DEXTER, Valentine

Valentine was born in 1895 at Ravensbourne, Queensland to Henry and Jean Dexter. He attended school in Perth, Western Australia and later moved to Tingha NSW where he worked as a Miner.

When he enlisted in Sydney in August 1914 he stated he was twenty one, when in fact he was almost two years younger.  He joined the Divisional Ammunition Column Section 1 which left Australia on the transport ship HMAT A8 Argylshire in October 1914.  After arriving in Egypt he served as a Driver at Gallipoli. During April 1916 he was sent to France where he received several promotions during the year. 

Valentine was wounded when a gas shell exploded in the dugout where he was sheltering.  He died of wounds on 2 November 1917 and was buried at Menin Road South Military Cemetery, near Ypres, Belgium. He was posthumously awarded the Military Medal ‘for bravery in the field’. (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No 19, 14 February 1918).  His personal effects were sent to his sister Pauline at Tingha and included a cigarette holder, photos, metal watch, matchbox cover, cards and a leather case.

Valentine Dexter’s name is recorded on the Tingha Methodist Church Honor Roll and the town War Memorial.