Wragg, Daniel David
2014 Private Daniel David Wragg - 11th Battalion AIF
Daniel David Wragg was born in Mitcham Victoria in 1891 to Henry and Annie Wragg. Dan had six siblings and the family moved to WA while Daniel was still young and took up residence in North Fremantle. Charles Wragg took up employment with Fremantle Harbour Works and the family lived in John Street North Fremantle.
Daniel completed his education at the industrial school in Subiaco and after leaving school he took up work as a General Labourer. Daniel had also served in the 11th Regiment of the Citizens Military Forces.
On the 23rd June 1915 he enlisted into the AIF and was accepted as fit for service. The medical examiner recorded Dan's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 7 inches tall;
Weight - 140lbs;
Chest Measurement - 35-37 inches;
Complexion - Dark;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Black.
After his successful enlistment Daniel was assigned to the 3rd Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion. This group departed from Fremantle Harbour on the 2nd September 1915 aboard the troopship HMAT Anchises. Three weeks later the ship arrived in Egypt but Dan didn't stay there long as on the 12th October 1915 he was taken on strength of the 28th Battalion at Gallipoli. He served through the Gallipoli campaign with this unit until they evacuated the peninsula in December 1915.
On his return to Egypt Dan made a formal request to join the 11th Battalion. This was due to his brother Albert being in the 11th Battalion. Dan was formally transferred to the 11th Battalion on the 24th January 1916 and spent the next two months with the 11th Battalion in Egypt.
On the 29th March 1916, the 11th Battalion left Egypt and sailed for France, reaching Marseilles on the 5th April 1916. The 11th Battalion entrained north for Armentieres where they had their first taste of the trench life on the Western Front. They spent the first few months in this sector.
In July 1916 the 11th Battalion were on the Somme battlefield and participated in the capture of Pozieres Village. Daniel was wounded here on the 23rd July 1916 when he was hit in the knee by German shrapnel.
He was evacuated to the 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen and from there he was sent to hospital in England. The wound was serious enough that it meant his career as a soldier was over and Dan remained in hospital for the remainder of 1916.
On the 13th February 1917 Dan embarked on a hospital ship from Plymouth Harbour and set sail for Australia.
Tragically, while Dan was on the voyage home, his brother Albert was killed in France in March 1917.
Dan disembarked in Fremantle on the 6th April 1917 and while glad to be home it was sad news he soon heard from his family about his brother.
On the 6th October 1917 Dan was discharged from the AIF.
In 1919 Daniel married Harriet Baker in East Fremantle and Dennis was born in 1920, Clement in 1921, Keith in 1923 and Audrey in 1924.
On his return from the war Daniel became involved in the state rifle shooting competitions, representing the Rocky Bay team.
The family lived at 96 Lilly Street South Fremantle (later renumbered 50 Lilly)
In 1922 the family moved to Coogee where Dan began to run the vineyard, that had been known as Trbley's vineyard. He also then began entering the local fruit produce shows in Fremantle and Spearwood.
In 1925 the Wragg's moved to Victoria for a few years, living in Moray Street South Melbourne. However in the 1930's Daniel and his family moved back to WA and resided in Lord Street in North Perth.
In World War two his son Clement Wragg served in the Australian Army (WX294) with the 2/11th Battalion and Dennis Wragg (WX34668) with the Australian Army Service Corps and Keith Wragg with the Royal Australian Navy. Fortunately all survived the war.
Post WW2, Daniel and Harriet moved to Belmont.
Daniel David Wragg died on the 5th November 1970 aged 79. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.