Z9175
DAWES, William
| Service Number: | 6554 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Coromandel Valley, South Australia, Australia, 15 January 1887 |
| Home Town: | Broken Hill, Broken Hill Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 8 May 1942, aged 55 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cheltenham Cemetery, South Australia Section G, Drive A, Path 37, Site Number 137S |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Jan 1917: | Involvement Private, 6554, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Miltiades embarkation_ship_number: A28 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Jan 1917: | Embarked Private, 6554, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Miltiades, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 6554, 50th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Trevor Pyatt
Biography of William Dawes (1887–1942)
Early Life and Family
William Dawes was born on 15 January 1887 at Coromandel Valley, South Australia, the eldest known child of William Aaron Dawes (1854–1917) and Sarah Ann Shepley (1867–?). His official birth registration places his birthplace at Coromandel Valley, although his military service papers later list Blackwood as his place of birth.
William grew up with at least one sister, Kate Hannah Dawes (born 28 November 1890 at Coromandel Valley). By the early 1900s, the Dawes family were established in Broken Hill, New South Wales, where William worked as a labourer before enlisting in the army.
His father, William Aaron Dawes, died on 28 May 1917 and was buried in Broken Hill Cemetery, only a few months after William enlisted for the Great War.
Enlistment in the A.I.F.
On 30 December 1916, William Dawes enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Broken Hill, NSW.
Age at enlistment: 28 years 11 months
Occupation: Labourer
Marital status: Single
Religion: Church of England
Next of kin: His father, William Aaron Dawes, Blende Street, Broken Hill
Physical description: 5 ft 11½ in tall, 140 lbs, chest 32–35½ in, grey eyes, brown hair, fresh complexion. He bore scars from burns on his upper chest and shoulder, and an empyema scar on his back.
He was medically passed fit despite having previously injured his back and sworn in on the same day.
Service and Deployment
William was posted to B Company, Mitcham Camp (19th/27th Battalion reinforcements) and began his initial training in South Australia.
24 January 1917 – Embarked from Adelaide aboard HMAT A28 Miltiades with the 19th Reinforcements for the 27th Battalion.
27 March 1917 – Disembarked at Devonport, England.
28 March 1917 – Transferred to the 7th Training Battalion, Rollestone, England.
17 August 1917 – Taken on strength with the 50th Battalion from the 27th reinforcements via the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot.
30 July 1917 – Embarked at Southampton, proceeding overseas to France.
William served with the 50th Battalion on the Western Front in France and Belgium during the difficult campaigns of 1917–1918. The 50th Battalion was heavily engaged at places such as Polygon Wood, Messines, and later in the Allied advances of 1918.
Later Service and Return to Australia
13 Oct 1918 – 27 Oct 1918 – Granted leave in the United Kingdom, before rejoining his unit.
April 1919 – Embarked from Southampton, England, aboard Miltiades for return to Australia.
6 August 1919 – Arrived in Australia.
14 September 1919 – Discharged at Keswick Barracks, South Australia, classified as medically unfit for further service, though medical records noted "no wounds, no sickness, disability nil."
His final address was recorded as Fussell Street, Alberton, South Australia.
Medals and Recognition
For his service, William Dawes received:
British War Medal (No. 9142)
Victory Medal (No. 15031)
Later Life and Death
After returning from the war, William lived quietly in South Australia. He did not marry. His later years were spent around Port Adelaide, where he died in 1942, aged 55. His death was registered at Portland, Port Adelaide, and he was laid to rest in South Australia.
Legacy
William Dawes represents the many young men from working families in Broken Hill and South Australia who volunteered in the First World War. Though he survived the Western Front, the experience left him weakened, and his early death at 55 reflects the long-term toll of wartime service.
He is remembered as the son of William Aaron Dawes (1854–1917) and Sarah Ann Shepley, and the elder brother of Kate Hannah Dawes (born 1890). His name and service remain part of the Dawes family legacy and South Australia's proud contribution to the Great War.
Biography by Trevor Pyatt 25/09/2025