DODDRIDGE, Harold William
| Service Number: | 2839 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 May 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | North Adelaide, South Australia, 12 September 1893 |
| Home Town: | Kent Town, Norwood Payneham St Peters, South Australia |
| Schooling: | North Adelaide Public School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Conductor |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Crouy, France, 7 May 1918, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Crouy British Cemetery, Crouy-sur-Somme Plot II Row B Grave 8, |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, North Adelaide Baptist Church Honour Roll, North Adelaide Public School Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 24 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2839, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Sep 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2839, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Adelaide | |
| 21 Sep 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2839, 10th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 26 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| 15 Aug 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2839, 50th Infantry Battalion, Mouquet Farm, Shell shock | |
| 2 Feb 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2839, 50th Infantry Battalion, 2nd occasion - GSW (leg) | |
| 13 Mar 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2839, 50th Infantry Battalion, 3rd occasion - Shell wound (buttocks) | |
| 25 Apr 1918: | Wounded | |
| 25 Apr 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2839, 50th Infantry Battalion, Villers-Bretonneux, 4th occasion - Shell wound (abdomen) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sandra Doddridge
"...2839 Private Harold William Doddridge, 50th Battalion. A conductor from Kent Town, South Australia, prior to enlistment in the 9th Reinforcements of the 10th Battalion, he embarked from Adelaide on 21 September 1915 aboard HMAT Star of England for Suez. He was taken on strength of the 10th Battalion in Mudros which then was withdrawn to Egypt. Pte Doddridge was transferred to the 50th Battalion which relocated to the Western Front, France, during early June 1916. Pte Doddridge was wounded in action with shell shock in mid-August 1916 near Albert, France, but was able to re-join his unit the next day. In February 1917 he was wounded in action near Bernafay which required evacuation to England for treatment and recuperation before rejoining his battalion in mid-August 1917. Pte Doddridge was appointed Lance Corporal and held this rank until early March 1918 when he reverted to Private. He was wounded in action on a third occasion on 13 March 1918 near Ypres, Belgium, and was able to re-join his battalion ten days later. Pte Doddridge was wounded in action on a fourth occasion on 25 April 1918 near Villers-Bretonneux, France, died of these wounds 12 days later and is buried in the Crouy British Cemetery, Crouy-sur-Somme, France. He was aged 24 years." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
Biography contributed by Modbury High School
Harold William Doddridge
12 September 1893- 7 May 1918
Harold Doddridge, the second son of Jane and James Doddridge was born on the 12th of September 1893. he was 5'9 (175cm), 154lbs (69kg) with brown eyes and brown hair. Harold was born and raised at 53 King William St. Kent Town, Adelaide prior to his enlistment.
Harold went to North Adelaide Public School. After school he went on to become a conductor before he enlisted at the age of 21 years and 8 months and was first put into the 9th Reinforcement of the 10th battalion as a Private.
On September 21, 1915, he sailed for Suez from Adelaide aboard the HMAT Star of England.
Harold was sent to the 50th Battalion, which moved to the Western Front in early June 1916, after he was drafted into the 10th Battalion in Mudros, which was later withdrawn to Egypt.
He was hurt for the first time in mid-August 1916, but the next day he was able to return to his regiment. His second injury was a bit more serious; it happened in February 1917, and he had to be evacuated to England to heal. As a result, he didn't rejoin the battalion until mid-August 1917. The third time he was hurt was on March 13, 1918, and he returned to action ten days later. The last time he was hurt was on April 25, 1918, and he passed away on May 7, 1918, twelve days later.
In total Harold served in the AIF for 2 years, 7 months and 16 days before passing away from wounds and is currently buried in the British Cemetery in Crouy, France's Crouy-sur-Somme, Plot 2, Row B, Grave 8.
Harold received his promotion to Lance Corporal on August 19, 1917. Nevertheless, he was awarded a revocation of his rank and a reduction in status back to Private since he did not participate in a march. Harold's next of kin changed from his mother to his wife on December 1, 1917, due to a registration change that occurred before to his death.
Thus, it makes sense that after Harold died, his wife Alice began to receive some of his possessions on June 24 and July 6, 1918. However, on October 19, 1921, Jane, Harold's mother, received letters about Harold's medals and asking if she wanted a picture of his grave, but there was no mention that the next of kin had changed once more.
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