Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur William Dodd served twice in the South African (Boer) War. First service was as a Private S.N. 124 in the 2nd Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as as a Private S.N. 634 in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (1st Draft).

When he joined the 2nd QMI in 1900 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 20 Jan 1900, it was noted he was single from Wandell Estate, Rockhampton. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 2nd QMI, Bk 1 p. 33, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Julia Dodd, "Wandell", The Range, Rockhampton. He was invalided from this service returning to Brisbane and was discharged on 25 Aug 1900.

He then later joined again with the 6th QIB and was selected as part of the 1st Draft of the 6th that embarked on 20 Aug 1901, some 4 months after the main 6th QIB had left. The men selected in the 1st Draft in the main consisted of men who had previously served in previous contingents in South Africa, and were being sent as reinforcements for the 5th and 6th QIB contingents already in South Africa.

The men in the draft were not entered on the original nominal roll of the 6th QIB. He was, however, recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB (to which he was allotted), Bk 4 p. 72, where it is noted on 12 Nov 1901 he changed his pay instructions to direct part of his pay to his wife Anna Dodd, Westbrook Crossing, near Toowoomba.

Newspaper report in The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, notes when the 5th QIB returned to Australia, 634, Private Arthur W. Dodd, remained in South Africa for further service. The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB further notes that he was forwarded to England to attend the coronation ceremonies, most likely as part of the Coronation Contingent. No further information was given on his return and discharge.

Arthur William Dodd was born about 1873 in England, a son to Richard Dodd and Julia Adelaide Ethelinda Dodd (nee Darley). His father had passed in 1896 at Rockhampton. A report in The Capricornian, 19 Dec 1908, notes his mother, Julia Adelaide Dodd owned the dairy, Wandal, near Rockhampton, that her son Christopher Frederick Dodd managed along with her daughter Mabel Dodd when the residence burnt down.

Arthur William Dodd married Anna Naske from Toowoomba on 15 Aug 1901 in Queensland, a few days prior to embarking for the second time to South Africa. This probably explains the change of instruction for redirecting pay to his wife in the Boer War Service Paybooks. They had 1 child, a daughter born in Mar 1902 while Arthur was still serving in South Africa. It is unclear what became of Arthur following completion of his war service noting that his wife remarried in 1913.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 462 & 518; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier 1st service; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 2nd QMI, Bk 1 p. 33, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 72).