BODY, Theodore, Graham, Dudley and Neville

Theodore, Graham, Dudley and Neville were the sons of Edmund and Catherine Body of ‘Strathbogie’, Emmaville and ‘Warana’, Inverell. They were all born in the Cooma district of NSW prior to the family retuning to Inverell.

Theodore, aged twenty two and Graham, aged twenty, enlisted together in Sydney in December 1914. Both were University students at the time. They joined the 6th Light Horse Regiment, C Squadron and left Australia together on HMAT A29 Suevic on 21 December 1914. After arriving in Egypt they were sent to Gallipoli.

Theodore was severely wounded in July 1915 and evacuated to Malta before being sent to England for treatment at 5th London General Hospital. The decision was made to return him to Australia and he was given a medical discharge in 1916.

Graham was also wounded at Gallipoli and treated at the Casualty Clearing Station at Mudros for a gunshot wound to his right hand. He returned to duty a few weeks later. Whilst ill with influenza in 1915 he was sent to Malta and then England where he was discharged from the Army. He obtained a Commission, was appointed temporary 2nd Lieutenant with the Royal Flying Corps and undertook a course of instruction in aviation at Oxford. During a mission over Germany he had to land behind enemy lines and became a Prisoner of War at Karlsruhe. After Armistice he was released and returned to Australia.

Dudley, aged twenty one and Neville, aged nineteen, enlisted together in Sydney in February 1918. They were both University students at the time and had served in Senior Cadets and with the Sydney University Scouts. They joined the Field Artillery Brigade, Reinforcement 35 and left Australia together on RMS Orantes in June 1918, arriving in England in August. Both brothers served in France; Dudley returning to England in April 1919; Neville in June. Dudley obtained leave to work at wool classing at Galashiels Mill in Scotland for three months. Both brothers were granted leave to return to Australia at their own expense and came via America arriving home in 1919.

The names of Theodore, Graham, Dudley and Neville Body are inscribed on the Inverell Honor Roll.

Image: Dudley Body, courtesy IDFHG