| Regimental number | 642 |
| Place of birth | Auburn, Victoria |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Bricklayer |
| Address | Centre Road, Bentleigh, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Marital status | Married |
| Age at embarkation | 26 |
| Height | 5' 7" |
| Weight | 126 lbs |
| Next of kin | Wife, Mrs Amy I. Dodson, Centre Road, Bentleigh, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 31st Battalion, C Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/48/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on |
| 31st Battalion Headquarters and Companies A, B, C and D sailed on two ships, HMAT A62 Wandilla, 9th November 1915 from Melbourne, and HMAT A41 Bakara, 5 November 1915, from Melbourne. It is not possible to tell from the Embarkation Roll on which ship an individual embarked. | |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 31st Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France |
| Age at death | 27 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 27 |
| Place of burial | Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery (Plot I, Row L. Grave No. 40), France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 118 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Arthur Edward and Ada DODSON, husband of Army Ivy Taylor BROWN (formerly DODSON), 135 Orrong Crescent, Caulfield, Victoria |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Disembarked Suez, ex-HMT 'Wandilla'. Admitted No 14 Field Ambulance, Ferry Post, 1 May 1916 (pyrexia, unknown origin); discharged to duty and rejoined unit, 5 May 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 25 June 1916. Reported missing, 21 July 1916. Previous report of missing, now, 28 July 1916, killed in action, 20 July 1916. Buried Eaton Hall Military Cemetery, Croix Blanche, by Reverend C. Cranston, 20 July 1916. Statement, 761 Corporal R.M. TAIT, C Company, 31st Bn (patient, 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, England), 14 November 1916: 'Informant states that on 20th July 1916 at Fleurbaix the 5th division (sic) of the 31st Australian Imperial Force tried to take enemy's trench but were put back. Dodson was signaller acting as runner and was killed in this engagement. He is buried at Eaton Hall Cemetery ... ' Second statement, 627 Pte J. CAHILL, C Company, 31st Bn, 31 January 1917: 'I saw him killed by M.G. fire in the charge at Fleurbaix, on 19th. July. He fell in No Man's Land as we went across. We had to leave his body there and go on.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Miscellaneous details | Wife's address subsequently 715 High Street, Armadale, Victoria (26 September 1916); then c/o Mrs Hobdon, 84 Elgin Street, Carlton, Victoria (21 December 1916); then 'Joyce Glen', Mavho Street, Bentleigh, Victoria (11 April 1917); then Balaclava Road, Caulfield, Victoria; then, 135 Orrong Crescent, Caulfield, Victoria |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, DODSON Horace Edward
Red Cross file 930609 |