John Hartley DAW

Badge Number: 62286, Sub Branch: Semaphore
62286

DAW, John Hartley

Service Numbers: 4280, S212301
Enlisted: 29 September 1939
Last Rank: Lance Sergeant
Last Unit: 32nd Infantry Battalion
Born: Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 28 November 1897
Home Town: Largs Bay, Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Agent
Died: 26 January 1965, aged 67 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia
Section T, Drive D, Path 15, Site 88S
Memorials: Adelaide Grand Masonic Lodge WW1 Honour Board (1), Kingscote Kangaroo Island WW1 Roll of Honour, Kingscote Public School Roll of Honor, Penneshaw Kangaroo Island Men Roll of Honor WW1
Show Relationships

World War 1 Service

16 Dec 1916: Involvement Private, 4280, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: ''
16 Dec 1916: Embarked Private, 4280, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Adelaide

World War 2 Service

29 Sep 1939: Involvement Lance Sergeant, S212301
29 Sep 1939: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lance Sergeant, S212301
29 Sep 1939: Enlisted Adelaide, SA
24 Feb 1941: Discharged

Help us honour John Hartley Daw's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Trevor Pyatt

Biography of John Hartley Daw (1897–1981)

Early Life

John Hartley Daw was born on 28 November 1897 at Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, to Arthur Daw and Clara Emma Calnan. He grew up on Kangaroo Island, working as a farmer before enlisting. He was of fair complexion, with auburn hair and blue eyes.

World War I Service (1916–1919)

Enlistment: 11 July 1916, Adelaide, aged 18 (with his father's written consent).
Regimental Number: 4280
Unit: 32nd Battalion, A.I.F. (12th Reinforcement)
Embarkation: 16 December 1916 on HMAT Berrima, disembarked Devonport, England, 16 February 1917.

Western Front Service

March 1917: Hospitalised at sea, later admitted at Parkhouse (mumps).
May 1917: Joined 32nd Battalion in France.
Aug–Sept 1917: Hospitalised with dysentery at Boulogne and Manchester.
1918: Returned to France, rejoined his unit, but suffered recurring illness requiring repeated hospital admissions.
Nov 1918: Attached to 5th Division HQ after the Armistice.

Return & Discharge

5 July 1919: Departed England aboard Port Melbourne.
8 August 1919: Disembarked at Adelaide.
25 September 1919: Officially discharged, "termination of period of enlistment."

Medals

British War Medal
Victory Medal (issued 1922).

World War II Service (1939–1941)

Service No.: S212301
Enlistment: 29 September 1939 at Adelaide.
Unit: 4th Garrison Battalion, AMF.
Age at enlistment: 41
Civil Occupation: Motor Driver
Religion: Church of England
Marital Status: Married; next of kin was wife Ida Blanca Daw, of 50 Sefton Street, Largs Bay.

Service Details

2 October 1939: Taken on strength.
3 October 1939: Promoted to Lance Corporal.
1 April 1940: Promoted to Acting Corporal.
9 July 1940: Promoted to Acting Sergeant.
Posted to training and instructional duties, including C.D.S. Wayville.
Granted multiple periods of sick leave and recreational leave.

Discharge

24 February 1941: Discharged from the AMF at Adelaide with the rank of Lance Sergeant, medical classification Class II.

Marriage and Family

Married Ida Blanca Anders (1899–1965) on 22 April 1924 at St James Church, Mile End.
Child: Marjorie Emily Daw, born 9 December 1925 at Freeling.
After Ida's death in 1965, John later married Claire Margaret (1901–1986).

Later Life and Death

John lived at Largs Bay, South Australia.

Ida died 26 January 1965 at Largs Bay and was buried at Cheltenham Cemetery.
John died on 11 April 1981, aged 83, and was buried with Ida at Cheltenham Cemetery, Section T, Drive D, Path 15, Site 88S.
His memorial describes him as: "Loved husband and father of above, and beloved husband of Claire."
His second wife Claire later died on 26 August 1986 and was buried in Melbourne General Cemetery.

Summary

Name: John Hartley Daw
Born: 28 Nov 1897, Kingscote, Kangaroo Island
Parents: Arthur Daw & Clara Emma Calnan
Military Service:
WWI: Private, 32nd Battalion AIF, Reg. No. 4280. Served in France, hospitalised for illness, returned 1919. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
WWII: Lance Sergeant, 4th Garrison Battalion, AMF, Service No. S212301. Enlisted 1939, discharged 1941.
Marriages:
Ida Blanca Anders (1899–1965), child: Marjorie Emily Daw (b. 1925).
Claire Margaret (1901–1986).
Died: 11 Apr 1981, Largs Bay, SA.
Burial: Cheltenham Cemetery, SA.

Biography by Trevor Pyatt - 7/09/2025

 

Read more...