Egbert John Dowson

Private

Conflict:

Anglo Boer War

NZ WAR GRAVES

Public Contributions:

Egbert John Dowson, son of Thomas William Dowson and Emily Ann Turner, born 24 Dec 1871, "Heelyfield", Kaiwaka, NZ, died 9 Feb 1902, Charlestown, South Africa, of enteric fever. Known as Bertie to hi...s family, he and his twin sister Annie were the second set of twins born to Thomas and Emily. He was a farmer, and undertook two world trips, one in 1897/8, the other in 1900, when he met the famous Thomas Edison. Bertie was on his way home from his second world trip when the Boer War broke out again, prompting the ever adventurous Bertie to divert to Africa in order to sign up for the war, but he was not accepted by the Imperial Authorities because of some agreement between the British and Colonial Governments, so he returned to New Zealand and enlisted in the appropriate manner. Bertie departed from New Zealand as a soldier in the "silent" Sixth Contingent - "silent" because, leaving New Zealand a day or two after Queen Victoria died (on January 22, 1901), they had no ceremonial farewells or celebrations. The family still possess two books of drill notes tagged as belonging to ‘Trooper Dowson, Paparoa 1900’ (officially identified as Egbert Dowson RY 3225). A photo published in the Auckland Weekly News on Jan 26, 1901 showed him and 7 other members of the Sixth Contingent in front of tents, at training camp (see next page). Two cards in family possession indicate that Bertie was in New Zealand later that year; one card contained orders for Trooper Dowson to attend a UCD inspection at Newmarket on Oct 10, 1901 at 2.30pm (Auckland Mounted Rifles), and another, to attend a dismounted drill at Symond St at 7.45am on Oct 18, 1901. It was to be his last visit to New Zealand. He was in South Africa for Christmas 1901 and sent special Boer War Christmas cards back home, as well as many personal notes, which still exist in family possession. One was dated January 1902 and addressed to Romaine; ' This little card has been to South Africa, found the Trooper Dowson, spoke to him and returned to New Zealand.' And on the back was written; 'To show that I remember thee, The simple token take, When this you see remember me, For old acquaintance sake'. A roll of honour for the Sixth Contingent was published in the Auckland Weekly News and recorded Bertie’s death as occurring on February 9, 1902, at Charlestown, South Africa. He died of enteric fever, which is typhoid, aged 30, and was buried in a cemetery there. His name is listed as 'DAWSON EJ' on the Boer War Honour Roll at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Family legend tells how his mother Emily was so shocked by the death of her beloved son that she temporarily lost her sight. Bertie's passion toward collecting and tagging souvenirs did not leave him during the war and he amassed a lot of items although only a few come into the hands of Romaine, who displayed them in his museum. According to a newspaper article; 'The Boers were the first militarist to use the barbed wire entanglement. Bert preserved a small strip of the first entanglement he encountered, under fire and cut, ... being merely a foot or so of standard 12 gauge barbed wire.' Also saved was the wire cutter, undoubtedly manufactured in a hurry to get through the wire which no one would have been expecting. Further items collected by Bertie that were listed in various newspaper articles; 'a Kaffer's headgear (made from the tail of a cow); the complete kilt uniform of a Gordon Highlander, killed; ... trinkets traded by Europeans with the natives; cartridges and shell cases; time bombs...'; '...books and papers taken from the houses of Generals Botha and Kruger'; and still in family possession are photos of various Boer families and individuals, a cloth survey map of Pretoria written in German dated 1901, and many other interesting items. Read More

Add a Story or Photo

Casualty

Name:

Egbert John Dowson

Rank:

Private

Date of Birth:

Not known

Next of Kin:

Thomas William Dawson, Kaiwaka, New Zealand

Date of Enlistment:

Not known

Enlistment Address:

Kaiwaka, New Zealand

Occupation on Enlistment:

Farmer

Armed Force:

Army

Unit:

New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, 6 Contingent

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:

Enteric fever

Date of Death:

09 February 1902

Day of Death:

Sunday

Conflict:

Anglo Boer War

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Place:

Auckland, New Zealand

Embarkment Date:

30 January 1901

Vessel:

Cornwall

Destination:

South Africa

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery:

Newcastle Cemetery

Cemetery Location:

South Africa