Australians in the Boer War
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Hint: This site is intended as a search aid - not a definitive source. It is essentially an index to documents that seem to relate to this person plus a very brief precis of relevant elements. Sources often conflict and I also flag things with a ? when I am unsure. So if the information below is important to you, then please check the original sources to see what else they contain (and in case I have inadvertantly introduced transcription and/or precising errors). There can be additional information that was not included in the database for both space and copyright reasons.


 

Surname ALDAY
Given Name(s) or Initial(s) Robert
Regimental Number 168
RankPrivate
Unit Name 5th West Australia Mounted Infantry
StateWA
Extracts and Comments
(from Sources as shown)

Murray: killed in action Waterval R.1.2.1902.
Price1: War Memorials Ballarat Perth Canberra.
HAGSOC: Memorial Standerton.
URL2: Perth WA miner aged 21 born in Vic., no previous service.
URL3: Pte ALDAY shot through heart 1.2.1902.
URL4: FALLEN SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL. THE UNVEILING CEREMONY. SPEECH BY THE ADMINISTRATOR. The memorial erected in honour of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Western Australian contingents who were killed in action or died from wounds or disease during the war in South Africa was unveiled on Saturday afternoon [6.9.1902] by His Excellency the Administrator (Sir Edward STONE). The memorial is erected in King's Park, a short distance from the main entrance, and on the left side of the drive. ... Sir James then read a tabulated statement giving the details of the casualties to Western Australian soldiers which were to be inscribed on the memorial. The chief particulars are as follow - Major HG MOOR, First Contingent, killed in action at Palmietfontein, 19.7.1900; Lieut. GGW HENSMAN, First Contingent, died of wounds at Slingersfontein, 12.3.1900; Lieut. AA FORREST, Fifth Contingent, killed in action near Carolina, 16.5.1901; Lieut. SS REID, Sixth Contingent, died of wounds at Middlekraal, 29.6.1901; Lieut. GA MORRIS, Sixth Contingent, killed in action at Rolspruit. 3.2.1902; Sergeant FF EDWARDS, Fifth Contingent, killed in action near Carolina, 16.5.1901; Farrier-Sergeant RH MCGREGOR, Fifth Contingent, died of pneumonia at Middleburg, 22.5.1901; Corporal GN BISHOP, First Contingent, died of pneumonia at De Aar, 14.2.1900; Corporal WF BOLLINGER, Fifth Contingent, died of wounds near Carolina, 16.5.1901; Corporal FURLONG, Fifth Contingent, killed near Carolina, 16.5.1901; Lance-Corporal W FRASER, Fourth Contingent, killed in action near Pietersburg, 8.4.1901; Lance Corporal JG DALLISTON, Fifth Contingent, killed in action at Watervaal River, 1.2.1902; Private MW COLLETT, First Contingent, killed in action at Palmietfontein. 19.7.1900; Private H FORCE, First Contingent, died of wounds at Watervaal Onder, 15.9.1900; Private M CONWAY, First Contingent, killed in action at Slingersfontein, 9.2.1900; Private WJ MCPHEE, Third Contingent, died of wounds at Buluwayo, 2.7.1900; Private TH ANGEL, Third Contingent, died of wounds at De Berg's Pass, 23.4.1901; Private EA HAMBLY, Third Contingent; died of malarial fever at Buluwayo, 26.6.1900; Private J ROSCOE, Third Contingent, died of wounds at Elands River, 3.11.1900; Private EG ILES, Fourth Contingent, killed in action at Jagersfontein, 25.8.1900; Private J KAY, Fourth Contingent, killed in action at Palmeitfontein, 19.7.1900; Private H WHITE, Third Contingent, died in Melbourne, prior to discharge, 4.6.1901; Privates B FISHER, F PAGE, FT ADAMS and J SEMPLE, Sixth Contingent, killed in action at Carolina, 16.5.1901; Private A BLANCH, Sixth Contingent, died of wounds at Carolina, 18.5.1901; Private J HUME, Third Contingent, died of pneumonia at Fremantle. 1.6.1901; Private H SOLOMON, Fifth Contingent, treacherously shot at Kankanistche Farm, 16.4.1901; Private R SPENCER, Sixth Contingent, died of enteric fever at Middleburg, 14.5.1901; Private G WESTCOTT, Sixth Contingent, killed in action, Renshoogte, 23.6.1901; Private CC CLIFFORD, Sixth Contingent, killed in action, Renshoogte, 23.6.1901; Private J DELAHUNTLY, Sixth Contingent, killed in action, Pladplaats, 16.8.1901; Private R ALDAY, Fifth Contingent, killed in action, Watervaal River, 1.2.1902: Private WJ DUNSTAN, Fifth Contingent, died of enteric fever, Pretoria, 15.2.1902; Private A HAMMOND, Fifth Contingent, killed in action at Roode Bank, 1.2.1902; Private W PARKER, Fifth Contingent, died of enteric fever at Standerton, 22.1.1902; Private OE FRY, Sixth Contingent, died of enteric fever at Standerton, 22.12.1901; Private JBM THURSTON, Sixth Contingent, died of pneumonia, at Standerton, 30.12.1901; Private TH WILSON, Sixth Contingent, died of enteric fever at Standerton, 12.12.1901. Continuing, Sir James pointed out, that the above list comprised 40 officers and men, 30 of whom had been killed or had died of wounds received in action and 10 of whom had died of disease.
URL5: [Major DARLING 5WAMI] then briefly outlined the work done under General Walter KITCHENER, Colonel ROYSTON, Colonel WING and General Bruce HAMILTON, and mentioned that success invariably attended their efforts. In continuing his remarks, Major DARLING said he would like to refer to some who had done their work particularly well, and he would speak of them in the order in which he remembered them. Private SOLOMON was killed at Reitfontein on April 16 -only a few days after they had landed. One of the greatest blows he received was when poor FORREST was killed. He was one of the finest officers, kind, and willing to do his work and fought well. Sergeant Percy EDWARDS was killed at the same time. He was one of the finest non-commissioned officers he (the speaker) had. Corporal BOLINGER died from his wounds subsequently. Then they went on with out any casualty until the death of Sergt. HANDCOCK, who was hit three times while trying to get a man who had been wounded twice away. But the worst of all their luck was, he thought, one night in March, when they lost three of their best fellows, whose names he would al ways remember with the greatest feeling of respect and reverence that he possibly could. He referred to Lance-Corporal DALLISTON and Privates HAMMOND and ALDAY. Early in the morning, two Boers were seen getting away. There was a heavy mist, and one could hardly see. The division on the right chased and caught one man, but in the effort the three he had referred to were shot, and two others were wounded. The other Boer died afterwards. It was a pity losing such three gallant men. He thanked them for the kind way in which they had received the contingent. (Cheers.)
URL6: Private Edward SAMS, Third New South Wales Mounted Rifles, died of enteric at Heilbron; Private Ravid Ross CRICHTON, Second New South Wales Mounted Rifles, died of enteric at Standerton; Lance-Corporal DALLISTON, Fifth West Australia Mounted Rifles, was killed at Waterval River, on the 1st instant [1.2.1902]; Privates. Robert ALLDA and Arthur HAMMOND, Fifth West Australian Mounted Rifles, were killed, and Private Alfred ABBOTT was dangerously wounded, in the same engagement. Private JF DUFFY, Fifth Victorian Mounted Rifles, severely wounded on Christmas Day at Balmoral. Chaplain FOREMAN, Third New South Wales Bushmen's Contingent, has sailed for England; Privates John CONSIDINE and Wm. DAVIES, New Zealand Mounted Rifles, wounded at Charlestown. Private WC JACKSON, Third New South Wales Mounted Rifles, has died of enteric at Bloemfontein. Private J DURE, of the Victorian Mounted Rifles, has been accidentally severely wounded in the thigh. It is believed that Corporal T FLINT and Private Ben RUDHEAL have been captured at Amerspoort. Lieutenant George Augustus MORRIS, of the Sixth West Australian Mounted Rifles, was killed at Rolspruit. Private A DALEY, Third New South Wales Mounted Rifles, has died of enteric at Norvalspont. Private Bertram COCHRANE, of the South Australian Bushmen, bas died of dysentery at Capetown.
Source References
Murray: Official Records of the Australian Contingents etc. page(s) 421 440
Price1: They Proved to all the Earth page(s) 75
HAGSOC: HAGSOC's South African Graves website
West Australian: West Australian newspaper date(s) 7.3.1901 & 19.3 & 8.9.1902
W. Mail: Western Mail newspaper date(s) 3.5.1902
Town&Country: Aust. Town and Country journal date(s) 15.2.1902
External Link URL1www.hagsoc.org.au/sagraves/nmcdb/nmcdb-search.php
External Link URL2nla.gov.au/nla.news-article24727055
External Link URL3nla.gov.au/nla.news-article24740935
External Link URL4nla.gov.au/nla.news-article24843002
External Link URL5nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33210293
External Link URL6nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71520235


Please email me if you can contribute any other relevant information about this person (eg any other military service, where in Australia they came from or when/where they died). Also, if you find an external link broken.


Apology: For some time now it has been difficult to keep up with the newly available sources (especially the Trove newspaper site) plus the flow of contributions and queries. So I have been forced to prioritise maintenance and data entry over replying to correspondence. Nevertheless, your contributions are being added to the database and acknowledged on the contributions page and, although my replies are many months behind, I will attempt to get to them more often.
 
Colin Roe
Canberra

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