Pte
Henry Joseph Dee
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 11/11/1891 |
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Place of birth: Saint Lawrence, Queensland, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Storeman |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 2419 |
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Enlistment date: 25/03/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Mackay, Queensland, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 47th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 30/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Anzac, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 25 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 27 T |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Private Henry Joseph Dee, a former storeman from Saint Laurence, Queensland, Australia enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force in 1916. He served with the 47th Battalion A.I.F. (12th Australian Brigade, 4th Australian Division).
In 1917 the 47th Bn. A.I.F. served in Flanders during the Battle of Messines and Passchendaele. On 7 June 1917, the opening battle of the Battle of Messines, Private Dee was admitted with shell shock (not yet determined) and again in mid-August with debility.
On 25 September 1917 the 47th Bn. A.I.F. moved into the Ramparts at Ypres in support and supplying working parties burying cable and laying water pipelines. The next day the ware standing to during Menin Road attack. Working parties continued burying cable.
On 27 September they moved forward into support of the 46th Bn. A.I.F. in the frontline. HQ was situated at Garter Point on the Anzac Ridge. A and D Company holding a frontage on the green line in support (28.J.3.a.1.8. to 28.J.3.c.9.7.) and B and C Company being entrenched 400 yards further to the rear. The frontline held by the 46th was 800 yards in advance towards a valley. The whole area was being under direct observation by the Germans and Australian movements were answered with shellfire. On 30 September the 47th Bn. continued being in support, supplying carrying parties and working parties were forming forward dumps in readiness for further operations. At 9PM they were relieved by the 9th Bn. A.I.F. and proceeded into reserve on Westhoek ridge.
In their four days at the frontline the 47th Bn. A.I.F. suffered 36 casualties (16 soldiers killed, 20 wouded), Private Dee being one of them. Although he was initially buried according to his Service Record (J.2.d.9.7.), his body was never found or identified after the war. Henry Joseph Dee is remembered at the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres.
In 1917 the 47th Bn. A.I.F. served in Flanders during the Battle of Messines and Passchendaele. On 7 June 1917, the opening battle of the Battle of Messines, Private Dee was admitted with shell shock (not yet determined) and again in mid-August with debility.
On 25 September 1917 the 47th Bn. A.I.F. moved into the Ramparts at Ypres in support and supplying working parties burying cable and laying water pipelines. The next day the ware standing to during Menin Road attack. Working parties continued burying cable.
On 27 September they moved forward into support of the 46th Bn. A.I.F. in the frontline. HQ was situated at Garter Point on the Anzac Ridge. A and D Company holding a frontage on the green line in support (28.J.3.a.1.8. to 28.J.3.c.9.7.) and B and C Company being entrenched 400 yards further to the rear. The frontline held by the 46th was 800 yards in advance towards a valley. The whole area was being under direct observation by the Germans and Australian movements were answered with shellfire. On 30 September the 47th Bn. continued being in support, supplying carrying parties and working parties were forming forward dumps in readiness for further operations. At 9PM they were relieved by the 9th Bn. A.I.F. and proceeded into reserve on Westhoek ridge.
In their four days at the frontline the 47th Bn. A.I.F. suffered 36 casualties (16 soldiers killed, 20 wouded), Private Dee being one of them. Although he was initially buried according to his Service Record (J.2.d.9.7.), his body was never found or identified after the war. Henry Joseph Dee is remembered at the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres.
Sources 6
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Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=dee&people_service_number=2419&people_unit= Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1598731/henry-joseph-dee/ Sources used |
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Service Record https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=3496601&isAv=N Sources used |
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The Long Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/ Sources used |
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Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/197774809?keyword=henry%20joseph%20dee Sources used |
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War Diary 47th Bn. A.I.F., September 1917 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1345058 Sources used |