James Gordon Williams as Boer War and First World War veteran, interviewed by Peter Charlton.

Interview with James Gordon Williams, veteran of the Boer War (No.452, enlisted 5-5-1902) and First World War (no.3195, 25/2 Light Horse).

James Williams recalls enlisting in Toowoomba, with the 7th Australian Commonwealth Horse, for the Boer War. He did this in May 1902, travelling to South Africa including Johannesburg, Durham and Capetown, but only being in South Africa overall about six weeks, without seeing any fighting before war's end. He returned to Queensland and his work as a stockman until 1914, when he enlisted withthe Second Light Horse from Brisbane. He does not recall much about training for either Boer or First World War, as, being an experienced stockman, he was like many of his cohort already proficient with a horse and a gun. He did not travel to Gallipoli like his two brothers but was at Beersheeba an Jerusalem. He makes some mention of the 'clearing of the town' after a local man was caught stealing from the Australian camp. He recalled an officer whom he particularly admired, a Captain Hanley, as being a very fine officer who was killed in action (possibly at Maghara Hills).