My name is Luca Muir Anderson and I was born in San Francisco while my parents were on a work trip. My family history in Australia dates back to the 1840s when the paternal side (the Muirs) settled in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. My maternal side (the Andersons) settled in the Goldfields during the 1890s. Both sides of the family originated from Scotland.
I have been interested in military history for a long time and in particular the colonial military period of WA.
During the 2nd Boer War, 2 members of my family deployed to South Africa as part of the Western Australian Mounted Infantry:
Name | Rank | Birthplace | Job | Age | Service Notes |
William Anderson | Trooper | Scotland | Working on a regional Station. | 32 | Served with the 3rd WAMI in Africa from 18th April 1900 – 8th May 1901. Saw action in numerous battles including Koster’s River. Wounded at Klep Klop Drift 6th January 1901. Received the Queen’s South Africa Medal with 4 clasps (“Rhodesia” “Transvaal” “Orange Free State” “Cape Colony”) |
Arthur W H Anderson | Trooper | Scotland | Surveyor in Coolgardie | 35 | Served with the 4th WAMI in Africa from 18th June 1900 – Early July 1901. Saw action in numerous battles. Received the Queen’s South Africa Medal with 4 clasps (“Transvaal” “Wittebergen” “Cape Colony” “South Africa 1901” |
My family has also seen action in WW1, WW2, Vietnam and peacetime service.
