Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Thomas Dutton: Service Number 2376

John Thomas Dutton was born on 10th July 1898 in Adelong. (1) He was the son of Thomas Allen Dutton and Elizabeth Dutton with his brother William Allen Dutton being born four years after. He also had two sisters Edna Aileen Dutton and Mildred Eileen Dutton born later, on the 5, 1902, and August 30,1905, respectively, in Adelong.(2) His religion was regarded as Roman Catholic and it stayed consistent within his life. He attended Sydney Technical High School for four years (joining in term three of the first year), 1913-1916, being in classes 1E, 2C, 3A, and 4A, even though John Thomas Dutton’s immediate family was registered as residing in Adelong suggesting he might have boarded in Sydney. (3) During his years at Sydney Technical High School, he was recorded as trying to enlist as a student but was rejected various times (4). His AIF enlistment papers recorded he attempted to enlist as a Private on the 28th of December 1916 at the Victoria Barracks becoming a part of the 2nd and 4th Camel Corps. Although, he was discharged for being underage on the 5th of February 1917(6) but was then reinstated as he was recorded as embarking on the Sydney RMS Morea embarkation ship a week later on the 17th of February 1917. Dutton’s parents wrote a note stating, “We give our consent for our underage son J. T. Dutton, to enlist for service abroad, provided he is not sent to the front until his 19th birthday, on July 10.”

During the war, fought with the Camel Corps. The aim of the corps was to counter pro-Turkish Senussi Tribesmen in Egypt’s Western Desert. It was part of the 12th Light Horse Regiment which was the first company out of four companies from the Australian infantry battalion’s attempt to recover from Gallipoli. The major battles it was part of were the Attack on Beersheba, the Battle of Magdhaba, and the Battles of Gaza. However, historians can assume that Dutton participated in both the Attack on Beersheba and the Battles of Gaza during his time serving. The Attack of Beersheba occurred 43 kilometres from Gaza in March of 1917. Its goal was to break the Gaza - Beersheba line and enable the British, Australian and New Zealand forces to outflank Gaza. Australian War Memorial recounts the event as “Brigadier General William Grant responded by ordering light horsemen of the 4th and 12th Regiments to charge at the unwired Turkish trenches. The light horsemen did not carry swords or lances, so they held their bayonets in their hands and used them as "swords".”. It ultimately was a turning point in the war as it was succesful with the British, Australian, and New Zealand soldiers able to outflank Gaza. (7) Dutton’s papers record him as being sick to the hospital from 20/10/1927 to 23/10/1917 rejoining. (8) John Thomas Dutton was later transferred to Mashoera Bombay on the 18th of March 1918. Dutton then returned to Australia on the 18th of February 1919. (9)

When John Thomas Dutton returned to Australia he received his first appointment as a school teacher on the 21st of August 1920. He then married on the 3rd of April 1926 to Ruby Gladys, eldest daughter of Mrs E. Thomas, of Victoria Street, Waverly. (10) The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Father McNamara and the honeymoon of the newlywed was celebrated in the Blue Mountains. Shortly after his marriage, Dutton had Charles Cecil Maclarn charged with theft as Dutton lost 200 pounds (money) to Maclarn, an accountant who fraudulently omitted the money which was one hundred pounds from his savings and then another hundred from his war bond. (11)

He also served in World War II where he was awarded the Victory Medal for his services. In the later years of his life, Dutton was found to have a fondness for serving his community. There is a paper that documented his donation of a clock instead of money to his district hospital on the advice of the secretary of which Dutton acted as President of Molong Sub-Branch of the Returned Soldiers’ League.

His involvement in the Returned Soldier’s League is closely linked to his service in war. In the following year, Thomas John Dutton and his wife decided to leave Adelong where he served as the Headmaster of Molong Central School for six years and President of Molong Sub-Branch of the Returned Soldiers’ League for twelve months.

Dutton was loved by his community as he exchanged speeches with his peers and was bid farewell by all. The local newsagency produced a paper detailing the emotions felt, titling the article “Molong To Lose Two Sterling Citizens (Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Dutton)”. (12) Dutton then lived the rest of his life residing with his wife at 39 Myrna Road, Strathfield, Sydney, NSW. This was where he spent as a school teacher. (13) He passed peacefully on the 19th of July 1980 in Strathfield, and is now laid to rest in Rookwood Cemetery, remembered for his service to both his country and his community. Lest we forget.

Reference:

New South Wales, Australia, Public Service Lists, 1858-1960, Ancestry.com
New South Wales, Australia, Public Service Lists, 1858-1960, Ancestry.com
THS 1913 class 1E Term 3 through to THS 1916 class 4A half year
THS Journal vol 1 no. 2 November 1916 p 10 shows “Jack Dutton” on the Roll of Honour. He had tried various enlistments and was rejected.
according to his papers in the National Achieves of Australia (NAA)
National Achieves of Australia
https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/beersheba
National Achieves of Australia
First World War Nominal Roll (AWM)
Murrumbidgee Irrigator (Leeton, NSW: 1915 - 1954)
Truth Sydney, NSW: 1994 - 1954) Sunday 14 March 1926 Pg 18
Molong Express and Western District Advertiser
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980 for John Thomas Dutton

Bibliography:

https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/71569

https://www.lighthorse.org.au/the-battle-at-maghdaba/

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-battle-of-the-somme

https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/beersheba

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ya-Dmkadn8yx4Ou-JbARNVejA-LH9apo/edit?gid=1366750678#gid=1366750678 (google drive)

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=3530326

https://tinyurl.com/3b53hnxu

https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/medals/imperial-awards/world-war-one/victory-medal

https://www.afpc.af.mil/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/421906/world-war-ii-victory-medal/#:~:text=The%20World%20War%20II%20Victory,Government%20of%20the%20Philippine%20Islands.