DESBOIS, Daniel Robert
| Service Number: | 2258 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 June 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Cooktown, Queensland, Australia, 8 July 1891 |
| Home Town: | Mosman, Municipality of Mosman, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Station manager |
| Died: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 12 May 1976, aged 84 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, NSW East Terrace 3 Wall 4 |
| Memorials: | Cremorne St Peter's Anglican Church WW1 Honour Roll, Mosman War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2258, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 2258, 3rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Karoola embarkation_ship_number: A63 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 2258, 3rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Karoola, Sydney | |
| 17 Feb 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 29 Jun 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 18 Oct 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 1 Apr 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 14 Apr 1918: | Honoured Military Cross |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Daniel Robert Debois enlisted in the 3rd Battalion only four days before his ship left Sydney on 16 June 1915. In less than two months he was wounded by bomb fragments to the head during the heavy fighting at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, on 7 August 1915.
He was evacuated to Egypt and rejoined the 3rd Battalion on Anzac on 3 November 1915, remaining with them until the evacuation. He was again wounded in action in France on 3 July 1916, a gunshot wound to the left hand and was evacuated to England.
He was treated in the Leicester Military Hospital and the following article appeared in a newspaper during November 1916, “Mrs. Trimble has received a very interesting letter in reference to her grandson, Corp. D. R. Desbois, who enlisted from Queensland. He was wounded at Gallipoli, and was again wounded while in action in France and sent to the Leicester Royal Infirmary. "While at the infirmary, and just as he was recovering from his injuries, Corp. Debois submitted himself to an operation, for the benefit of a fellow sufferer. The following appeared in the ‘Daily Mail’: "The Rev. J. Townroe Coward, vicar of St. Leonards, Leicester, and chaplain to the Leicester Royal Infirmary writes to the ‘Daily Mail’ stating that a young New Zealander in the infirmary with a wound in the thigh was sinking and transfusion of blood was adopted. Corporal D. R. Desbois, an Australian patient, who had been wounded in Gallipoli and then in France, offered and gave a pint and a half of his blood. When the chap-lain saw him next day in bed and very week his only regret was that he had not been the means of saving his comrade's life.”
Debois was in England for nearly 12 months and rejoined the 3rd Battalion during June 1917, where he was soon promoted to Sergeant. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant on 18 October 1917 and Lieutenant during April 1918.
He was then awarded a Military Cross, “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Strazeele, France, on 14 April 1918. Lieutenant Desbois was in charge of a platoon post in front of the line, when attacked heavily on both flanks and front. By his courage and initiative, he saved a break in the line and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. Though under heavy enfilade fire the whole time, he showed a carless disregard for his own safety, and by his courage and cheerfulness inspired his men with great confidence. The formation of the attacking waves was broken time after time by the gallantry of his post.”
Daniel Robert Desbois returned to Australia during March 1919. He lived on a farm at Muttama, near Cootamundra, New South Wales, married in 1929 and served again during World War two, with the rank of Captain.
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