DANCE, Harry Sidney
| Service Number: | 3204 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 41st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Poplar, East London, 1882 |
| Home Town: | Maryborough, Fraser Coast, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Fitter |
| Died: | Illness, Chichester, Sussex, United Kingdom, 7 November 1920 |
| Cemetery: |
Chichester Cemetery, Sussex, England Grave 24. 63. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Tiaro War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Feb 1917: | Involvement Private, 3204, 41st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb 1917: | Embarked Private, 3204, 41st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wiltshire, Sydney |
Help us honour Harry Sidney Dance's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Harry Sidney Dance was born at Cubitt Town, London, England to parents William and Sarah Ann Dance (nee Pearson). Harry Dance was baptised on 26th February, 1882 at St. John’s Church Cubitt Town, Tower Hamlets, London, England. William Dance was listed on the Baptism Record as a Labourer & the family lived at 20 Tamuda Street.
He married Elizabeth Emily Rose in 1907. Their marriage was registered in the district of East Preston, Sussex, England.
A son – Thomas Sidney Dance was born on 30th May, 1908 at Burstow, Sussex, England) and another son – Harry Robert Dance was born on 27th January, 1910 at Horne, Surrey, England.
Harry Dance, aged 29, & his wife Elizabeth Dance, aged 24, were passengers on Marathon which arrived in Queensland on 22nd July, 1911. Also listed was their son Thomas Dance, aged 2.
A daughter – Elizabeth Louisa Dance was born on 25th February, 1912 in Queensland, Australia. A son – William Alfred Dance was born on 23rd September, 1913 in Queensland, Australia.
On 22nd December, 1916 Harry Sidney Dance enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) as a 35 year old, married, Fitter from Maryborough, Queensland.
Private Harry Sidney Dance, Service number 3204, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Wiltshire (A18) on 7th February, 1917 with the 41st Infantry Battalion, 7th Reinforcements & disembarked at Devonport, England on 11th April, 1917.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
He was marched in to A.I.F. Details at Fovant, Wiltshire on 11th April, 1917.
On 23rd April, 1917 Private Dance was marched in to 11th Training Battalion at Durrington Camp, Wiltshire from Details Camp at Fovant.
Private Dance was admitted to Fargo Military Hospital, Wiltshire on 3rd July, 1917 with Debility. He was discharged to duty on 17th July, 1917. Private Dance was marched in to 11th Training Battalion on 23rd July, 1917.
He was admitted to Fargo Military Hospital, Wiltshire on 4th August, 1917 then transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, Kent on 28th September, 1917.
A Medical Report was completed on Private Harry Sidney Dance on 11th October, 1917 at 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford. His disability was recorded as Dyspepsia which had originated about June 3rd at Lark Hill, Salisbury. The facts on Private Dance’s disability were recorded as “Onset quite sudden with pains in centre of abdomen & shooting across to left hip. Pains have been constant every day since then. Pains are less after eating & always more sever when “stomach is empty”. They are sometimes very severe & double him up. No nausea or vomiting. Feels as if a weight were on the stomach. Inoculated on June 3rd and pains came a few hours later. Appetite is very poor. Bowels are constipated. Lost about 3 stone in weight since he landed in England on April 11th. Quite well prior to illness. States he cannot walk about much on account of pains in left hip.” The Medical Board opinion was that the disability was caused by Active Service – nervous disposition. The Board recommended that Private Harry Sidney Dance be discharged as permanently unfit for all military service.
Private Dance was discharged from 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, Kent to Depot at Weymouth on 15th October, 1917. He was marched in to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset on 15th October, 1917.
On 5th November, 1917 Private Dance returned to Australia on Themistocles (A32) for discharge due to Dyspepsia & embarked from Devonport, England. Private Dance disembarked on 3rd January, 1918 in Australia thence overland to Brisbane.
He was admitted to 13th Auxiliary Hospital on 22nd February, 1918. A Medical Report was completed on Private Dance on 22nd February, 1918 & his disability was reported as Neurasthenia. The history of the disability was recorded as “Whilst in camp complained of many nervous symptoms, became hysterical & emotional. Said he could not walk on account of pain in his hip.” He was admitted to 6th Australian General Hospital on 23rd March, 1918 with Neurasthenia & discharged on 26th June, 1918.
Private Harry Sidney Dance was medically discharged from Australian Imperial Force on 26th June, 1918.
A War Pension was granted to Harry Sidney Dance, G.P.O., Brisbane in the sum of £3 per fortnight from 27th June, 1918. A War Pension was also granted to Elizabeth E. Dance, wife of Harry Sidney Dance, in the sum of £1/10/- per fortnight from 27th June, 1918. Pensions were also granted to Harry & Elizabeth Dance’s four children (all from 27th June, 1918 & per fortnight) – Sidney Thomas Dance - £1; Harry Robert Dance 15/-; Elizabeth Louisa Dance 10/-; & William Alfred Dance 10/-.
Harry Sidney Dance & his wife & four children were listed as passengers on Ormonde, which had departed from the port of Sydney, Australia & arrived at the port of London, England on 7th October, 1919. Harry Sidney Dance was listed as a 38 year old Fitter; his wife Elizabeth as a 33 year old House Duties & their children – Thomas Sidney, aged 11; Harry Robert, aged 9; Elizabeth Louisa, aged 7 & William Alfred, aged 6.
Ex-Private Harry Sidney Dance died on 7th November, 1920 at Chichester, Sussex, England.
He was buried in Chichester Cemetery, Chichester, West Sussex, England – Plot number 24.63 and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/chichester.html
Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
Births Mar 1882 Dance Harry Sidney Poplar 1c 769
Marriages Sep 1907 [East Preston is in the county of Sussex]
DANCE Harry Sidney E. Preston 2b 790
ROSE Elizabeth Emily E. Preston 2b 790
Deaths Dec 1920 DANCE Harry S 38 Chichester 2b 453
41st Bn.Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
He was 38 and the son of William and Sarah Dance; husband of Elizabeth Emily Dance, [nee Rose] of 30, Largewood Avenue, Tolworth, Surbiton, Surrey, also of Bauple via Tiaro, Queensland.
Enlistment date 22 December 1916
Click images to start slideshow.