Robert Lenehan

Robert William Lenehan (16 August 186520 May 1922) was an Australian solicitor and military officer who commanded the Bushveldt Carbineers (BVC) during the Second Boer War. Lenehan was convicted of war crimes alongside Harry Morant, Peter Handcock, and George Witton, among others, for the murder of Boer prisoners of war. Lenehan was later pardoned by the Australian government for his role in commanding the Bushveldt Carbineers.

Early life and education Lenehan was born on 16 August 1865 in Petersham, New South Wales, he was the son of Christopher Henry Lenehan and Marie Louise. Lenehan attended Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview before being admitted as a solicitor in 1891. He was transferred to the New South Wales Artillery in 1894 and promoted to the rank of Major in 1898. Lenehan volunteered to fight in the Second Boer War and joined the New South Wales Mounted Rifles as the Captain of "B" squadron. :62 During his service with the New South Wales Mounted Rifles Lenehan was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with six clasps. :362

Bushveldt Carbineers

Recruiting for the Bushveldt Carbineers (BVC) began on 21 February 1901 in Durban. The regiment was made up of 320 volunteers, primarily Australian and other colonial personnel whose terms of service had expired. :45 While at Fort Edward in the Northern Transvaal the BVC was under the de facto command of Captain's Alfred Taylor and James H. Robertson. During World War I Lenehan served as a training officer for the 4th Australian Field Artillery Brigade. Following Lenehan's role as a solicitor in a controversial divorce case in Sydney, Defense Minister George Pearce removed Lenehan from his command at Menagle Camp, Lenehan retired from the military on 20 August 1918. He is buried at the Field of Mars Cemetery in Ryde, New South Wales. Lenehan's name is listed on the Boer War Memorial at Kitchener Park in Gunnedah.

Personal life Lenehan married Harriett Emma Mary Hodge on 30 January 1889 while attending college at Saint Ignatius.