The AIF Project

Fred Arthur DYSON

Regimental number3560
Place of birthKempsey, New South Wales
SchoolSherwood Public School, New South Wales
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
AddressMacleay River, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation19
Height5' 6"
Weight148 lbs
Next of kinFather, James Henry Dyson, Sherwood, Macleay River, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil (previously rejected: 'Failed in Riding Test for Light Horse')
Enlistment date4 November 1915
Place of enlistmentHolsworthy, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name18th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/35/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A60 Aeneas on 20 December 1915
Regimental number from Nominal Roll3560A
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll54th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19-20 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFromelles, France
Age at death19.11
Age at death from cemetery records19
Place of burialFromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery (Plot III, Row A, Grave No 1), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
159
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: James Henry and Hannah Eliza DYSON, Sherwood, New South Wales
Family/military connectionsBrother: 3559 Pte Bert Edward DYSON, 18th Bn, killed in action, 20 September 1917.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Admitted No 4 Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis, 28 February 1916 (mumps); discharged to duty, 6 March 1916.

Transferred to 54th Bn, from 5th Brigade Details, Moascar, 3 April 1916; joined 54th Bn, Ferry Post, 3 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Reported missing, 19/20 July 1916.

Identification disc received from Germany. No particulars afforded except that the soldier is dead. To be reported as killed in action, 19/20 July 1916 on the authority of the Assistant Adjutant General, ANZAC Section, War Office, 13 March 1917.

On 18 January 1917, Private J. R. Matthews, 4811, 15 Platoon, D Company, 54th Bn, made the following statement, 'Pte. R. Clark D Co. XV pltn. told me that he saw Dyson killed in the German line at Fromelles on 19th July'.

Translation of German report, 27 October 1919, 'Iden: Disc handed over by Intell: Officer with 6th Army H. Q. 12/10/16[.] Australian Pte. F. A. Dyson, 3560, 54th Bn. fell in the neighbourhood of Fromelles on 19/7/16.'

Red Cross File No 980411: 'The above name appeared on German death list dated 4-11-16.'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated at V.C. Corner (Panel No 10), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles; subsequently (2010) identified, and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France.
SourcesNAA: B2455, DYSON Fred Arthur
Red Cross file 980411

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