The Tree of Me

William Vesey Dawson (390)  1892 - 1974 This is the third post in  a series of posts over the next few years to remember all the men in my extended family who enlisted in World War 1. Originally I had identified 26 soldiers who enlisted between 20 August 1914 and 2 November 1918.  However, further checking has now revealed a total of thirty five enlistment.  Of the thirty five, five were killed overseas or died here in Australia. William Vesey Dawson was the fifth child of William Henry Dawson and his wife Bridget Mylan.  Twenty two year old Bill enlisted in Casino, NSW on 25th October 1914,  just a month after his older brother Ernest.  Bill worked as a saddler and a general farm labourer. Like many young men from the north coast of NSW Bill (No 390) became a member of the 5th Light Horse. William Vesey Dawson No 390 (Dawson family collection.) Brothers, William Vesey Dawson and Ernest Lee Dawson. Photo taken at Alexa...

I have decided that I need a challenge to get me blogging again on a regular basis. So I was pleased this morning when I saw  Shauna Hicks  personal blogging challenge for 2014. Each week Shauna intends to blog about a different genealogical record. I have tried a weekly blogging challenges before and have never lasted more than about 6 weeks, so my aim this year is to improve on this. Week 1 - Military Medals Last week's challenge is about military medals. In my direct line I have no one who fought in any recent wars. However, my parents did have uncles who fought in both the First and the Second World Wars. William Vesey Dawson 1892 - 1974 - Brisbane 1914 William Vesey Dawson was born in Gladesville on 29th May 1892. His family later moved to the north coast of NSW and it was there that he joined  the 5th Australian Light Horse Regiment on 25th October 1914. He served with this regiment at Gallipoli but it was to be later in the war while he was with ...