DEMPSEY, Donald Peter
| Service Number: | 1113 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 18th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Mosquito Island, New South Wales, Australia, 29 December 1887 |
| Home Town: | Carrington, Great Lakes, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Coal trimmer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 8 October 1917, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 23), Belgium, Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Carrington Connolly Park War Memorial Gates, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient) |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1113, 35th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 1113, 35th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: Surname incorrectly recorded on roll as Demsey | |
| 1 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 1113, 35th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Sydney | |
| 17 Feb 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 18th Infantry Battalion | |
| 8 Oct 1917: | Involvement Private, 1113, 18th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1113 awm_unit: 18 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-10-08 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Memorialised at Sandgate Cemetery.
104 years ago today, on the 8th October 1917, Private Donald Peter Dempsey, 18th Battalion (Reg No-1113), coal trimmer from C/O Mrs. Jones, Little Young Street, Carrington, New South Wales, father of two (Nellie and Delma), was Killed in Action during the Battles for Passchendaele Campaign, age 29.
Born at Mosquito Island, New South Wales on the 29th December 1887 (family of 14 or 16 children) to Joseph (died 1939) and Catherine (died 1910) Dempsey of Church Street, Mayfield, New South Wales and 18 Havelock Street, Mayfield, N.S.W.; husband of Nellie Dempsey nee Jones (married 1914, Newcastle, N.S.W., died?), Donald enlisted January 1916 with the 35th Battalion at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Younger brother Raymond Francis (39th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, Reg No-1471, born 1898, KIA 5.4.1918) memorialised same location.
Younger brother Henry (Harry, 34th Battalion, Reg No-407, born 1889, died 1966) resting at the cemetery. CATHOLIC 3-88. 117.
Was presented to Donald, a wristlet watch and pocket wallet at Mosquito Island.
Mr. Dempsey’s name has been inscribed on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 23), Belgium.
Donald’s name has also been inscribed on the Carrington Citizens' Memorial Gates (photos, unveiled on the 23rd February 1924, 258 names inscribed, 40 Fallen), Mosquito Island Roll of Honour - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140973753 and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall.
I have placed poppies at the Dempsey gravesite to honour the supreme sacrifice of Donald and brother Raymond for God, King and Country during The Great War. CATHOLIC 1-B Spec. 89.
Headstone memorial inscription incorrectly states KILLED IN ACTION AT MESSINES.
Lest We Forget.
Click images to start slideshow.