Extracts and Comments
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McLachlan: ?double entry?
Murray: initials CJB 61 Sergeant 5SAIB died at Kroonstadt of enteric on 21.12.1901.
Newbury1: Charles Justinian Byses Sgt. 5SAIB.
Source:# 541 War Memorial St. Peter's N. Adelaide SA.
Roe: not found in 5SAIB.
URL3: Sergt. MERCER 3rd Contingent died of enteric in Kroonstad Hospital 12.1901.
URL5: Sergt. MERCER 5/6SAIB (late 3rd Contingent) died of fever.
URL8: The Departed Brave. Sunday, 19.9.1909 was a memorable tho' sad day to many who attended the Memorial Service to the soldiers from South Australia who died in South Africa during the Boer War. There was a mammoth gathering to witness the ceremony, at the Memorial Statute in Adelaide on the occasion. The following is the Roll Call of the South Australian heroes who lost their lives. First Contingent. Surgeon-Mjr. TOLL, Lieut. POWELL, Cpls. HEINJUS and KLAFFER, Tprs. SMITH and MATHEWS. Second Contingent. Lieut. GORDON, Tptr. MARSHALL, Tprs. BARTLETT, MARSDEN, and HARDY. Third Contingent. Capt. HUBBE, Cpl. CURRIE, Tprs. MILLMAN and SLOAN. Fourth Contingent. Sgt. MCCABE, Saddler MITCHELL, Tptr. DAVIS, Tprs. PROSSER, MOORE, NICHOLAS, PAGE, HONNER, PALMER, GOODES, WOODHAM, LANDSELL and TOTHILL. Fifth Contingent. Capt. HIPWELL Reg. Sgt.-Mjr. MCGILLIVRAY, QMS SCHUMANN, Sgts. HAMILTON, RUST, and MERCER. Cpl. WHITE, Lce.-Cpl. HAMP, Tprs. GIBB, WHITTLE, MAY, HORSEFALL, GLUYAS, COCHRANE, HIRTH, VICKERY and SIMMONS. Sixth Contingent. Sgt. MURRIE, Lce.-Cpl BARRON, Tprs. BENNIER, WALTER, EWINS, MARSHALL, CROFT, MAIN, TEATE and BEARE. 2nd Australian Commonwealth Horse. Tprs. BROWNLEY, SPILLANE and TAEUBER.
URL9: IN MEMORY OF THE BRAVE, TABLET IN ST. PETER'S CATHEDRAL UNVEILED BY THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL. There were more persons at St. Peter's Cathedral on Sunday morning [15.3.1903] than could be provided with seating accommodation, the great attendance being due to the fact that the Governor-General and Lady Tennyson would be present, in addition to the troops of the Active Military Force, and that his Excellency would unveil a memorial tablet to those South Australian soldiers who died on service in South Africa after July 13, 1901 - when the Prince of Wales unveiled the first portion, of the memorial - till the proclamation of peace. The original tablet bears the following inscription - In grateful memory of our brave and loyal soldiers who volunteered for service with the army of the British army in South Africa, where they died for their Sovereign and country, "More than conquerors through Him that loved us." Then follow 40 names. The supplementary brass contains the following inscription - Also, in memory of those others who fell in this campaign before the proclamation of peace, on the first day of June, 1902. The additional names are - Regimental-Sergeant-Major J McGILLIVRAY, Sergeant CJB MERCER, Sergeant W RUST, Corporal FS WHITE, Trooper WS BARBER, Trooper HES BEARE, Trooper H BEHNCKE, Trooper WA BROMLEY, Trooper BH COCHRANE, Trooper JE GLUYAS, Trooper FW HIRTH, Trooper N HORSFALL, Trooper S LANSDELL, Trooper R SIMMONS, Trooper J SPILLANE, Trooper H TAEUBER, Trooper WD TEATE, Trooper AA VICKERY, Trooper CGC WHITTLE, Trooper HP WOODHAM, Trooper BH MAY. Beneath the names it is stated that "This memorial was unveilled by Hallam, Lord Tennyson, Governor-General of Australia, March 15, 1903."
URL10: Our Casualties.— During December [1901] we had several casualties in action, and I regret to report, two deaths from enteric. Sgt. MERCER, served with the third contingent, and Tpr. TATE of F squadron, died suddenly in Kroonstad Hospital from that disease, and in action Sergt. Major FERRY and Tpr. CARTER were slightly wounded. Tpr. LOWE was accidentally shot through the fleshy part of the back during a night march, but like the others whose names I have mentioned, his wound was slight.
Chronicle: Sergeant CJB MERCER, whose death from enteric fever at Kroonstadt has been reported [c1.1902], went to the war with the Third Contingent, under Captain HUBBE, as a private. He soon made a name
for himself, and was rewarded by being promoted to corporal. Instead of returning with the contingent at the beginning of the year, he accepted Lord KITCHENER's offer of promotion to all colonials who remained in the field. Sergeant MERCER subsequently joined the Fifth Contingent, and finally became attached to the Sixth Contingent. Captain CORNISH described him as one of the
pluckiest soldiers he ever saw.
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