DODDS, William Joseph
| Service Number: | 20229 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 January 1915, Brigade Ammunition Column |
| Last Rank: | Saddler |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column |
| Born: | Albany, Western Australia, 22 March 1891 |
| Home Town: | Geraldton, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer (Railways) |
| Died: | Midland, Western Australia, 27 September 1976, aged 85 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Midland Cemetery |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 20229, 8th Field Artillery Brigade , Brigade Ammunition Column | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 May 1916: | Involvement Gunner, 20229, 8th Field Artillery Brigade , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Medic embarkation_ship_number: A7 public_note: '' | |
| 20 May 1916: | Embarked Gunner, 20229, 8th Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Medic, Melbourne | |
| 3 Oct 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Gunner, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column | |
| 6 Sep 1918: | Honoured Military Medal, Recommendation: 'From August 8th to September 1st 1918, during recent offensive operation on the Somme ....' | |
| 1 Jan 1919: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches | |
| 1 Jun 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Saddler, 20229, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column, embarked England per HT Somali | |
| 22 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Saddler, 20229, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Gunner/Saddler William Joseph Dodds (Service No:20229) enlisted in the AIF on 8 January 1915 - he had previously served three years with the Cadets. Gunner Dodds embarked from Melbourne with 8th Field Artillery Brigade on 20 May 1915. Gunner Dodds served in France and was a Saddler attached to 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column on 6 September 1918 when he was Recommended for the Military Medal. 'From August 8th to September 1st 1918, during recent offensive operations on the Somme, this man has performed excellent work. On one occasion at hamelins, whilst delivering ammunition to Battery positions, he was left at a crossroads to direct following teams, when the enemy opened heavy fire on this point which was maintained for an hour. During this period Saddler Dodds remained at his post and succesfully directed all teams to their destination. This man had voluntarily taken his turn as gunner to assist in the delivery of ammunition at night, whilst performing his duties as Saddler by day. His willingness to assist in every way, and coolness under difficult conditions were a spendid example to men working with him' (Australian War Memorial). On 1 January 1919 Saddler Dodds was Mentioned in Despatches and on 1 June 1919 he embarked from England for the RTA on board HT Somali. He was Discharged on 22 August 1919.
Born in 1891 in Albany Western Australia, William was the eldest of four children of James Dodds (b1866 in Cumberland, England) and Jean (Jane) Young Collins (b1872 in Dumfries-shire, Scotland). James (a Railway Worker) and Jane married in Perth in 1891 and settled in Geraldton where they raised their family and James worked for the Railways as a Guard, Fettling Ganger, Construction Ganger and Length Runner.
William worked as a Labourer and Saddler before joining the Railways in 1915 where he worked at Utakarra and Wuragi via Geraldton as a Casual Repairer. Granted Leave of Absence from the Railways in 1915 for WWI service, William returned to Geraldton and in 1921 was working at Yalgoo when he married Mary Smith (b1902 in Geraldton, WA). William and Mary lived where William worked with WAGR as a Repairer and Ganger - Bluff Point, Yalgoo, Cranbrook, Southern Cross, Woolgangie, South Kumminin, Goodwood, Scaddan and Three Springs. William died in 1976 and Mary in 1991.