From the Archives

From the Archives.

The railway from Brisbane to Gympie was completed in the 1890’s and with the demand for wooden railway sleepers coming to an end it had a serious impact on the work force employed as navvies and loggers alike. With cedar and other timbers almost exhausted, farming for some became the main means of survival. For others, if they were young and owned their own horse, were adept at riding and also had a sense of adventure, they joined the local army contingent of the 2^nd Queensland Mounted Infantry.

Overseas the British Empire was embroiled in conflict in South Africa where the Dutch Afrikaner settlers, known as Boers, had taken up arms against the British. The Boer War started on 11^th October 1899 and Australia, in common with other of British Colonies agreed to send an army contingent in support of the campaign. This resulted in the 2^nd Queensland Mounted Infantry Contingent being sent overseas to South Africa.  The archives list several local residents from Caloundra to Glass House Mountains. One such enlistee was Archie King who survived the campaign but was invalided back to Australia after nine months on the veldt and became the last surviving member of his contingent.

The Boer War came to an end with a Peace Treaty negotiated in May 1902.

Incidentally, my uncle who I never knew was in his early twenties when he served with the British Army in the Boer War. Uncle Jack never returned home and died of Black Water fever.

Riddle of the week.  Why is a room full of married people empty?  Not a single person in it