3rd Australian Pioneer Battalion WW1

annie1 · Post by **annie1** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:28 pm

Hi All,

I have recently found my gt grandmothers brothers marriage cert, and was surprised to see that he was in the 3rd Australian Pioneers during WW1, I did a bit of research and found he had immigrated to Bundaberg, NSW, where he was a sugar cane cutter, he married in Motherwell in 1916, to a local girl while he was a soldier.
I also found out he had died in Fife, my question is, would he have had to go back to Australia after the war or did he simply stay on in Scotland.

Thanks
Ann

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 3:30 pm

Hello Ann,

Just a quick reply as I’m about to shut down for the night.

Have you seen his WW1 file? If not maybe there’s something there. It should be available at the Australia Archives, free to view.

Try Record Search here http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/recordsearch.aspx

Alan

WilmaM · Post by **WilmaM** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 9:16 pm

Bundaberg in New South Wales?

There is a Bundaberg in Queensland Australia that still has a Sugar Cane industry.
Worth checking both States.

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:08 am

Wilma’s right, there’s definitely no Bundaberg in NSW (unless it’s gone walkabout).

The WW1 file should show if, when, and how he returned to Australia while still a soldier.

Also see this site http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/index.html

Alan

annie1 · Post by **annie1** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:14 am

Hi Alan & Wilma,

Thank you both for replying, Wilma you are right it was Queensland, a mistake on my part, I will have to read more about the sugar cane industry there.
Alan I went to the site and got his file, amazing!!! It was so easy to use and find all his details. It does have the date he signed up and a correction to his next of kin in 1918, but no mention of when he left the pioneers, I will go and have a look at the link you sent.

Thanks Ann

WilmaM · Post by **WilmaM** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:27 am

My sister lives near there Ann, and I know there's a lot of sugar around her place.

annie1 · Post by **annie1** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:27 pm

I have just returned to his file Alan, and in my excitement did not notice how many pages there were, all his details are there, he did return with his wife, I cant believe I have seen all this data, its just wonderful

Wilma, I have just finished reading about the sugar cane in Bundaberg, very interesting, plenty of by what I have seen! A nice rural area.

Ann

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:07 pm

That’s good Ann,

The largest file I got from there was about 70 pages and there’s usually a fair bit of duplication but it’s very good for the price.

Alan