DODD, Arthur and Frederick

Arthur and Frederick were the sons of Thomas and Sarah Dodd of Elsmore near Inverell. Their births were registered at Warialda NSW; Arthur in 1884 and Frederick in 1886.

Both boys enlisted at Inverell in October 1916 and were among seven men given a ‘Send Off’ at Elsmore prior to going to camp. They became members of the 13th Battalion, 23rd Reinforcement, leaving Australia in November on board HMAT A72 Beltana. After Gallipoli, this Battalion became part of the 4th Division and then served on the Western Front in Belgium and France.

Arthur was sent to France in May 1917.  Just a month later, whilst acting as a rations carrier behind the front line, he was severely wounded during the Battle of Messines. After initial treatment he was returned to England and admitted to Norfolk War Hospital, Norwich with a gunshot wound to his back and leg fractures. The following year he returned to Australia by the hospital ship ‘Kanowna’ and was admitted to Randwick Hospital in Sydney where he underwent many operations. Sadly he died in hospital in October 1919 and was buried in the Military Section, Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney. Before the War, Arthur had been working at the Elsmore tin fields.

Private Arthur Dodd’s name is recorded on the Inverell and Tingha Honor Rolls and the Inverell Cenotaph. In 1919 he was one of the men for whom a memorial tree was planted in Kurrajong Parade, Inverell. 

Frederick was wounded in action in August 1917 at the 3rd Battle of Ypres and evacuated back to England where he was admitted to Eastbourne Military Hospital with a gunshot wound to his back and chest.  In April 1918 he returned to Australia and medically discharged with a pension of three pounds ($6) per fortnight.  He died at Inverell in 1946. 

Both Arthur and Frederick have their names recorded on the Elsmore Honor Roll which was unveiled by their Mother in 1918.

Image: Arthur (left) and Frederick Dodd (right) Private Collection courtesy IDFHG