Dingle, Harry

No.4653 – Private Harry Dingle – 5^th Pioneer Battalion

Harry was born in Fremantle in 1893 with the family initially lived in William Street Chesterfield (renamed to Chester Street in 1906) before heading to Howard Street Fremantle for a short time. Harry was initially schooled in Fremantle but in the 1900’s the family moved to Claremont where they resided on Perth-Fremantle Road (later Stirling Hwy).

After leaving school Harry became a Fitter and Turner apprentice with Collins and Co in Maylands. This apprenticeship lasted four and a half years and after it was completed Harry continued with his trade.

Harry enlisted into the AIF at the Swan Barracks in Perth. The medical examiner passed him as fit and recorded his physical attributes as; 5 feet 4 & ¼ inches in height; weight of 104lbs; chest measurement of 30 – 34 inches; fresh complexion; blue eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Wesleyan.

After being passed as fit, Harry was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was initially assigned to No.38 Depot. He was then transferred into the 14^th Reinforcements of the 11^th Battalion. He trained with this group for several weeks but in February 1916 they received their departure orders. So they left Blackboy Hill Camp and entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the HMAT Miltiades.

This ship left Fremantle on the 12^th February 1916; and reached Egypt three weeks later. After being disembarked Harry was sent into the 3^rd Training Battalion camp. He was not there for long as with the expansion of the AIF reinforcements were needed for the new units. On the 27^th March Harry was taken on strength of the 15^th Field Company Engineers. He spent nearly two months with this group and with his Fitting and Turning skills he would have been kept very busy. These skills were also required by other units and on the 23^rd May 1916 he was transferred into the 5^th Pioneer Battalion.

Harry trained with his new unit in Egypt for the next few weeks but their embarkation orders soon arrived and on the 19^th June 1916 in Alexandria they boarded HMT Canada which took them on the journey to France, arriving at Marseilles on the 25^th June. After being disembarked the men were sent north to the Armentieres sector. The 5^th Division would go into the line at Fleurbaix and would be involved in the disastrous assault on Fromelles on the 19^th July 1916.

Harry was hit by shrapnel through the chest, back and side on the 19^th July 1916. He was sent for initial treatment to the 14^th Field Ambulance and then on to a Casualty Clearing Station where it was found that there was also damage to the lung. After more treatment Harry was then transferred to the 32^nd Stationary Hospital at Wimereux. On the 8^th August Harry was sent aboard the Hospital Ship Cambria and sent to England. He was then sent to Bradford War Hospital for further treatment.

Harry’s condition improved but it was clear that he would be unfit for further service so on the 9^th September 1916 he was put aboard the HS Kanowna at Southampton and sent to Australia, disembarking in Fremantle in November 1916. Harry was then sent to No.8 AGH for further treatment and he was discharged from the AIF on the 9^th May 1917.

In 1918 Harry married Elise Illingworth and they had a son Charles Harry born in 1919. Tragically Elsie died in 1920. In 1927 Harry remarried to Nora Weedon.

In World War Two, though Harry didn’t see service, his son, Charles Harry Dingle served in the 2^nd AIF with the Armoured Regiments but then went on to serve with the home forces Militia Units.

Harry Dingle continued working for the PMG in Perth and died on the 3^rd August 1971 aged 77 and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.