DEMPSEY, Henry
| Service Number: | 407 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 34th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Moscheto Island (known as Mosquito Island) New South Wales, Australia, 1 July 1889 |
| Home Town: | Newcastle, Hunter Region, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Moscheto Island School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Dairyman and later Wharf Labourer |
| Died: | Newcastle New South Wales, Australia, 19 October 1966, aged 77 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW CATHOLIC 3-88. 117. |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 407, 34th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 407, 34th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 2 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 407, 34th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Sydney | |
| 27 Jul 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 407, 34th Infantry Battalion, 2nd MD |
Help us honour Henry Dempsey's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Kathleen White
Henry Dempsey (Harry) was the 9th child of Joseph Dempsey and Catherine nee Ryan of Moscheto (Mosquito) Island. His grandfather Richard Dempsey was a convict from Tipperaary, Ireland.
Moscheto island was one of a group of islands in the Hunter River in view of Newcastle city. Another was Dempsey island reported to be named after the family.
The islands were reclaimed by the New South Wales Government around the time of the construction of the BHP in Newcastle. They have been joined together with fill and industrial waste and are now and industrial wasteland named Kooragang. A place where coal is loaded on ships for overseas.
They were mainly dairy farmers but also grew produce for sale at the Newcastle markets. They rowed their milk twice a day every day to Newcastle for sale and took their produce on market day. It was a hard life.
His father was part of the fledgling dairy industry in Newcastle and one of its contributing founders. Henry worked on his fathers farm. He was one of 14 children and two of his brothers Donald and Raymond also served in France. Donald was killed in 1917 and his body never recovered, Raymond died in 1918 and is bured in Frechencourt Cemetery, Somme. Two other sons died tragically as boys. Their mother had died of cancer before the war began.
Henry joined the 34th Battalion at Maitland Showground. It was planned that most of the men came from Maitland area near Newcastle and it was to be known as 'Maitland's Own' but men had already joined from the far north west of New South Wales after joining a recuiting march that began at Walgatt.
After joining the families on the island gave them a reception which included a meal, music, dancing and speeches. They were each given a suitable gift to take with them. They were also welcomed home by the islanders and a honour board was made with the names of those who served, died or returned home.
Henry's father would have been relucant to see another son join the war effort. Henry's youngist brother joined the year before (1915) at the age of 18 and in December of that year his brother Donald joined. Donald had been rejected twice for health reasons but this time was accepted. He was married with a small child. Henry must have felt the pressure to also do his bit for the Empire. As young men with little experience of life they had no idea of what lay ahead for them and the horrors they would encounter.
Of the eighteen men that left from their island home, seven would never return. A high price was paid by the parents of this little island that just held a few farming families.
Henry left Sydney on 2nd May, 1916 on the Honorata and arrived in Engand in late June when the photo was taken.
They left for France on 22 November and moved into the trenches on 17 November, 1916.
Those in the photo would haave mostly known one another. Cornelius and George lived on Moscheto Island as well. Cornelius was a relataive. Sergeant Frederick was a friend.
Henry was injured twice by bullets during his service and also spent time in hospital with bronchitis. He returned home on the Runic on 27 April, 1919 with a limp due to his disability.
He married Esther Lucas at Hamilton, Newcaslte in 1920, he was 31 years old. They never had any children. In 1949 he was living at 62 Perkins Street, Newcastle.
It would have been a difficult life for him trying to make a living as a labourer on the wharves of Newcastle with his disability.
He like his brother Raymond and so many other young men have no children and grandchildren to remember their sacrifice, so it is important that those who can, record their lives.
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Served and suffered during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery.
57 years ago today, on the 21st October 1966, Private Henry Dempsey, referred to as Harry, 34th Battalion (Reg No-407), farmer from Mosquito Island, New South Wales and 62 Perkins Street, Newcastle, N.S.W. (1949), was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 77. CATHOLIC 3-88. 117.
Born at Mosquito Island, New South Wales on the 12th May 1889 to Joseph, died 25.8.1939, age 89 and Catherine Dempsey nee Ryan, died 31.10.1910, age 54, mother of 14 or 16, of Church Street, Mayfield, New South Wales and 18 Havelock Street, Mayfield, N.S.W.; husband of Ester L Dempsey nee Lucas (married 1923, Hamilton, N.S.W., died 4.7.1970, age 83, sleeping here), Harry enlisted on the 16th January 1916 at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A20 Hororata on the 2nd May 1916.
Wounded in action - 9.3.1917 (GSW both feet), 3.5.1918 (GSW left foot, severe).
Granted leave to England from 14.3.1918 to 5.4.1918.
Transferred to England 12.5.1918.
Harry was invalided home on the 11th June 1919, being discharged medically unfit on the 27th July 1919.
Mr. Dempsey’s name has been inscribed on the Mosquito Island Roll of Honour.
I have placed poppies and a 1914-1918 WAR label at Harry’s gravesite in remembrance of his service and sacrifice for God, King & Country.
Not officially commemorated.
Older brother Donald Peter (Don, born 29.12.1887, Mosquito Island, New South Wales, coal trimmer from Little Young Street, Carrington, N.S.W., married, enlisted 18.1.1916, 35th Battalion, Reg No-1113, KIA 8.10.1917, Battle of Broodseinde, age 29, 18th Battalion, name inscribed on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 23), Belgium) memorialised at the cemetery. CATHOLIC 1-B Spec. 89.
Roll of Honour, 1918, for Don and Herbert "Webber" Jones, 30th Battalion, Reg No-448, KIA 4th November 1916, age 28, resting at AIF Burial Ground, Flers, France. Plot IX Row B Grave 4, memorialised at the cemetery. ANGLICAN 1-30. 56.
Younger brother Raymond Francis (Ray, born 15.12.1897, Mosquito Island, New South Wales, labourer from Mosquito Island, N.S.W., enlisted 2.8.1915, 7th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Reg No-1471, KIA 5.4.1918, age 21, 39th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, resting at Frechencourt Communal Cemetery, France. Row A Grave 14) memorialised at the cemetery. CATHOLIC 1-B Spec. 89.
Many thanks to Kathy White for the photos and family history.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/
Lest We Forget.
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