Sergeant Robert Samuel Dinsey
Service #: 2577
Summary
FAMILY LIFE
Robert Samuel Dinsey, known as Herbert, was born 8th November 1891 (his birth date is shown as 8th November 1892 on his attestation but his birth was registered with NSWBDM in 1891) in Murwillumbah, son of John & Mary Jane (Heaslip) Disney. Herbert’s parents had moved to the area in 1869. His father was widely known and highly respected in all parts of the district and his mother was prominent in the Red Cross. Both parents are listed on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district. He was one of 5 children. His brothers, Frederick & George Eric Dinsey also enlisted.
Herbert travelled to Brisbane on 29th May 1915 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was born in Murwillumbah, was 23 years and 6 months old and a single man. He gave his occupation as farmer. His next of kin was his father, John, of Skinners Rd, Murwillumbah.
He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia
CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER
On the second page of the attestation documents the attesting confirms the following
“The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence. I have taken care that he understood each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to by him
OATH
He also made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, ………………. … swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War, and a further four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom: and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and case His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and I will in all matters appertaining to my services faithfully discharge my duty according to law
SO, HELP ME, GOD.”
MEDICAL EXAMINATION
His medical showed he was 5ft 11 inches tall (1.8m), weighed 181 lbs (82kgs), with a fair complexion, blue eyes & brown hair. His eyesight was good. Herbert was Methodist and had 4 vaccination marks on his left arm & a scar above his shin on his left leg.
CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINER
The medical examiner certifies I have examined the abovenamed person, and find that he does not present any of the following conditions, viz: -
Scrofula; phthisis; syphilis; impaired constitution; defective intelligence; defects of vision, voice, or hearing; hernia’ haemorrhoids; varicose veins, beyond a limited extent; marked varicocele with unusually pendent testicle; inveterate cutaneous disease’ chronic ulcers; traces of corporal punishment or evidence of having been marked with the letters D. or B.C; contracted or deformed chest; abnormal curvature of spine; or any other disease or physical defect calculated to unfit him for the duties of a soldier.
He can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints and limbs; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description
I consider him fit for active service
CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER
This is completed during the recruits training.
The commanding officer certifies that this attestation of the abovenamed person is correct, and that the required forms have been complied with. He then states “I accordingly approve, and appoint him as a private into the 15th Infantry Battalion – 8th Reinforcements with service No 2577
TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA
As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together
Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, (Herbert already had been vaccinated, then a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave
Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.
This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months
INNOCULATIONS
All recruits were given a range of inoculations while in camp. The most important jab was to protect against smallpox and typhoid – indeed, having this was an essential precondition of enlisting.
THE UNIFORM
The recruits were issued with their uniform- service dress jacket was made of Australian wool and its loose fit gave the wearer more allowance for movement. The four large pockets were very useful. A unique feature designed for comfort was the pleated back, which provided a double thickness of cloth down the back that the pack rubbed against. Breeches were corduroy worn with wool wrap puttees. The famous khaki felt slouch hat or early service cap is probably the most distinctive part of the uniform. turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge.
SOLDIER’S KIT
Australia's World War I soldiers went to war weighed down by almost 30 kilograms of clothes, weapons, tools and kit.
· Breeches: made from khaki woollen cord fabric, with side pockets and button flies. Soldiers were issued with two pairs of breeches, plus a pair of dungarees. The breeches ended above the ankles and the gap was filled with puttees.
· Braces: worn with breeches.
· Puttees: The men wound these strips of woollen cloth, almost three metres long, upwards from the ankle to just below the knee. Soldiers disliked the puttees, probably with good reason: the tight binding restricted circulation and might even have contributed to the high incidence of trench foot. Mounted troops wore leather leggings.
· Shirt: Soldiers were given two grey, collarless, flannel shirt, plus a military shirt.
· Ankle boots: brown and lace-up.
· Socks: Made from wool or cotton. Soldiers were issued with three pairs.
· Greatcoat: the khaki woollen coat (which weighed about 3kg) often doubled as a soldier's bedding and was his chief protection against the cold and wet. The coat came into its own when snow hit Gallipoli in November 1915 and also on the Western Front.
· Jersey
· Singlets: Soldiers were issued with 2 woollen singlets.
· Cotton "drawers" (underpants): Soldiers were issued with two pairs.
· Abdominal belts: a sort of cummerbund that was issued to keep soldiers warm and supposedly ward off disease.
· Backpacks and webbing: The main backpack was a rectangular sack measuring about 15 inches x 13 inches, closed at the top by a folding cover secured by two straps. The webbing included a web belt, cartridge pouches, small haversack, bayonet frog, an entrenching tool holder (plus another holder for its handle), and a water-bottle holder.
· Identity disc: Soldiers were initially issued with one medal "dog tag" on a cord, but later in the war they were given two tags, made of compressed fibre.
· Soldiers were also issued with a "housewife" - a sewing kit containing such items as needles, thimble, thread, wool and button so they could carry out running repairs.
· Also in their kit were a short-magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle, a rifle sling, a bayonet and scabbard, and an "entrenching tool" (they were "diggers" after all). This came in two parts, with the helve (handle) separate from the spade part.
· Soldiers were issued with eating equipment (knife, fork, spoon, an enamel mug, water bottle (with two-point capacity), and a mess tin with carrier.
· They also had a clasp knife (with marlin spike, tin-opener and lanyard), razor, shaving kit, soap, comb, two towels, field dressing (carried in the tunic's inside pocket), and a hold-all, in which they could pack their private possessions.
· No item was probably looked after more carefully than their service pay book: privates were paid six shillings a day
VOYAGE OVERSEAS
He embarked at Brisbane, Queensland aboard HMAT Kyarra on 16 August 1915. Alongside his comrades, Herbert marched aboard, his boots ringing on the gangway. As the ship’s lines were cast off and the quay began to slip away, the reality of war lay ahead, but for now, the sea breeze carried only the sound of voices and the excitement of men bound for adventure, duty, and the unknown.
SLEEPING & LIVING ARRANGEMENTS
Recruits likely slept in a crowded troop deck below, where rows of hammocks or three-tier wooden bunks were crammed close together.
Air below decks could be stuffy, especially in warmer climates, and seasickness was common during the first few days.
DAILY ROUTINE
Reveille early each morning, followed by physical exercises on the open decks (weather permitting). There were parades and inspections—officers ensured uniforms, rifles, and kit were clean and in order. Training was a little problematic—drill without much space, rifle maintenance, lectures on military discipline, signalling, and trench warfare theory. The ship’s decks were used for marching in tight circles or practising bayonet thrusts into stuffed sacks. Rifle shooting was impossible at sea, so soldiers learned to strip and clean their weapons until it was second nature.
MEALS
Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. The meals were served in shifts from the ship’s galley. Queues were long, and eating on a rolling ship meant many tried to eat quickly before nausea set in.
HEALTH & SANITATION
Shipboard hygiene was critical—every man was ordered to scrub his section daily to prevent disease. Saltwater baths were the norm, with freshwater rationed for drinking.
THE VOYAGE EXPERIENCE
Entertainment included church drill, concerts, singalongs, card games, and makeshift cricket matches on deck when the weather allowed. To keep up morale, an area of the ship was roped off where regular boxing and wrestling tournaments were held. This became commonly known as the Stoush Stadium. No letters could be sent until they reached port, but men often wrote diaries or unsent letters to be posted later.
The troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection
CROSSING THE EQUATOR CEREMONY
The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.
SIGHTS AT SEA
On the way to Egypt the ship would pass through the Great Australian Bight, cross the Indian Ocean, and stop at Colombo (Ceylon now Sri Lanka) for coal and supplies.
SECURITY
By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships. Troopships generally sailed in convoys or at least took zig-zag courses to make torpedo attacks harder. Ships often travelled under blackout conditions at night, with lookouts specifically watching for periscopes or torpedo wakes.
APPROACHING EGYPT
After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the sandy training grounds of Egypt, preparing for what lay ahead.
GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN (OCTOBER–DECEMBER 1915)
After joining the 15th Battalion on Lemnos, Dinsey would have been transported to the Gallipoli Peninsula, where the battalion was still holding positions at Anzac Cove. By late October 1915, the 15th Battalion was stationed in the Shrapnel Gully and Russell’s Top areas, primarily engaged in holding the line, strengthening defences, and coping with worsening weather. Although the major offensives had ended with the failure at Lone Pine and Hill 60 in August, daily life was still dangerous due to enemy sniping, shellfire, and the harsh winter conditions beginning to set in.
EVACUATION FROM GALLIPOLI (DECEMBER 1915)
In December 1915, the 15th Battalion took part in the orderly evacuation of Anzac. This was a remarkable feat of military planning, carried out without alerting the enemy. Dinsey would have been part of this evacuation—either in the early stages or the final withdrawal—which took place between 18 and 20 December.
He would have returned to Lemnos Island, where the men were rested, deloused, and reorganised.
EGYPT AND REORGANISATION (JANUARY–MARCH 1916)
Following the Gallipoli campaign, Dinsey and the 15th Battalion were transferred back to Alexandria, Egypt, in early January 1916. There, the AIF underwent a major reorganisation and expansion, as the Australian Imperial Force prepared to join the fighting on the Western Front.
In this period, the 15th Battalion trained at Tel el Kebir and later Ferry Post, focusing on trench warfare tactics and discipline.
DEPARTURE FOR THE WESTERN FRONT (JUNE 1916)
Dinsey would have sailed with the 15th Battalion from Alexandria aboard the Transylvania on 1 June 1916, arriving at Marseilles, France, on 8 June 1916. From there, the battalion moved by train and marched to northern France, settling into billets and rotating into the trenches for familiarisation
WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE
The soldiers now found themselves fighting the Germans in trench warfare. On the Western Front in 1914–1918, both sides constructed elaborate trench, underground, and dugout systems opposing each other along a front, protected from assault by barbed wire. The area between opposing trench lines (known as "no man's land") was fully exposed to artillery fire from both sides. Attacks, even if successful, often sustained severe casualties. Trench warfare created a living environment for the men which was harsh, stagnant, and extremely dangerous. Not only were trenches constantly under threat of attack from shells or other weapons, but there were also many health risks that developed into large-scale problems for medical personnel. Apart from the inescapable cold during the winters in France & Belgium, trenches were often completely waterlogged and muddy, and crawling with lice and rats
The time soldiers spent in the trenches varied depending on factors like their army's rotation system and the intensity of the conflict in their sector. On average:
· Front-line trenches: Soldiers typically remained here for about 4–6 days at a time. This was where the fighting was most intense and the conditions were the harshest.
· Support and reserve trenches: After time on the front line, soldiers were rotated to these positions for around 6–12 days. These trenches were set further back and offered slightly better conditions.
· Rest periods: Soldiers were then moved away from the trench system entirely for rest, training, and recovery, often lasting several weeks, depending on operational needs.
The rotation system helped prevent complete physical and mental exhaustion, but the constant dangers of trench life meant there was rarely any true respite.
The battalion moved through the Armentières sector, sometimes referred to as “the nursery sector,” as it was considered quieter. However, patrols, trench raids, and shelling were still common and dangerous.
BATTLE OF POZIERES – JULY–AUGUST 1916
By late July 1916, the 15th Battalion was committed to the Battle of the Somme, specifically the ferocious fighting for the village of Pozieres. The Australians were tasked with capturing and holding the vital ridge near the ruined village.
Herbert would have faced intense artillery bombardments, machine gun fire, and hand-to-hand fighting. The 15th suffered heavy casualties during this period—over 600 men—but succeeded in its objectives.
The psychological toll of Pozieres was enormous, as British General Rawlinson himself described the bombardment there as the worst endured by any troops in the war.
MOUQUET FARM – AUGUST–SEPTEMBER 1916
Following Pozieres, the battalion was drawn into the brutal attacks around Mouquet Farm, part of the continued push to capture German strongpoints. These attacks were marked by muddy ground, confusion, and massive losses. Despite limited tactical gains, they sapped German resources. Dinsey survived this punishing phase, marking him as a seasoned and resilient soldier.
WINTER 1916–1917: REST, REFIT AND TRENCH ROTATION
After the Somme battles, the 15th Battalion moved north into Belgium and then back into France. They rotated in and out of the frontlines through the Le Touquet, Houplines, and Flers sectors. This period allowed for training, rest, and rebuilding.
The winter of 1916–17 was one of the coldest in decades, with snow, sleet, and frozen trenches. Sickness and frostbite were common, but the battalion maintained its strength.
Hindenburg Line Operations – Early 1917
In March 1917, the German army made a strategic withdrawal to the newly constructed Hindenburg Line—a heavily fortified defensive system. The Allies cautiously advanced and probed the retreat.
The 15th Battalion was involved in these operations, including reconnaissance patrols, occupying former German positions, and occasional skirmishes. This was a tense and uncertain period, as the enemy had left booby traps and fortified rearguards behind
April 1917 – Battle of Lagnicourt
On 15 April 1917, the Germans launched a surprise counterattack at Lagnicourt, striking five Australian battalions, including the 15th. Although initially pushed back, the Australians regrouped and repelled the attack, inflicting significant losses on the enemy.
PROMOTED TO LANCE CORPORAL APRIL 1917
Herbert’s conduct during this period would likely have contributed to his appointment as Lance Corporal on 29 April 1917—a recognition of his reliability, endurance, and leadership under fire
MAY–JUNE 1917 – HOLDING THE LINE IN THE YPRES SALIENT
During this period, the 15th Battalion was in Flanders, alternating between front-line duties, support trenches, and rest. Skirmishes, trench raids, and artillery exchanges were common. It was a tense waiting period as the Allies prepared for a major offensive.
PROMOTED TO TEMPORARY CORPORAL MAY 1917
On 10th May he was promoted to temporary Corporal
CONFIRMATION OF PROMOTION JUNE 1917
His promotion was confirmed on 5th June 1917. It was backdated from when Cpl Steele J. was promoted to Sergeant. This indicates that Herbert was stepping into a leadership role likely vacated by a battlefield promotion
BATTLE OF MESSINES – 7 TO 14 JUNE 1917
While the 4th Division (to which the 15th Battalion belonged) was in reserve, they were likely involved in support roles: carrying parties, casualty evacuation, and consolidation tasks. Massive mines under German lines were detonated at the start, signalling one of the most well-prepared attacks of the war.
Even if not in the initial wave, the 15th Battalion would have faced gas shells and German counter-shelling in the aftermath.
HOSPITALISATION JUNE 1917
Herbert was hospitalised on 19th June & rejoined his unit on 8th July- this confirms he had a period away, possibly for illness or a minor wound, though not specified here
BATTLE OF POLYGON WOOD – 26–27 SEPTEMBER 1917
The 15th Battalion was heavily engaged here as part of the Australian 4th Division, pushing through German lines to consolidate gains near Polygon Wood. This was a major assault through thick mud, shattered tree stumps, and under heavy shellfire. Dinsey, then a Corporal, would have led small groups of men under harrowing conditions. Many acts of bravery were recorded in this action
WINTER OF 1917–18 – HOLDING THE LINE, FRANCE
The battalion spent the winter months along the Somme front, rotating through sectors such as Hébuterne and Morlancourt.
Bitter cold, trench foot, and gas alerts were common.
Dinsey was promoted to Temporary Sergeant on 20 March 1918, likely reflecting his reliability during this challenging time.
GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE – MARCH–APRIL 1918
Defensive Operations around Hébuterne
In response to Germany’s major spring assault, the 15th Battalion took up defensive positions and helped stabilise the line. There were many localised counterattacks and the threat of a full German breakthrough.
Counterattack at Dernancourt – 5 April 1918
The 15th Battalion took part in a counter-attack along the Ancre River.
Intense hand-to-hand combat and coordinated defence against the German advance.
Villers-Bretonneux – April 1918
The 15th was held in reserve during the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux (24–25 April), but may have supported in rearguard or relief roles.
APPOINTED TEMPORARY SERGEANT MARCH 1918
This was in place of Sgt. Barden H., who was listed as sick from 18 Feb 1918. Herbert's promotion here reflects the battalion’s trust in his leadership during an intense phase of the war
PROMOTED TO SERGEANT APRIL 1918
Dinsey was promoted to full Sergeant on 11 April 1918, just before these crucial engagements. This date is especially notable: the First Battle of Villers-Bretonneux had just occurred (April 4–5), and the Second Battle was looming. Promotions during this time often reflected bravery or leadership under fire.
BATTLE OF HAMEL – 4 JULY 1918
While not all battalions were committed, parts of the 4th Division were engaged in this well-coordinated, short, and sharp battle led by General Monash. The 15th may have supported with flank security or consolidation of newly captured ground.
BATTLE OF AMIENS – 8 AUGUST 1918
This was the launch of the Allied Hundred Days Offensive, a major turning point in the war. The 15th Battalion attacked near Harbonnières and Chaulnes, under a coordinated push of infantry, tanks, and aircraft.
WOUNDED IN ACTION – GASSED
It was during this action that Herbert Dinsey was wounded and gassed. This date marks the start of the Battle of Amiens, a key turning point in the war and the beginning of the “Hundred Days Offensive.” Herbert was likely caught in one of the early gas attacks of this renewed push against German positions.
HOSPITALISED
He was admitted to the 2nd Stationary Hospital, then to the Lines of Communication Hospital. This gas attack likely caused significant injury, as he was out of frontline service afterward
AWARDED THE MILITARY MEDAL, AUGUST 1918.
On 30th August Herbert was awarded the Military Medal. This is a prestigious decoration for bravery in the field, typically awarded for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire. The medal was promulgated in the Commonwealth Gazette No1 dated 2nd January 1919. It was likely for actions during the Battle of Amiens or the lead-up operations. It was officially gazetted in AIF List 379Y, dated 30 August 1918. While the citation is not in his record, awards at this time typically recognized bravery under fire, leadership during battle, or saving comrades while wounded.
5 SEPTEMBER 1918 – DISCHARGED TO BASE DEPOT
After recovery in hospital, Dinsey was discharged to the Base Depot in France, marking the end of his front-line service. The "Base Depot" usually referred to one of the large Australian Infantry Base Depots (AIBDs) at Le Havre, Rouelles, or Étretat on the French coast. These were staging and holding areas for:
· New reinforcements arriving from England
· Wounded or sick men recovering
· Soldiers awaiting return to duty or repatriation
After being gassed on 8 August, Dinsey would have needed weeks of monitored recovery, even after discharge from hospital. Effects of gas (especially mustard or phosgene) could linger: lung damage, coughing, eye problems, weakness. Medical staff at the depot would have reviewed his fitness for return to the front
Given his rank of sergeant, Herbert would likely not have been idle. He may have assisted in training or overseeing new reinforcements.
Performed administrative or quartermaster roles (e.g. gear checks, roll calls, supply issue). He possibly supervised convalescent parades, light drills, or depot maintenance tasks.
SEPTEMBER 1918
By September 1918, the war was beginning to turn decisively in the Allies' favour, and casualties remained high. Soldiers like Dinsey were reassessed for either return to duty or transfer to England. Given his recent gassing and proven leadership, he may have been:
· Considered medically unfit to return to the line.
· Held back to avoid further strain, as the AIF was beginning to scale down its numbers of battle-hardened but wounded men.
COMMAND DEPOT NOVEMBER 1918
This culminated in his transfer to England on 1 November 1918, arriving at No. 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, where men waited for repatriation or reassignment
HOSPITALISATON VENEREAL DISEASE MARCH 1919
On 26th March he was admitted to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital (A.D.H) No. 20. The ADHs were specialised hospitals for skin and VD-related conditions, and No. 20 was in England. The sense of adventure, the loneliness, and the loss of family life that overwhelmed many of the overseas volunteers during the First World War often found them on leave in large cities or small towns where alcohol and women were plentiful, and a lack of available prophylaxis allowed the spread of diseases such as gonorrhoea and syphilis to reach epidemic levels. Historians claim that the average incidence rate for this disease in the AIF was around 12 per cent
Treatment for VD was a punishment in its own right. Special hospitals for VD patients were set up and often regarded as deterrent. Patients would be treated with Salvarsan and mercury which offered uncomfortable and sometimes serious side effects such as jaundice and convulsions. Other treatments included irrigation, which was painful and undignified resulting in many men to opt for chemical treatment instead. These long and uncomfortable stays in VD hospitals often averaged between 50 and 60 days, with most patients recovering and returning to the front. However, Herbert spent 104 days in this hospital
18 JUNE 1919 – DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL TO DEPOT NO. 20
Final transfer out of hospital suggests his health had improved.
He was now in the administrative system awaiting repatriation.
ADMITTED TO WEYMOUTH
Herbert was marched into Weymouth Command Depot awaiting a ship home. After the Armistice, the Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes insisted Australian troops be repatriated (returned home) as quickly as possible. This logistical challenge was enormous with 135,000 troops brought home from Britain in 147 voyages, and 16,773 troops from the Middle East in 56 voyages, mostly on a first come, first go basis. There was a lack of suitable ships to transport personnel home and many had to wait many months before they were headed back to Australia.
RETURNING HOME
Herbert disembarked at Sydney from the Arjana on 9th October 1919. He was discharged on 10th December 1919.
CLOTHING AND NECESSITIES GIVEN TO SOLDIERS FOR SOLDIERS PROCEEDING TO AUSTRALIA FOR DEMOBILISATION
Badges Hat Badges Collar (2) Bags kit universal
Bags kit sea Braces (pair) Brush, shaving
Brush, tooth Breeches M.S (Military service)
Cap comforter (warm cap) Comb, hair
Disc identity with cord Drawers (2 pairs)
Great Coat Hat, Khaki fur Hat, white
Holdall Housewife (compact sewing kit)
Jackets Cardigan Jackets S.D (service dress)
Leggings 1 pair Laces, leather 1 pair
Puggarees, small (a traditional Indian head wrap, worn in warm conditions
Puttees, 1 pair (cloth bandages worn by soldiers, to provide support and protection for the lower leg)
Razor Shirts, flannel (2) Socks, 3 pairs
Singlets (2)
Strap chin Soap piece Suit, working
Towels, hand (2)
Titles “Australia” (4)-
Australian soldiers and
non-commissioned officers wore an “Australia” title at the base of their
shoulder straps. Each serving soldier also
wore unit titles above this which
indicated the units to which they belonged
For his service Herbert was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Dungay Public School WW1 Honor Roll
HOME LIFE
After returning home from the war, Robert Samuel “Herbert” Dinsey built a family life in Queensland. He married Ethel Adelaide Peters in 1922, and together they raised four children, born between 1922 and 1932. In a further act of service, Herbert enlisted again during the Second World War on 12 April 1942 in Bundaberg, joining the 10th Battalion, Volunteer Defence Corps. He was discharged on 26 August 1944. Tragically, on 3 April 1956, Herbert was killed in a horrific railway accident while working on a track repair gang. Walking between the rails with his back to an oncoming engine travelling at 10–12 mph, he was struck by the cowcatcher and thrown beneath the train. The engine had to be lifted to recover his body. He was buried in Bundaberg General Cemetery, in Plot General - Section D11D, Grave No: P3198.
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
Dungay Public School WW1 Honor Roll
Buried Location
Bundaberg General Cemetery, in Plot General - Section D11D, Grave No: P3198.
