Dunn, Alfred Edmond
5348 Private Alfred Edmond Dunn - 28th Battalion
Alfred Edmond Dunn was born in Bromley London England in 1888.
He was a sailor by trade, having served in the Royal Navy prior to his living in Western Australia.
In Beaconsfield in 1913 he married Lucy Towler and they would have a son Alfred born in 1915.
Despite having a young family Alfred enlisted into the AIF on the 10th March 1916. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical officer recording his details as;
Height - 5 feet 5 inches tall
Weight - 137lbs;
Chest Measurement - 34-37 inches;
Complexion - Ruddy;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Light;
Distinctive marks - Tattoo on Shoulder
Religious Denomination - Church of England.
Upon his enlistment Alfred was sent to the signalling school at Claremont Camp and from there was sent to the 14th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion. He trained with this group in WA until 9th August 1916 when he boarded the HMAT Miltiades in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for England.
Alfred wrote of that time of leaving Fremantle;
August 9th 1916 – This is my last day in Australia and I feel very down hearted to have to leave my dear Lucy and the boy, which may be forever. At noon we leave Claremont for Fremantle. During the run down my thoughts were with them both and all I am leaving behind. This is the end of 4 years of happiness and comfort which I pray to God I am allowed to go back to.
Arriving at Fremantle, Lucy and the boy and Mrs Williams were there to bid me a last farewell. While the points were being adjusted I took my boy in my arms and kissed half the poor little fellows face away. Lucy boarded the train and kissed me goodbye; this was the hardest of all. I think this is terrible to have our happiness broken up by one maniac (the Kaiser) but I suppose others have had their happiness shattered by the same gentleman. Our happiness seemed to be so different to others that I can hardly realise what it meant until the last moment. Dear old Lucy, you held out splendid not a tear, but you must have suffered after I went away. When the train started to move I asked Lucy to go home because I could see a good lot of rain coming.
After getting our mess fixed up on board ship I came on deck but I could not see anything of Lucy or Mrs. Williams. I expect Lucy broke up and went home. Thousands of people were stationed along the wharf to bid us farewell, and fruit of all descriptions was flying in all directions. It commenced to rain very heavy but the people would not move away until the ship cast her moorings.
At 4pm we left home for how long and I now pray to God, to protect Lucy, my boy and myself during this separation. The voyage commences in earnest and ships, steam engines, are making their whistles scream. I think we got as good a send off as any troops who have left before us. The weather is not too good for a lot of the new chums, some are already sick and we are not at sea one hour. Nearly all hands are sick now. It is very amusing tonight watching the poor fellows rigging up their hammocks. Most of them are undecided whether to sleep on them or on the deck. The ship is beginning to “stick her nose” well into it, and we are up to our knees in food which was “eton and brought up again”, not “brought up at Eton”.
August 12th 1916: The weather is splendid now, there is just enough swell to keep the ship moving. The seasicks are getting better and we are all beginning to find out how small a ship can be. The decks are packed with men and it is impossible to get a walk. Late this evening one of the poor fellows attached to a Victorian contingent died from Meningitis.
September 15th 1916: This morning we woke up to see a new attraction. It is a very big bay almost surrounded by Islands and cannot be seen from the sea. There are about thirty ships anchored here, also three British warships, also two Portuguese gunboats. The island is a Portuguese possession. The natives commenced coaling and we are not allowed near the ships rail, and we must not go here, or there, or anywhere at all, we are just beginning to wonder if we will be allowed to breathe soon. This is an Officer’s ship, they occupy the best accommodation, and the best part of the decks…We are just like cattle, first they brand us by vaccination, next they feed us and now we are to be watered at certain hours during the day. But the Officers can have ice water poor dears, hope they get spoon fed in the trenches.
Photo Below of Alfred, Lucy and young Alfred
After the long sea voyage, the ship arrived at Plymouth England on the 25th September 1916. Alfred and his group were then sent into the 7th Training Battalion on the Salisbury Plains.
Alfred would have several weeks training in England. He wrote that;
26th September 1916: Arrived at Amesbury Station and marched to camp which is five miles away. It was pitch dark and we had to hold hands to enable us to keep together. We got lost and walked about 12 miles arriving at camp at 7.30.am. We were a sad and sorry lot, dead tired and starving. Breakfast was finished but they gave us a big feed of ‘Scotch Pastry’ and some nice hot coffee. This camp is a tremendous size, I believe the Australian lines are 17 miles long. It is very much open to all kinds of weather and we feel the cold considerably. We are camped in huts which are provided with a large stove. In the evening I went and saw Charlie Monksfield and Joe Watson, they are camped two miles away from us at a place called Larkhill. They are both in the best of health. It is like being at home because you meet so many people you know here, I have met dozens up to date.
September 27th: This morning we are awakened at 5.00 am to get ourselves prepared for a review by King George. We woke up very sore from our march yesterday which was the first for seven weeks. After breakfast we marched to a place named Bulford where the review was to take place. It commenced to rain and we were not allowed to put on our overcoats, and we nearly froze with the cold. My flesh turned all sorts of pretty colours, and so would have the King’s if he could have heard the nice compliments which were paid him.
At noon the King arrived the Royal Standard was broken and the bands played the National Anthem. He first rode along the different lines of troops and inspected them, then he took up his position at the saluting stand. The march past took 1 and ½ hours and I believe 50,000 Australians and New Zealanders were present. After lunch we marched back to camp through a heavy rain and we were very pleased when the day was over.
October 5th: Charlie White and myself are transferred to Head Quarters Staff and Signal School tonight. We were both very pleased at this change because we were getting fed up with infantry work. We are now making preparations for our 4 days leave. We have to buy or railway ticket here in camp. I tended an Australian 1 pound note for my fare, but I was told they did not take Australian money. I remarked that I wished to God they would not take Australian soldiers, which caused some laughter.
October 6th: Arrived at Waterloo, all of our chaps were marched to Horseferry Road but I cleared out and went to Poplar, arriving at 3.00pm. I found my people fairly and of course they were pleased to see me. I met my brother and his wife and found them both quite well. My brother had just been discharged from the Army after two years fighting. He had been wounded on three different occasions, the first time being struck deaf and dumb, but I am pleased to say that he recovered his normal senses after 9 weeks. He has seen a great deal of the war, and he is very pleased to get away from it. His wife is a very nice young lady and I think they live very happy together. She could not do enough for me, in fact they both made me very welcome. In the evening we went to a Music Hall which was absolute murder. Gertie and I were talking all the time so you can guess the entertainment was very interesting.
October 7th: I leave Poplar this morning for King’s Lynn. My brother Will came to Liverpool Street with me. I sent a wire to Ma letting her know I was on the way. Arrived at King’s Lynn 11.20am. Ma and Grace were there to meet me. I did not have any trouble in picking them out. Mother and the girls made me very welcome and treated me splendid. In the afternoon Grace took me around Lynn and showed me most of the places of interest. It is not a very large place but I think I could put in a month there easily.
October 10th: 12.30am arrived at Amesbury and had to walk 5 miles to camp. This walk is heartbreaking and takes all the polish off my leave. I commence my duties in signal school today.
October 14th: Went over to Larkhill and saw Charlie Monksfield, Joe Watson and Stan Smith. They were going on 4 days leave again next week, and I believe they will be going to France shortly. They are attached to the 3rd Division. This Div. has not seen active service yet, and the “John Bull” newspaper is offering two thousands pounds to know their whereabouts. “John Bull” says that the 3rd Division have not yet declared war on Germany.
October 31st: I went out on the range today to Signal messages from the “butts” to the firing point. I nearly got shot this afternoon. According to regulations, it would be quite safe to put my head over the parapet when the red flag is hoisted. Alright up goes my head and some son of a seacook fires at it. My word, but it was very close and it makes one think. Guess my head will not go up anymore. Will use periscope tomorrow.
On the 19th November 1916 Alfred was in a draft of men who proceeded to France. After arriving at the French port they were then sent to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples. Alfred wrote;
At noon we leave for Etaples by train. The place is about a 20 mile journey and we arrive at Etaples at 2.pm. which is worse traveling than the Fremantle to Perth train. Marched to our camp which we found as large as Salisbury, only more isolated and half as comfortable. We were issued with rifles and bayonets which we are to use in the firing line. Twelve of us have to sleep in a small bell tent which we find not too comfortable. Why did I leave my good home to come here?
We are issued with our gas helmets and tear shell masks. We had a medical examination which I dodged. This afternoon we were introduced to the notorious “Bull Ring” where they are supposed to tame lions. It is three miles from where we are camped and we have to walk each morning with a full pack. One of the main railway lines to the front runs close by our camp. Day and night there is a continuous stream of trains, including Red Cross coaches laden with wounded and sick.
This morning we marched to the Kangaroo Rifle Range which is about half a mile beyond the “Bull Ring” to pass a musketry examination. In the afternoon we marched into a small French village. On the way a lot of the girls were selling chocolates and the attitudes and language of these girls was something shocking and disgraceful.
At the “Bull Ring” again this morning. A lot of our chaps and “Tommies” leave for the firing line today. Return to camp at 3pm and finish for the day. Very close to the “Bull Ring” is a soldiers cemetery where the chaps who die from wounds are buried. I have seen a good many buried since I have been here. Every grave has its own little head cross, and great care is taken to keep the cemetery in good order.
Alfred joined the 28th Battalion in France on the 4th December 1916. He served with them through to the end of March 1917, when he was sent to a signalling school. He remained at this school until the 14th May 1917, thereby missing the unit's action at Bullecourt.
From June to August 1917, the 28th Battalion had a rest out of the line, but in September 1917, Alfred and his unit headed for Ypres where they took part in the current offensive. Alfred survived the Battle of Menin Road on 20th September 1917 and subsequent actions at Zonnebeke and Broodseinde Ridge.
While the Battalion was holding the line near Broodseinde in late October 1917 the Germans unleashed a large barrage of artillery shells and gas. Alfred was wounded and affected by the poisonous gas. He was evacuated to Hospital in France and then England.
Due to the affect of the gas poisoning it was decided to send Alfred back to Australia and he left England on a hospital ship on the 12th March 1918. He disembarked in Fremantle on the 13th May 1918.
Alfred was discharged from the AIF on the 23rd June 1918 where he had a joyful reunion with his wife Lucy. After arriving back, Alfred initially worked as a stevedore on Fremantle Wharf, then in the 1920’s he and Lucy set up a general store in Wood Street White Gum Valley which they ran until 1948.
They had two more children, Constance in 1921 and Beatrice in 1923.
Alfred died on the 6th May 1981, a week after his 68th wedding anniversary. He is commemorated in Fremantle Cemetery.