Ancestor's Name: George Ramsdale Witton
Ancestor's date of birth: 28/06/1874
Ancestor's date of death: 14/08/1942
Cause of Death: Heart Attack
Service Number: 86
Colony or State of enlistment: VIC, Place of Enlistment: Victoria
Unit: Victorian Imperial Bushman 1900
Rank attained in Boer War: LT, Date Effective: 13/07/1901
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): Did not serve after the war
Murray Page: 262
Contingent: 4th Imperial Contingent
Ship: Victorian, Date of Sailing: 01/05/1900
Other Boer War Service: Bushveldt Carbineers 1901
Memorial details: In Victoria at Coalstoun Lakes and District Soldiers Memorial Hall a Memorial Plaque to George Witton and other Boer War veterns from the district was erected by the townspeople of the area. His ashes are interred with his wife Mary at Lutwyche Cemetery Brisbane although his name does not appear on the headstone. The road that runs along side this cemetery is called Kitchener Road.
Decorations: KSA medal with clasps
Personal Characteristics: Fine soldier
Reasons to go and fight: For the Empire
Details of service in war: During his service with the Bushveldt Carbineers was involved with the Spelonken Incident. Was tried with Handcock and Morant but not executed. Was sent to prison, eventually released following the intervention of the Australian Government; he bore the unjust stigma for the rest of his
life.
Service and life after the Boer War: Did not fight again, lived quietly "the Last Man". Become a succesful pastoralist and Justice of the Peace in Queensalnd. A tall powerful gentle man, he was also a director of the Biggenden cheese factory. A peaceable dairy farmer married but childless, he sounds to me to of been a very likeable and peaceful man.
CLICK HERE for a more detailed biography.
CLICK HERE for George's book,
"Scapegoats of Empire".
