Looking for advice regarding an Australian’s involvement in the Boer War

Question

Hello, Zach here from the Australia Project.

I recently got a copy of Smalls at War, a book documenting the descendants of John and Mary Small who were involved in the Boer War or World War One. As I was looking through, I was surprised to find Ernest Houison mentioned, as I previously had not seen anything about him being involved in the military.

I haven’t done any research for the Boer War before, so I’m feeling a bit lost since I can’t seem to find him in my usual places to find military information, such as the National Archives of Australia or the Australian War Memorial; including their sections dedicated to the Boer War.

I believe in the value of corroborating sources, and as such, I was wondering if anybody knew of where I could look to find more official records of Ernest’s time in both the Boer War, and his time in South Africa in general. My attempts to find such information are documented in the Research Notes of his profile; I’m a bit skeptical of the databases I have found so far, though I’m not sure if I should be.

As an extra note, I have at a look at the resources page recommended by the Anglo-Boer War Project, though there’s a lot of information there and I’m a bit stuck on how to work through it; if what I’m looking for is even there.

Any advice regarding the stickers and categories I’ve used is also welcomed.

Thanks in advance for any help,

Answer 1

Zachariah, the Thermoplyae struck a reef of Cape Town in September 1899, so it's not likely that Ernest was on board her a month later.  Certainly, she was NOT carrying troops from New South Wales or other colonies (race horses, cargo, 52 passengers and 32 crew).  He won't be located on Australian sites such as NAA and AWM as he did not serve in Colonial or Australian forces.  The first contingent to arrive in South Africa from Australia were New South Wales Lancers in November, and they actually travelled from England.  Kitchener's Horse was a British unit.  Many Aussies had travelled to South Africa, joining the rushes to gold and diamond fields.  Whilst there, they joined ad hoc units formed in South Africa under British auspices.  Ernest was possibly one of those.  See the Australia in the Second Boer War free space page for more details.

Answer 2

Have you seen his entry in the "Australians in the Boer War Oz-Boer Database Project" ?

There is also this page at the Australian War Memorial site: Official records of the Australian military contingents to the war in South Africa, 1899-1902.

Answer 3

These look interesting

Trove - 1, 2, 3, 

Anglo Boer War Resources - Kitchener's Horse - 1, 

""Two other regiments, designated, at the particular request of the members, Roberts' Horse and Kitchener's Horse, have also been formed, chiefly from men who have found their way to South Africa from various parts of the world". These corps were at first intended to be called 'The second and third regiments of the South African Light Horse', but the names were changed as a compliment to the new Commander-in-Chief and his chief of the staff." 

This would infer that men in these units may not have been contingents sent from the Australian colonies

Listing of names in the Nominal Roll of South African Units - Kitchener's Horse - I had wondered if this might be him - name E O Houison # 4116 - at page 15  - note this is the same Service Number mentioned in the Trove article