Can anyone identify this military uniform?

[Sandgroper]

This man, Francis Ernest Alfred Nelson, arrived in Australia in 1889. He served in the Boer War and was in the last contingent to leave Western Australia in 1902.His grandson has posted this photo of his grandfather on a local FB page and has asked for assistance. I've taken on the task of making enquiries for him. Unfortunately his war records aren't available online.
I presume this uniform is connected to the Boer War but I'm not certain. Could someone identify it for me, please?

[MaxD]

There are records for a Private Francis Nelson number 512 in the 6th West Australia Mounted Infantry who left Australia in March 1901.  He is wearing four clasps on his medal ribbon which is the number awarded to Francis Nelson.

https://www.angloboerwar.com/images/pdf/Murray_WA_56con.pdf

The medals were not authorised until 1903 and he is a sergeant here so the uniform would appear to be later than the Boer War.  It has elements of an artillery uniform, crossed gun barrels with a crown on the left sleeve which at that time was a battery gunnery prize and above his sergeants stripes is what might be (can't see it all) an artillery gun badge worn by sergeants.

Can't make sense of the cap and collar badges though.  This:

http://diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/other/army_in_wa.htm

Shows a number of artillery units in WA post the Boer War - could be in one of these?  A posting on the Australia board may be worth it unless an answer appears here.

MaxD

[Sandgroper]

Many thanks for your reply MaxD. I understand Francis also served in WW1. It appears he stayed in  Western Australia guarding the returned troops who were quarantined because of the Spanish Flu.
Possibly it was a uniform for the 'home guard' so to speak.
Here's another photo posed at the Round House in WA. Francis is bottom right wearing his medal.
I've just realised there is a military museum in Perth and hopefully they may be able to tell me a bit more.
I do appreciate your reply.
Jenny

[MaxD]

Great.  Different uniform, still artillery, only one stripe so probably pre-dates the first one.  Museum is a great idea.

Do let is know how you get on.

MaxD

[raonull4]

hi this is from the oz-boer database project

[MaxD]

That's very useful - the only data base that has where he came from so if your man came from Geraldton was a miner and was born in England then he is the right one.

MaxD

[raonull4]

hi Max
         i think 343 Geraldton WA is the source  i located page 343
which should give his name date of birth where born and  possibly more
but when i click 343 i can t get any further,
my understanding of WA is that it s an australia newspaper dated  5/4/1901

[MaxD]

Not quite

Source 343 is number 343 in the list of sources
http://members.pcug.org.au/~croe/ozb/oz_boer5a.htm
which indicates the source was the West Australian newspaper of that date which gave number, name, age, birthplace, occupation, home & previous service.
Geraldton is the town in Western Australia 258 miles north of Perth

While I can find the newspaper of 5 April 1901 and an article about the departure of the contingent:
the list is actually in the paper dated 6 April!

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/24729073?browse=ndp%3Abrowse%2Ftitle%2FW%2Ftitle%2F30%2F1901%2F04%2F06%2Fpage%2F2546603%2Farticle%2F24729073
he is number 192 in the list.


MaxD

[Sandgroper]

Thanks everyone for your help. Thanks raonull4 for the info,that's my man. I'll contact the Army Museum and hopefully can identify the uniform or point me in the direction of someone that can.