Raymond Oswald DAWES

Badge Number: 11043
11043

DAWES, Raymond Oswald

Service Number: 430
Enlisted: 26 August 1914
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 10th Infantry Battalion
Born: Richmond, Victoria, 6 August 1889
Home Town: Adelaide, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Carpenter
Died: Unknown, Unknown , 15 May 1964, aged 74 years
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials: Prospect Roll of Honour A-G WWI Board, Prospect St Cuthbert's Church Honour Board
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World War 1 Service

26 Aug 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 430, 10th Infantry Battalion
20 Oct 1914: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 430, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: ''
20 Oct 1914: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 430, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Adelaide
22 May 1915: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 430, 10th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Bullet wound to finger, leading to amputation.
23 Sep 1917: Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 430, 10th Infantry Battalion, Discharged due to deafness,

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Biography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College

Raymond Oswald Dawes was born on the 6th of August 1889 in Richmond, Victoria. His parents were Henry Dawes and Emma Susanna Withers. He was a reasonably tall man at 5’10, weighing 145lbs (65kg), brown eyes and hair and a chest measurement of 37 inches. Raymond worked as a carpenter and remained unmarried at the time of the enlistment.

 

He was enlisted as a private in the 10th Battalion on the 26th of August 1914 and his unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board Transport A11 Ascanius 20 October 1914. His total service in war was 3 years and 59 days. Raymond fought in the trenches most of the time. The greatest difficulties he and many others faced were the shortages of water and food, lack of sleep, boredom and the millions of flies and lice. Disease was everywhere, and Raymond Oswald Dawes became ill and caught a major bout of diarrhoea where he was hospitalised for two days from the 9/12/14, when in camp in Egypt. Within six months, Raymond caught the influenza disease and was under treatment for three days from the 7/5/15. Despite these two illnesses, Raymond did not give up and continued his fight in the war. A month later bad luck had struck Raymond once again and was admitted to hospital for a gunshot wound to his finger which resulted in him having treatment for six days and this ultimately led to his finger being amputated.

 

Weapons that were used were extremely loud such as machine guns, hand grenades, rifles, pistols, catapults and artilleries. Bombs were made from empty tins which were filled with nails, barbed wire, bits of shell and other metal scraps and a fuse was then fed through the top which had to be lit by a match. These extreme noises marked the end of Raymond’s time at war as in July 1917 Dawes was returned to Australia for home service due to deafness.

 

Raymond Oswald Dawes’ service at Gallipoli reflects on the ANZAC spirit of loyalty, passion, determination, bravery, mateship and endurance. This Spirit is forever imprinted in the nation of Australia and the hearts of the Australians. ANZAC Day is a time for us to pay tribute to these brave men who fought and died for our country so that future generations could live in peace. Raymond like many other soldiers, are remembered each year for the act of unselfishness and we use this time to pay our respects. Raymond is an example of the ANZAC Spirit how an ordinary person did extraordinary things, He lived and fought courageously for his country.

 

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