NEWCOMB, Dominic George Doubtfire
| Service Number: | 7598 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 July 1917, Carlton VIC |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia,, 3 June 1901 |
| Home Town: | Collingwood, Yarra, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Confectioner |
| Died: | St Vincent's Hospital Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1 January 1921, aged 19 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Jul 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 7598, 6th Infantry Battalion, Carlton VIC | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Aug 1917: | Involvement Private, 7598, 6th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Aug 1917: | Embarked Private, 7598, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne | |
| 12 Jan 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 7598, 6th Infantry Battalion, Unfit for active service |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sue Smith
Dominic George Doubtfire Newcomb was born on 3rd June 1901 at North Terrace, Adelaide SA, the eldest of 4 children born to his parents John and Charlotte Newcomb. His younger siblings were Alfred, John (died 1903) and Dorothy. He also had 6 half-siblings from his father’s previous marriages. At some point the family moved from South Australia to Victoria and were living at Collingwood by 1917. It is not known where he attended school but he spent 4 years with the Senior Cadets.
On 4th July 1917, aged 16 years and 1 month, Dominic enlisted for WW1 at Carlton VIC. He gave his age as 18 years and 1 month and both his parents had signed his application giving their consent…just in case someone suspected that he might be under age. He’s described as being 5ft 7ins tall with a fair complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. His service number was 7598, his rank Private and he was assigned to the 6th Infantry Battalion 25th Reinforcements. He reported to Broadmeadows Camp on 9th July and when he completed his training he embarked from Melbourne for England on HMAT Themistocles on 4th August 1917. He disembarked at Glasgow on 2nd October and proceeded to the 2nd Training Battalion at Durrington Camp on the Salisbury Plain. In late April 1918 he proceeded to the 1st Training Battalion at Sutton Veny then embarked from Folkestone for France on 1st July 1918. Upon arrival at Le Have he proceeded to the Australian Base Depot and joined his Battalion 6 days later in the frontline trenches at Merris east of Hazebrouck near the Belgian border.
The 6th Battalion was relieved a week later by the 11th Battalion and then marched to Racquinghem to Hill Camp and then 2 days to Orchard Camp. They remained there till 30th July when they were relieved the 11th Battalion at Pradelles. They were relieved on 3rd August and marched to Blaringhem. Just 2 days later Dominic was ordered to report to the Australian Base Depot at Le Havre. The Army had received a letter from his brother Alfred written from the Army camp at Codford UK on 14th July 1918, a week after Dominic had arrived in France, in which he stated the following: ”I deem it my duty to inform you as a brother to the undermentioned Private D Newcomb 7598 that he is unfit for active service. He is far too young being only 17 and a half years of age and not only that, but he suffers from heart failure. Is it possible for him to be sent back out of the firing line? If you see it in the same light as I do you would know that a chap of his age cannot realise what he enlisted for. He was born on 3rd June 1901. I remain your obedient servant, A Newcomb.” Alfred had enlisted 10 days after Dominic had embarked from Australia but what Alfred didn’t tell the authorities was that he himself was 11 months younger than Dominic. For whatever reason Alfred did this, he affectively saved Dominic from fighting in the Hundred Days Offensive.
Dominic underwent a medical examination at Le Havre where it was determined he had a weak heart. He proceeded to England on 7th August and arrived at No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth 9 days later. He underwent a second medical examination which disclosed that he had aortic incompetence. This is a congenital condition which doesn’t allow blood to flow through the valve as it should. Having had this condition all his life one begs to ask the question “how did the Army miss this” when he underwent his medical examination at enlistment. Symptoms include chest pain, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, palpitations, breathlessness and fatigue so he struggled to cope with the long route marches and fatigue duties. A medical board classed him unfit for active service and that he was to be returned to Australia. He embarked from Plymouth on 19th October 1918 on HMT Sardinia and was sailing towards Australia when the armistice was signed on the 11th November. He disembarked at Melbourne on 27th December 1918 and was discharged from the service on 12th January 1919.
Dominic’s heart problem persisted and he passed away at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, on 1st January 1921 aged 19 years and 6 months.
Dominic George Doubtfire Newcomb was awarded for service in WW1 the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 26th February 2024.
Sources
The Lost Boys by Paul Byrnes (book)
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