Ancestor Details
Ancsestor's Name: Harry Dormer
Ancestor's date of birth: 04/09/1882
Ancestor's date of death: 31/12/1954
Cause of Death: coronary occlusion
Service and Life Before the Boer War: Born at Wagga NSW, a plumber and gasfitter by trade.
Service Number: 1121
Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Kogarah
Unit: NSW Infantry Company/E Squadron NSW Mounted Rifles
Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 1900
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): SGT, Date Effective: 01/12/1908
Murray Page: Not mentioned in Murray
Contingent: First New South Wales
Ship: Aberdeen, Date of Sailing: 03/11/1899
Other Boer War Service: Imperial Yeomanry Trooper Harry Dormer 31295, 59 Company, 15 Battalion
Memorial details: Unknown
Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Would have been entitled to Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps, if served in the Boer War. British War Medal, Victory Medal. War Medal.
Personal Characteristics: Height 169 cm. weight 64 kg (1916).
Reasons to go and fight: Thought it was his duty
Details of service in war: December 1899 - December 1900 in northern Cape Colony, Free State and Transvaal; joined to Australian Regiment December 1899-April 1900, converted to mounted rifles December 1899, joined to NSW Mounted Rifles as E Squadron May - November 1900. It would then appear he transferred to the Imperial Yeomanry, the Yeomanry did much valuable work patrolling the veldt, but saw little action. Please note that Murray does not confirm that Harry Dormer was in the NSW Infantry Company, and whilst there was a Harry Dormer in the Imperial Yeomanry, Harry Dormer's WW1 and WW2 records make no mention of Boer War service, clearly stating he was in the Army, but with no mention of overseas service.
Service and life after the Boer War: Lived with Emma Jane Walker from 1902, had Four children (Dorothy, Irene, Edna May and Harry). Married Matha Daisy Jeffery 1910 and had eight children to her. Served in the AMF, St George's English Rifles, Kogarah NSW on 1 July 1912 transferred to 39th Infantry 1 July 1913 transferred to 38th Infantry.
In WW1 he enlisted in the AIF 28 March 1916 as Private Dormer Harry 5489, 55 Bn 5th Div. Held the rank of acting sergeant on a number of occasions. Wounded in action - France 24 September 1917. Returned to Australia 1 November 1919.
When he returned to Australia, he Returned to Duty with 2/45th Btn served until discharge on 30 June 1928.
In WW2 he enlisted in the Volunteer Defence Corps on 8 May 1942 Private N251891. Trnsferred to the AIF as Gunner N447068 Sydney Coast Artillery, discharged 6 June 1946.
In his WW2 dossier, he states that he was married to Emma Jane Walker on 23 March 1900, and notes service in the AMF from 1899. No mention is made in his WW1 or WW2 records of his service in the Boer War.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Daphne Winifred McKeever, Glenfield NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: GranddaughterName of Descendant: Jeffery Lorrie Harrison, Leumeah NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grandson (My Mother's maiden name: Iris Dormer)
