GARDNER, David James Lawson - 520
From WA Military Digital Library
Original items held by the Army Museum of Western Australia |
Pte David James Lawson Gardner
Conflict | Second Anglo-Boer War |
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Service Arm | Colonial Forces Australian Imperial Force |
Unit | 6th Mounted Infantry Contingent 44th Infantry Battalion |
Service No. | 520, 1822 |
Service Arm | Army |
Date of Birth | 1866 |
Birthplace | Perth, WA |
Residence | Perth, WA; New Norcia, WA |
Date of Death | 30 Sep 1931 |
Relatives | Father - GARDNER, John - 1857, 1267, 245 Brother - GARDNER, John - 521 Wife - Ellen |
James volunteered alongside his brother John and and they were both part of 6th Mounted Infantry Contingent. They embarked on the 'Ulstermore' on 10th April 1901 and arrived in Durban on 29th April 1901. They returned to Australia aboard 'SS Columbian' on 30th April 1902. Both men were issued the Queen's South African Medal with clasps for Transvaal, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902. On 13 Apr 1916 he enlisted in the AIF and stated that he was 44 years of age in order to meet the enlistment criteria. He was really 50 years of age. While training in England, his true age was discovered and he was discharged on grounds of "senility" and returned to Perth.