Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

During World War I it was not only under-aged soldiers who lied about their age, but also older men desperate to do their bit for the Empire.

The QANZAC team recently received an email from Meredith Dearden who recounted the amazing story of her husband's grandfather, Clement Lovel Dearden, who enlisted in the A.I.F. during World War I, at the age of 60, well over the maximum enlistment age of 45.  Three of his sons were already serving at the front.

Clement Lovel Dearden was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, in 1856. From the passenger lists held by the Queensland State Archives we know that he emigrated to Queensland in 1882 arriving in Maryborough on the ship “Silver Eagle” on the 7th June.  Also on board was Lizzie John, aged 23, with her two sisters, Martha and Sarah.  Clement and Lizzie married a few days after arrival on the 19th of June.  Clement worked in the sugar industry in Bundaberg as well as pursuing pastoral pursuits in Central Queensland, before settling in Townsville in 1886.  Clement and Lizzie raised a family of seven sons and one daughter.

Clement first attempted to enlist in Brisbane, at Frasers Hill Camp, on the 31st of March 1916 giving his age as 42 years and 11 months.  While training in Brisbane his true age was discovered and he was discharged as "unfit for duty, not due to misconduct".  Not to be deterred he went back home to Townsville, dyed his hair, and tried again on the 13th of April 1916.  This time he was successful.  Clement gave his age as 44 years and stated that he was married with one child.  He was assigned to the 20th Reinforcement, 26th Battalion, embarking from Sydney on the ship “Hororata” on the 13th of June 1917.  Unfortunately, Clement contracted influenza during the voyage and it was during this illness, which was very severe, that things started to unravel.  From his service records, held by the National Archives of Australia, we know that the doctor on the ship wrote the following report:

“Age 65 and looks older. Should never have enlisted. He says the recruiting sergeant at Tully, Queensland, put his age down as 44 and ten months without being told the real age. Subject and cause – bronchitis. Required to be admitted to hospital immediately on arriving in England.”

Another document states:            

            “He looks old. He seems broken in health.”

Upon arrival in England Clement was sent to the Fargo Military Hospital on the Salisbury Plain, near Rollestone, where he received treatment for bronchitis and debility.  He embarked for Australia on the ship “Berrima” in October 1917 and was discharged from military duty in February 1918.  His great adventure was over.  He died on the 1st of May 1932 in Townsville, aged 76.

Three of his sons, Ernest, Verden, and Clement Lovel Jnr., all enlisted in 1915 and all served with the 9th Battalion.  All three were decorated for bravery and, fortunately, all three returned to Australia.

We are very grateful to Meredith for sharing this wonderful family story of World War I with us and for highlighting the service and bravery of the Dearden family during the war.

Lynn Meyers, QANZAC100 Content Curator

References –

State Library of Queensland (slq.qld.gov.au)

Obituary – “The Late Mr C L Dearden, Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday 18th of May 1932, Page 7” –

“Mr Clement Lovel Dearden, who died in Townsville recently, must have been one of the oldest men who went from Australia to the Great War. The late Mr. Dearden was 78 when he died, so was 60 years of age when the war broke out, or five years over the military age. That was no handicap to the tall Yorkshireman, however; he wanted to go to the war, and went. 

Mr Dearden arrived in Maryborough by the Silver Eagle, on June 7, 1882; he married in June that year. He was engaged in the sugar industry at Bundaberg for a time, and later went to the Central district for Cobb and Co. He followed station life for a time, and then came to Townsville in 1886. The deceased was a veterinary surgeon, and prior to coming to Australia, followed his profession. With the exception of a short period, when he was away in Gympie in 1898, deceased lived in Townsville. He had three sons at the war, and in March 1916, he enlisted, but while training in Brisbane, his age was discovered, and he was discharged. On returning to Townsville, Mr Dearden dyed his hair, again enlisted, and eventually succeeded in getting away to the front. He was certainly a man of courage and determination.”