DUTTON, William Leslie
| Service Number: | 4400082 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 August 1950, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) |
| Born: | Barmera, Berri and Barmera - South Australia, Australia, 10 August 1930 |
| Home Town: | Barmera, Berri and Barmera, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Moorook West, Holder Siding, Bool Gun, Maggea and Sacred Heart College |
| Occupation: | Block hand (later Safety Officer/Trainer) |
| Died: | Natural causes (cardiogenic shock), Berri, South Australia, 26 October 2007, aged 77 years |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia Lawn 2, Section 13, Number 3045 |
| Memorials: |
Korean War Service
| 10 Aug 1950: | Enlisted Private, 4400082, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sep 1952: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 4400082 | |
| 2 Sep 1952: | Involvement Private, 4400082, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) | |
| 10 Sep 1953: | Discharged Private, 4400082, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) |
Help us honour William Leslie Dutton's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Georgina House
William Leslie Dutton was born in Barmera, South Australian on 10 August 1930. William initially joined the Citizen Military Forces (part-time duty) on 17 October 1949 at the age of 19. Until this time William (Bill) helped his father with share farming in the Riverland. William's Certificate of Discharge described his occupation on enlistment as "Block-hand".
William was a keen sportsman who was known to have played football for Wunker Football Club (near Maggea) and hunted rabbits. William served with the Citizens Military Forces until 1 December 1950.
William served with the Australian Regular Army Supplement (K) from 10 August 1951 for a period of two years in 3 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. During that time William saw active service in Korea for a period of 1 year and 66 days (Returned from Active Serice Badge No. A. 382534). At the time of completing his active service William was 23 years of age.
William married in 1954 and it is understood that he had a number of occupations over the next 15 years including farming, fire fighting, maintenance work for the RAA, running a bottle collecting business, and training at Warradale Barracks. His work at Warradale Barracks may have occurred during 1958 to 1967 during which time he is known to have served with the Citizen iltary Forces again on a part-time basis.
William's skills, particularly in training, assisted him obtain a job in 1972 with Bougainville Copper Ltd. He worked on Bougainville Island for siz years as a Safety Training Officer.
On his return to Adelaide in 1978, William gained employment as a Safety Officer with the Public Buildings Department of the SA Government. He retired in 1990 and moved initially to Coffin Bay, Eyre Peninsula before returning to live in Berri, Riverland for the last decade of his life.
In the 1980's William was actively involved in the Korea and South East Asia Forces Association, South Australia. He was also State President of the Association during this time.
In 2002 William was instrumental in the establishment of the Riverland Branch of the Korea and South East Asia Forces Association.
In 2007, William was awarded Life Membership of the Korea and South East Asia Forces Association. William was always very proud of his service for his country and his involvement in the Korea and South East Asia Forces Association.
William died peacefully in Berri, South Australia on 26 October 2007.
Click images to start slideshow.