SYDNEY RICHARD COULTER. LIEUTENANT,5th Victorian Mounted Regiment
Killed In Action, HLOBLANE 27/8/1901.
BURIED VRYHEID, SOUTH AFRICA
Sydney Richard Coulter was the second eldest son of Irvine and Mary Coulter. He was born in 1876 in Ballarat. His eldest brother Irvine born in 1873 became involved with Ballarat City Rowing Club in the early 1890’s. His younger brothers Graham, Jason and Leslie also rowed at the club so it is reasonable to assume that Sydney also rowed although this has not been verified. He was very active in the Ballarat Football Club and served as secretary to that organisation as well as playing on the team.
He enlisted for the Boer War in October 1899. When he left the Ballarat Football Club held a farewell supper at Craig’s Hotel and presented him with him with a “smoker’s outfit” and congratulated him on obtaining his commission as second Captain of the contingent.
He served for nearly 2 years being promoted to Lieutenant, before he was killed in action at Hlobane on 27th of August, 1901. He was entitled to the Queens South Africa Medal with Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and South Africa 1901 clasps. Both his brothers Graham and Jason also served in the Boer War, although the war ended before Jason arrived in South Africa.
When word reached Ballarat of his death, the whole town flew flags at half-mast. His name is recorded on Ballarat’s Boer War Memorial in Queen Victoria Square, Sturt Street.
Ballarat City Rowing Club History Blog 