Military

Over time I will add biographies in honour of family members who served their country in the Armed Forces. Bolded links are to biographies. Other links are to my Ancestry site, unless otherwise indicated.

The South African (Boer) War (1899-1902)

About 860 Tasmanians served in South Africa, the vast majority as mounted infantry in colonial contingents. About a third of them served in units of the Australian Commonwealth Horse, the first soldiers of the new Australian nation to serve overseas. The Tasmanian 1st Imperial Bushmen was the most highly decorated Australian unit of the war, winning two of the six Victoria Crosses awarded to Australians in South Africa. Read more at the Australian War Memorial – Boer War.

Reginald Wigmore Gaby (1876-1971) – served as a Private in the First Tasmanian Contingent but returned home, sick, in July 1900. He returned to South Africa in April 1902 as a sergeant in the 8th Battalion of the Australian Commonwealth Horse.

Ernest Alfred Gaby (1877-1972) – served with the New Zealand contingent.

World War I

Harold Norman Biggins (1891-1958) – served with the New Zealand Army

Noel Coventry Biggins (1895-1958) – served with the New Zealand Army

Cyril Leslie Biggins (1897-1984) – served with the New Zealand Army

Albert William Broomhall (1879-1941) – served in the AIF’s 26th and 12th Battalions, in Egypt at Alexandria, France (at Amiens, Etaples and Boulogne), and Belgium

Eric Oswald Thomas Coventry (1890-1965) – served in the AIF’s Field Ambulance and Auxiliary Hospital Corps in England, Egypt and France

Alfred Edward Gaby, VC (1892-1918) – Australian War Memorial profile – Killed in Action, France

Charles Gaby (1886-1970) – served in AIF’s 3rd Pioneer Battalion, in France

Percy Frederick Gaby (1894-1971) – served in AIF’s 40th Infantry Battalion but discharged in ill health after a period in England

Reginald Samuel Gillam (1894-1985) – served in the AIF’s Field Artillery Brigade in France

Stanley Roy Gillam (1895-1987)

William Albert (Billie) Gillam (1877-1915) – Killed in Action, Turkey

Richard Robert Higgins (1891-1915)

Walter Arthur Lamprey (1889-1935) – served in the AIF’s 12th Battalion in France

Jonathon (Jack) Lunson (1894-1942) – served in the AIF’s 12th Battalion in France

Lewis Lunson (1893-1958) – served in the AIF’s 26th Battalion in France

Richard John Lunson (1896-?) – served in the AIF’s 12th Battalion in France