John Robertson, died at Rockhampton, 28.11.1900

[Smilingwillowb]

John had been invalided home from South Africa, where he was a volunteer soldier in the Queensland Mounted Infantry, having contracted enteric fever; prior to enlisting he had been an employee of the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company, and on returning to Mount Morgan he was employed by the Rockhampton Prospecting Company (these two companies may have been one and the same). He shot himself at Rockhampton after buying a revolver there, and is buried at South Rockhampton Cemetery in an unmarked grave (although we know the row he's in - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/160399392/john-robertson ). At the time of his death he was about 27 years of age.

John was also known to some as Jack Shannon, and a nickname may have been "Wire Fence."

In all the reports of his return to Mount Morgan from South Africa, of his death, and of the inquest, there were no mention of his origins - where he was born or anything about his family, which leads me to think that he wasn't born in Australia and moved there alone as an adult. I'd be most grateful if anyone could come up with anything on his life before he lived and worked in Mount Morgan.

[wivenhoe]

..John was also known to some as Jack Shannon, and a nickname may have been "Wire Fence."...

Who are the some who knew him as Jack SHANNON?  Where and when do you see use of this name?

"wire fence"...where do you see this mentioned?

Do you have his death certificate?

[Smilingwillowb]

"I may as well endeavour to give you the names of men from or late of the Rockhampton district - namely, ......J. Robertson ("Wire Fence")......"
(Morning Bulletin [Rockhampton], Tuesday 13th February 1900)

"Mr. Fox, supernumerary lieutenant, and Privates Colin Ross and J. Robertson ("wire fence") have been invalided to Capetown, as has also Captain Pinnock, of the first contingent, while we have quite a number of men in the various hospitals at Bloemfontein."
(The Capricornian [Rockhampton], Saturday 2nd June 1900)

Okay, at least one person  was reported as knowing him as both John Robertson and Jack Shannon.
"....a young man named William Livingstone identified the body as  that of John Robertson; Livingstone said the deceased was also known as Jack Shannon...."
(Morning Bulletin [Rockhampton], Thursday 6th December 1900)

[giblet]

Just in case you haven't seen it but John has a military file online [Boer War Dossier] with NAA, sadly it has more to do with his health than anything else so no birth place or next of kin noted.[hope the link works]

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=686505

[wivenhoe]

You need to see this death record -
BDM QLD
1900/C/3952 John ROBERTSON    died  28/11/1900 parents   - / -

You need to see this inquest file -
https://www.archivessearch.qld.gov.au/items/ITM2735737
file for John ROBERTSON (Jack SHANNON)

[giblet]

I was hoping the passenger list on the ship he come back on might have had his place of birth but it doesn't. I got the name of the ship from his military file and followed it up. Ship DAMASCUS
[His 2nd from the bottom of the list.]

ROBINSON   J   PRIVATE           CREW   MILITARY INVALID

http://marinersandships.com.au/1900/08/143dam.htm

[Aussie1947]

Hi,

Possibility residing in Rockhampton in 1895.

1895 Queensland State Electoral Roll.
Electoral District of Rockhampton North.

ROBERTSON John, 27.
Qualified to be on the roll by residence at the Lake street meat works.
Date claimed by the Registrar, 6th March 1895.

Gerry