the enemy: 3 March 1901 Relief of Lichtenberg: 7 March 1901 Hartebeestfontein: 20-22 March 1901 Veldfontein, where nine guns and 142 prisoners were captured: 24 March 1901 Wittepoort, where two 15-pounders were captured: 14 April 1901 Hartebeestfontein: 18 April 1901 Geduld, where a 9-pound Krupp gun was captured: 3 May 1901 Palmietfontein: 8 April 1901 The regiment returned to Australia, on board the transport Orient, on 17 July 1901. Casualties:- 30 killed, died of wounds, or died of disease For more information please see the Roll of Honour and Boer War Nominal Roll databases. Decorations 1 CB 4 DSO 1 DCM 31st Battalion Australian Infantry War diary for 1st to 27th October 1916 (RCDIG1005461) Peter Australian Jensen 1-10-16 - HOUPLINES - Battalion in support 4-10-16 - do - Battalion back in front line, left sector, HOUPLINES 5-10-16 - do - Gas discharged by “L” Company Engrs from this section. 6-10-16 - do - Lt Col Toll sent to hospital and evacuated to Strenwerk. Major Tracy in command. 9-10-16 - do - Major Eckersley reported back from hospital and took over command Battalion. 12-10-16 - do - Battalion raiding party consisting of 1 Capt, 4 Subalterns, 100 other ranks raided “CHICKEN RUN” in HOUPLINES sector very successful, 3 prisoners, 1 MG and quantity of equipment captured. Advance party 1 officer, 1 NCO left for STRAZEELE to take over camp from New Zealanders. 13-10-16 - STRAZEELE - Battalion arrived at STRAZEELE at 1.45pm by motor bus. In billets. 15-10-16 - do - Raiders paraded and congratulated by Divisional General. 4 military medals presented. 17-10-16 - do - Battalion route marched to BAILLEUL and entrained for LONG PRE. Colonel Toll back from hospital and resumed command. Arrived at 2.15am and met by Staff Captain. 18-10-16 - LONG PRE - 3.15am - Battalion route marched to YAUCOURT and arrived and in billets at 7.20am 20-10-16 - YAUCOURT - 6.30am - Battalion route marched to point of assembly on ABBEVILLE MOUFLEURS ROAD. Battalion shifted to BUIRE by motor bus under French Army Control. Arrived and in billets at 5.15pm. 21-10-16 - BUIRE - 8.45am - Battalion route marched to MAMETZ WOOD and encamped on slope of hill. 22-10-16 - MAMETZ - Battalion under canvas. Camp shifted to MONTABAN. Colonel Toll with 300 men took over CREST TRENCH from Liverpool Regiment 23-10-16 - Battalion took over front line in vicinity of FACTORY CORNER from 29th Battalion. 27-10-16 - Lt Col Toll sent to hospital. Major Eckersley in command. Fatigues every night digging trenches for “jumping off” places for 30th and 29th Battalions on night of attack. Shell fire continuous. Note: FACTORY CORNER, FLERS, a little West of the crossing of the roads from Eaucourt-L'Abbaye to Gueudecourt and from Flers to Ligny-Thilloy. This place, which had been a German Headquarters for Artillery and Engineers and had a German Cemetery, was taken by the 1st Canterbury Infantry Regiment on the 25th September, 1916, and again by the 7th East Yorks on the 27th August, 1918. Fifteen soldiers from the United Kingdom and 13 from Australia were buried here in October, 1916-March, 1917, and in August, 1918. NORTH ROAD CEMETERY, FLERS, North-West of the village, at the crossing of the Eaucourt-L'Abbaye road with "North Road" (to Factory Corner). Here were buried, in the winter of 1916-17, 13 Australian soldiers and seven from the United Kingdom. Map References:- FACTORY CORNER - Map 57c N19c 95.05 JENSEN, Pte, Australian Peter, 2479. 31st. Bn. Australian Inf. Killed in action 27 Oct 1916. Age 36. Born at Balmain. Son of John Peter Ann Jensen ; husband of E R Jensen, of "Austral", Bay Rd, Five Dock, New South Wales. I K 15 You died for us, Shall we not live for you - (Mr E A Jensen, "Austral", Bay Road, Five Dock, NSW WILL - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2/9/16 To my wife In the event of my death I leave the whole of my property and effects to my wife:- Mrs Elsie Rebecca Jensen, Margaret Street, Five Dock, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. From No 2479 Corporal, Australian Peter Jensen, “C” Coy. “C” Group, 8th Training Batt, A. I. F. Certified to be a true copy of the will of No 2479 Pte JENSEN. Australian Peter Jensen, 31st Battalion, A. I. F., extracted by S/Sgt Meyrick, D R from AS 64 on 23/2/17 31st January 1925. Madam, your husband, the late No.2479 Private A P JENSEN, 31st Battalion, the site of his final resting place in the A. I. F. BURIAL GROUND, GRASS LANE, GUEUBECOURT, is officially registered as:- Plot 1. Row E. Grave 15 Mrs E R Jensen, “Austral” Bay Road FIVE DOCK, NSW Includes transcription from the War Diary of the 31st Battalion Australian Infantry for October 1916 |