DUNN, Arthur
| Service Number: | 5008 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 February 1916, Also spent time with the Light Railway Corps as a fettler |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 49th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Staffordshire, England, 1893 |
| Home Town: | Lismore, Lismore Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway worker |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 7 June 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient) |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5008, 49th Infantry Battalion, Also spent time with the Light Railway Corps as a fettler | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 5008, 26th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Choon embarkation_ship_number: A49 public_note: '' | |
| 4 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 5008, 26th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Seang Choon, Brisbane | |
| 7 Jun 1917: | Involvement Private, 5008, 49th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 5008 awm_unit: 49th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-06-07 |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Arthur DUNN, (Service Number 5008) was born in Staffordshire, England in October or November 1893. His parents were Herbert and Edith Dunn who lived near Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire.
No record could be found which confirms when Arthur joined the NSWGR&T. However, his military record includes a letter from The Chief Accountant of the NSWGR&T to the AIF Base Records, dated 21 April 1920, stating that ‘Dunne [sic] at the time of his enlistment was in the employ of the Railway Commissioners of this State …’ and enquiring about Arthur’s army rank and his expected date of return to Australia. AIF Base Records replied on 27 April 1920 advising that Arthur Dunn had been killed in action on 7 June 1917, and that he was only ever a Private.
Arthur joined the AIF on 7 February 1916 at Lismore, NSW, with the rank of Private (Service No. 5008).
He was with the 49th Infantry Battalion for a little over two months before he was detached to join the 1st Anzac Light Railway Corps, where his role was to work as a fettler. His tour of duty on detachment lasted until he re-joined his battalion on 14 May 1917. On 17 June 1917 he was killed in action at Messines in Belgium.
His Red Cross Enquiry file contains statements describing the circumstances of his death. For example, Sergeant J.G. Ingham (1565) stated: ‘I saw him killed at [the Battle of] Messines by a shell – death was instantaneous. I was wounded myself about an hour afterwards, so I cannot say if he was buried and cannot refer to anyone. I knew him well and he was a great favourite with everybody in the Coy.’
Submitted 20 June 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Arthur DUNN (Service Number 5008) was born in Staffordshire, England in October or November 1893. His parents were Herbert and Edith Dunn who lived near Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire.
Arthur was employed by the NSW Government Railways and Tramways at the time of his enlistment.
Arthur joined the AIF on 7th February 1916 at Lismore, NSW, with the rank of Private (Service No. 5008). He was initially posted to the 13th Reinforcements to the 26th Infantry Battalion. He nominated his father, Herbert Dunn who was then living at Rolleston-on-Dove, near Burton-on-Trent, as his next of kin. He gave his occupation as labourer.
He embarked for Egypt aboard HMAT A49 ‘Seang Choon’ at Brisbane on 4th May 1916 and arrived in Egypt on 15th June 1916. He left Egypt on 2nd August 1916 and arrived at the 2nd Division Base Depot at Etaples, France, on 2nd October 1916, having travelled via England. He was reassigned and taken on the strength of the 49th Infantry Battalion on 17th October 1916.
He was with the 49th Infantry Battalion for a little over two months before he was detached to join the 1st Anzac Light Railway Corps, where his role was to work as a fettler. His tour of duty on detachment lasted until he re-joined his battalion on 14th May 1917. On 17th June 1917 he was killed in action at Messines in Belgium.
Sergeant J.G. Ingham (1565) stated: ‘I saw him killed at [the Battle of] Messines by a shell – death was instantaneous. I was wounded myself about an hour afterwards, so I cannot say if he was buried and cannot refer to anyone. I knew him well and he was a great favourite with everybody in the Coy.’
Arthur is commemorated at the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium. The Australian War Memorial gives his place of association as Lismore, NSW.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
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