Dunning, William John Patrick

William John Patrick Dunning - 28th Battalion/86th Infantry

William John Patrick Dunning was born in North Fremantle in 1897 to William and Eva Dunning.

William was one of 15 siblings, all of whom were born in North Fremantle: Robert (1898), 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).

William was educated at North Fremantle primary school and the family lived at John Street North Fremantle.

Two brothers served in War, Robert who changed his name to James Dunn to enlist and Albert who served in the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve.

William had home service from 1915 to 1917 with the 86th Infantry at Rottnest Island and Fremantle district.

William enlisted into the AIF on the 26th May 1917 and was initially accepted as fit for service. The medical examiner recorded his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 7 inches;

Weight - 126lbs;

Chest Measurement - 30-33 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment Wiliam was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 21st Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF. However, on the 1st July 1917 he was transferred from this group to the No.22 Training Depot. It appears that William suffered some ill health during his training and he was discharged as medically unfit on the 29th October 1917.

After his discharge It appears that he was then attached to the 86th Infantry of the Citizens Military Forces for the remainder of the war.

On the 9th July 1920 William married Ethel Mary Woods and they had three children, Hazel (1921), Jack (1925) and Maureen (1931).

The family then lived at Staton Road East Fremantle up to the later 1920's and during this time William was working as a Salesman.

In 1931 the family moved to 31A Burt St Fremantle where they remained till 1941 when they moved to 172 Beach Street Fremantle.

In the 1960's William moved to 15 First Street in Bicton.

He died on the 12th November 1968 in Bicton. He was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery plot Anglican PC 0167.

Photo courtesy of Dunning family ancestry tree