Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of John William DODD and Cecilia nee NUNAN

Husband of Betsy Marion nee ROWLEY

Henry George Dodd was born on the 20th of September 1888 in Ellendale, Port Pirie, South Australia. His parents were John William Dodd and Cecilia Matthew Nunan. He was one of 7 children. His sibling’s names were John William Dodd, Susan Cecilia Violet (Dodd) Barnett, Richard James Dodd, Ellen Northcote (Dodd) Wright, Norman Northcote Dodd and Frank Samuel Dodd. His grandparents on his father’s side were Richard Dodd and Susan Northcott. He was not married during the war. He worked as a clerk which meant that he worked in an office and did paperwork. According to his attestation paper, Dodd had brown hair, grey eyes, a fair complexion, was 5 feet 6 ¾ inches tall, he weighed 127 pounds, and his chest was 31-33 inches wide. He described himself as a protestant.

Dodd enlisted to fight in the First World War on the 23rd of March 1915, when he was 26 ½ years old. He participated in training in Adelaide and then further training in Egypt. The ship in which he travelled on was the H.M.A.T A61 “Kanowna”, embarking on June 23rd, 1915. Dodd was in the 10th Infantry Battalion, 7th Reinforcement with the rank of private. In 1915, Dodd served with the 10th infantry battalion on the Gallipoli Peninsula as an ANZAC soldier.  From December 1915 to March 1916, most of the AIF, including the 10th battalion, went to Egypt to rest, train, and reorganise after their tough battle.

On the 3rd of January 1916, Dodd got in trouble in Tel-el-Kebir for overstaying his leave; he lost 5 days of pay. In March 1916, the 10th battalion left Egypt and went to France to fight on the Western Front. On the 2nd of April 1916 Dodd was taken on strength to the 50th battalion from the 10th. The 50th battalion was made from the 1st division, 10th battalion. The 10th Battalion was split in half, and half of the soldiers formed the 50th Battalion so that the 4th Division would still have experienced fighters. From April 19th to 23rd 1916 Dodd was in hospital for an astigmatism. Dodd arrived in France on the 12th of June 1916. From the 13th of June to the 24th of September Dodd was hospitalised for eye problems. While he was in hospital, the 50th infantry battalion experienced its first major battle in Mouquet Farm, France in August 1916. Dodd rejoined his battalion on the 24th of September.

On the 21st to the 30th of December 1916, he was in hospital with influenza. On the 25th of March 1917 Dodd was transferred to the 70th Battalion from the 50th. The 70th battalion was formed in March 1917, to be part of a new division in France but was broken up in September 1917 because there weren’t enough men and its soldiers were sent to other battalions to replace losses after battles like the Battle of Bullecourt and the Battle of Messines. Dodd then returned to the 50th Battalion in France.

 On the 31st of December 1917, Dodd failed to follow an order by a superior officer while the battalion was resting after earlier fighting. He was punished with two weeks of field punishment on January 2nd, 1918. On July 29th, 1918, Dodd went on leave to the United Kingdom until October 11th, 1918. During this time, the battalion was fighting in the Hundred Days Offensive. On the 5th of November 1918 Dodd was sent to hospital, he was declared medically unfit. He was then treated at a Casualty Clearing Station on the 7th of December 1918, then admitted to a General Hospital on the 10th. In late December 1918 Dodd was still recovering in England. On the 29th of December, he was granted leave, and he travelled between England and France. From the 22nd to the 23rd of January 1919 Dodd was admitted to Australian Auxiliary Hospital though the cause was unknown. Then on the 25th of January 1919 he applied for discharge. His application was processed on the 8th of February 1919. Dodd reported to the administration in London on the 10th of February 1919, and by the 12th, his medical and army status was officially recorded.

After the war, in 1930, Dodd got married to Betsy Marion (Rowley) Dodd in Victoria at the age of 41. On the 21st of July 1965, Dodd passed away in Cheltenham, Victoria, at the age of 76. In 1967, his daughter, Claudia Ruth Martin, applied for the Gallipoli Medallion on her father’s behalf.

Bibliography:

Vwma.org.au. (2026b). Henry George DODD. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/172988 [Accessed 2 Mar. 2026].

Awm.gov.au. (2026). Henry George Dodd. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1956488 [Accessed 2 Mar. 2026].

Terrace, V. (2026). View digital copy. [online] Naa.gov.au. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3510407 [Accessed 2 Mar. 2026].

Wikitree.com. (2024). Henry George Dodd (1888-1965) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree. [online] Available at: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dodd-5799 [Accessed 2 Mar. 2026].

Vwma.org.au. (2026a). 70th Infantry Battalion. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/770.

Wikipedia Contributors (2021). 50th Battalion (Australia). [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50th_Battalion_%28Australia%29.

corporateName =Department of Veterans’ Affairs; address=21 Genge St, C.C. (2019). Hundred Days 8 August to 11 November 1918. [online] Anzac Portal. Available at: https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/western-front/hundred-days.