PETERSON, Daniel Robert
| Service Number: | 6373 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 August 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 19th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Mosman, New South Wales, Australia, 5 June 1899 |
| Home Town: | Five Dock, Canada Bay, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Petersham SPS and Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Cream tester's assistant |
| Died: | 1961, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Aug 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6373, 19th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 6373, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 6373, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suevic, Sydney |
Help us honour Daniel Robert Peterson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Sydney Technical High School
Daniel Robert Peterson was born on the 5th June 1899 in Mosman, New South Wales (1). His father, Daniel Cuthbert Peterson, who worked as a clerk, and his mother, Kate Peterson (previously known as Kate Hogg),\were married in 1898 and gave birth to twins Daniel and Jean Peterson in 1899. Later, they also had 3 more children George, Thomas, and Robert Finlay Peterson, whom later served in the RAAF and was tragically killed on operations in 1943 on the Tunisian Coast (2).
Over the years, Peterson spent time living in Mosman, Braidwood, Petersham and Five Dock (3). He attended Petersham Superior Public School, completing his primary education and earning his Qualifying Certificate in 1912 (3). Following this, he enrolled at Sydney Technical High School, Randwick, studying from 1913 to 1914 and completing the Intermediate Certificate before leaving school (4). It was common at this time to leave high school at this age and pursue a job, which is when Peterson began working in a butter factory as a cream tester’s assistant in Braidwood.
Daniel R. Peterson enlisted in August 1916, aged 17, claiming he was 18 to meet the age requirement (6). At the time of enlistment, he was about 6 feet tall, weighed 148 lbs (about 67 kg), had blue eyes and brown hair according to the medical report (6). Peterson served as a Private in the 19th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, embarking from Sydney on 11th November 1916, on board the HMAT Suevic with the 18th Reinforcements (7).
During his service, Peterson was wounded 3 times. He was wounded 20 September 1917 with general shrapnel wound to his right forearm and was transferred back to England for further treatment. In July 1918 he was gassed and was treated in France. On 3 October 1918, he sustained a gunshot wound to his left elbow during the Beaurevoir Line operations (9). Later in October 1918, he was also diagnosed with influenza in while in hospital recovering and so was transferred back to England for further treatment and rest.
Daniel Robert Peterson survived the war and returned to Australia on the 21st January 1919, having endured multiple injuries and illnesses during his overseas service (11). In June 1928, he married Ann Wilkin at St James’ Church, Sydney(12). Together, they later resided at 14 La Mascotte Avenue, Concord, 2137, establishing a family home (13). On 6 October 1929, their daughter was born, adding to the continuity of family life after the hardships of war (14). Peterson’s post-war employment is not definitively recorded. He may have worked in his father’s workshop or continued in the butter factory as a cream tester, though electoral rolls note his occupation simply as “expert,” suggesting technical skill or administrative expertise (15).
Daniel Robert Peterson unfortunately passed away on the 3rd May 1961, aged 61 years old, the reason unknown.
Endnotes
1.Peterson Daniel Robert DOCX. from Peterson Daniel Robert, Australian Commonwealth Military Information.
2.NAA_ItemNumber8017274 (1).pdf pg 2
3.PETERSON D - Daniel Robert cream tester file Google Drive (Image THS)
4.NAA Service Record, B2455, Item 8017274; physical description, age at enlistment, religion, motivation, and enlistment details.
5.AWM Embarkation Roll, 19th Battalion, 18th Reinforcements, HMAT Suevic, 11 November 1916; service number 6373; return to Australia 21 January 1919.
6.Australian War Memorial, “19th Battalion Unit History,” First World War; campaigns include Villers-Bretonneux, Amiens, Beaurevoir Line.
7.NAA Service Record, B2455, Item 8017274; casualty forms, Wounded in Action (3 August 1918, 1 October 1918), hospitalisation with influenza.
8.NAA Service Record, B2455, Item 8017274; medal entitlements – Victory Medal, British War Medal, 1914–15 Star.
9.NAA Service Record, B2455, Item 8017274; return to Australia and discharge, 21 January 1919.
10.Family archival records; marriage certificate, St James’ Church, Sydney, 23 June 1928.
11.Electoral rolls and property records; residence at 14 La Mascotte Avenue, Concord, 2137.
12.Family archival records; birth of daughter, 6 October 1929, Concord, NSW.
13.Electoral rolls and family records; post-war occupation uncertain, noted as “expert”; possible work in father’s workshop or butter factory.