Dunning, Robert James
6751 Private Robert James Dunning (James Dunn) - 11th Battalion AIF
Robert James Dunning was born in North Fremantle WA in 1898 to William and Eva Dunning. Robert was one of 15 siblings, all of whom were born in North Fremantle; William (1897), Albert (1900), Elizabeth (1902), Eva (1904), Agnes (1905), Harry (1907), Charles (1908), Dorothy (1909), Rita (1909), George (1911), Margaret (1913), Percival (1914), David (1918) and Daisy (1922).
Robert was educated at North Fremantle primary school and the family lived at John Street North Fremantle.
After leaving school Robert took up work as a blacksmith and he served with the 86A Cadets.
Robert tried to enlist in January 1916 and was successful. He was initially assigned to the 44th Battalion and then the 20th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion. However he went absent without leave as they may have found he was underage and he was then discharged from the AIF.
Robert tried again and successfully enlisted on the 28th June 1916. As he was under the age of 21 he would have needed his parents consent to enlist, so when he signed up he changed his name to James Dunn.
Despite being under 18, Robert did look older and the medical examiner recorded his physical details as;
Height - 5 feet 8 inches tall;
Weight - 150lbs;
Chest Measurement - 32-35 inches;
Complexion - Freckled;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Brown.
Upon his successful enlistment Robert was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was allotted to No.75 Training Depot. He fell ill soon after and was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in Fremantle. He soon returned from hospital and was then assigned to the 22nd Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF.
He trained with this group in WA until their departure orders arrived. On the 9th November 1916 Robert and his group boarded the transport ship HMAT Argyllshire and set sail for England, arriving at Devenport on the 10th January 1917.
Robert and his group were then marched into the 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington Camp on the Salisbury Plains. Robert spent the next few months in the training camps. He appears to have had a hip injury during his training which necessitated some hospital time. Robert also then contracted venereal disease so he was sent to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital in Bulford.
On the 23rd July 1917 Robert returned to the 3rd Training Battalion and he remained in camp for the next several weeks. On the 5th September 1917 he departed for France and after a week at the 1st Australian Division Base Depot he was taken on strength of the 11th Battalion in Belgium.
On the 20th September 1917 the 11th battalion took part at the Battle of Menin Road at Ypres. Three days later on the 23rd September 1917 Robert was wounded as it appears he was blown up by a shell. He was sent to the New Zealand Hospital at Wisques. He was diagnosed with shell shock/neurasthenia and spent several weeks in convalescent camps in France.
On the 19th December 1917 he was returned to England and reported into No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth. Due to his condition it was decided to return Robert to Australia.
On the 1st February 1918 Robert boarded a hospital ship Balmoral Castle for the journey home, disembarking in Fremantle on the 18th March 1918.
He was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle on his return for a medical check.
Robert was discharged from the AIF on the 10th July 1918.
He returned to North Fremantle and lived in John Street and he found work locally as a labourer/lumper on Fremantle wharf.
In 1930 in Fremantle Robert married Edith Mary Gummow. They were then living at 90 Lilly Street South Fremantle before the family moved to 117 Holland Street Fremantle, where they remained through to the 1940's.
It appears his marriage was dissolved as in 1954 he re-married to Laura Wedd. They continued to live at 117 Holland Street. (site of the present 14 Onslow Street)
Robert James Dunning died in Fremantle in 1979. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery plot Methodist Mon B3 0385.