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particularly in late 1917 when a number of mutinies occurred in their
ranks. The article below demonstrated that John was still welcomed home
by his mother as a hero who had “gone through hell”.
John William Dodds was welcomed home with a party by his mother as is
shown in a Newcastle Herald “Redhead” news item.
John Dodds, together with Enoch Bleck and Sam Newton who served as
soldiers in World War 1 are buried in Whitebridge Cemetery.
Cemeteries can be a valuable source of some basic information that can be
used to find additional facts, for example, birth dates.
The Newcastle Herald has given written approval for us to use the three
articles from their newspaper as long as they are acknowledged. We do
this and thank the Herald for this support assisting us to use the articles to
help us and to make some comments on trench warfare and its
consequences particularly in northern Europe.
Harrie Durham (Regimental No 1531)
Harrie Durham
was at 36 years of age in the early stages of the war, a
mature enlistment in the AIF. The medical report in his Attestation Paper
indicated that he was 6 foot no inches (180cm) tall that would make him a
tall man for the early 1900s. His medical report also indicated less
important medical facts like the initials HD being tattooed on his left arm
below his elbow.
He was a single man who enrolled at Enoggera, Queensland on 31
December 1914 in the 9
th
Battalion. His enlistment details show a
similarity with other early enrolments. He was a miner and a member of
the Church of England. Harrie’s papers also showed that he was born at
Braidwood, New South Wales and that his nominated next of kin was his
mother who boarded in Darlinghurst Sydney New South Wales.
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