S3504
DAWSON, Harry Templeton
| Service Number: | 22121 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 23rd Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade |
| Born: | Granville West, South Australia , 3 December 1881 |
| Home Town: | Woodville, Charles Sturt, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Customs Agent |
| Died: | 1 February 1956, aged 74 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cheltenham Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Scots Church WW 1 Honour Board_2 |
World War 1 Service
| 20 May 1916: | Involvement Gunner, 22121, 23rd Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Medic embarkation_ship_number: A7 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 May 1916: | Embarked Gunner, 22121, 23rd Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade, HMAT Medic, Melbourne | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Corporal, 22121 | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 22121 |
Help us honour Harry Templeton Dawson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Born on 3rd of December 1881 in Glanville West, South Australia to Henry Dawson and Janet (Templeton) Dawson. According to Ancestry.com he was had five siblings, two of whom tragically passed away in infancy. Harry with his brother Arthur Anderson and his two sisters Margaret Lillian and Agnes Mary grew up at Glanville West, South Australia.
Harry enlisted on 4th of August 1915 at the age of 33 years. His brother Arthur Anderson Dawson also served in WW1
In May 1916, Harry Templeton Dawson embarked for overseas service as a gunner in the 108th Battery, 23rd Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade of the Australian Imperial Force. On the 1st of June 1916, a letter was sent to his sister A.M Dawson advising that he was traveling to Egypt for training. He proceeded to France 31st December 1916 and on the 6th January 1917 he was taken on strength with the 8th Field Artillery Brigade.
In June 1917, Dawson was wounded in action, sustaining injuries to his right arm, left buttock, and left ankle. After initial treatmnet in France he was transported back to England for further treament at 3rd Auxiliary Hospital and then the Sutton Veny Military Hospital.
On the 14th of August 1917, Officer J. M. Lean sent a letter to Agnes Mary Dawson, informing her that her brother Harry Templeton Dawson had fallen ill and been injured, and that he was recovering and regaining his strength.
He was given time to recover at Command Bases in England before returning to the Western Front in March 1918.
Between March and April 1918, the Germans launched an attack called the "Kaiserschlacht" , and the 8th Artillery was rushed into the Somme sector to defend. The battle saved the city of Amiens from falling into German control with the help of France and the 8th Field Artillery.
Between the 8th and 12th of August 1918, the Battle of Amiens took place known to the Germans as “The Black Day of the German Army.” In this battle, the combined forces of France, Britain, and Australia fought against Germany. The Allies achieved a decisive victory, capturing around 15,000 German soldiers and seizing more than 400 guns.
Between August and November 1918, the Hundred Days Offensive began. The Australian Imperial Force supported infantry and won against the German army on 2nd of September and captured Mont St Quentin & Péronne, which was one of the greatest achievements for the Australian army at that time. In late September to October 1918, the British, Australian, Americans broke the last major line of defense for the Germanys, which made them very weak and defeated. The Battle was called "Breaking the Hindenburg Line". On 11th of November 1918, the Germans last line of defense was broken by the alliance, which made them retreat to Mons, which is a city in Belgium, which helped the allies to take over Mons once for all.
Harry Templeton Dawson's last rank before leaving his service for the military was Corporal. He embarked for Australia 4th June 1919 and arrived 5th June 1919.
Harry Templeton Dawson died 1st February 1956 and is buried at Cheltenham Cemetery.