Frank Orlando Dawson

Frank Orlando Dawson

Courtesy Ancestry.com
Personal Information
Date of Birth	10 Jun 1893
Place of Birth	Wigan, Lancashire, England
Death	15 Mar 1942
Place of Death	Katanning, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	22 years, 7 months
Description	5'8¼" (1.73m) tall ; 154lbs 69.853 kg ; fresh complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Farm hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	Gosnells, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Long Dawson
Military Information
Reg Number	1559
Date of Enlistment	15 Sep 1915
Rank	Trooper
Unit/Formation	10th Light Horse, 12th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	22 Nov 1915 ‒ 14 Dec 1915
Ship Embarked On	RMS Mongolia
Date of Return	6 Oct 1919 ‒ 16 Nov 1919
Ship Returned On	HMNZT Pakeha
Monument	none at present
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Frank was working in Broomehill at the time of his enlistment.

War Service

On entry to camp in Western Australia Frank was allocated to the 29th Depot Company, but on 3 Nov 1915 he was transferred to the 3rd Depot Squadron, and a day later he was allocated to the 12th reinforcement draft for the 10th Light Horse Regiment. He travelled with the draft to Egypt in late 1915.

In Egypt he was initially based at Heliopolis, a suburb of Cairo, but on 26 Feb 1916 he was transferred to Serapeum. From 21 - 26 Sep 1916 Frank needed attention from the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance for an injury to his knee while at Hod Amana.

Between 1 and 8 Jul 1917, he was again in need of medical attention while at Shellal. Seen by the 5th MB Field Ambulance, at Marakeb for septic toes. he returned to duty at Abbassia. Sick again on 8 Jun 1918, this time with VD, he was seen by the 3rd Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance who passed him to the Australian Rest Station on 9 May 1918. They in turn sent him on to the 36th Stationary Hospital in Gaza, before he entered the 44th Stationary Hospital in Kantana on 18 May 1918. A day later he was admitted to the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital in Moascar, and on 7 Jul 1918 he entered the Rest Camp at Port Said. On 25 Jul 1918 he returned to duty after 61 days ineffective service.

Returning to his unit on 31 Jul 1918, he was again hospitalised on 23 Sep 1918 until 2 Oct 1918, courtesy of the 47th Stationary Hospital. Rejoining the 10th Light Horse Regiment base on 29 Oct 1918, he joined them in the field on 18 Nov 1918, before on 19 Feb 1919 seeking medical help again. Admitted to the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital on 23 Feb 1919, on 17 Mar 1919 he rejoined the 10th Light Horse at Zagazig on 17 Mar 1919 after another 27 days of ineffective service.

On 23 Jul 1919 he embarked for the UK, and on his arrival in England on 5 Aug 1919 he was granted leave until 6 Sep 1919 when he was to report to Sutton Veny. A month later he began the journey back to Australia from Southampton.

Discharged by the 5th Military District on 16 Dec 1919.

Post War

In 1921 he married Ruth May Nelson in Katanning district, Wester Australia. Children Walter, Madge and Ronald.

Electoral Roll entries: 1925 - 1937 Broome Hill, farm hand