Francis Wilfred Holt Dyson

Alias Dyson, John Henry

Born 1881   Place Riga, Latvia

Ethnic origin British    Religion С of E

Father Dyson, William       Mother Dyson, Emma, died when he was born in Russia

Residence before arrival at Australia lived in England with his uncle Walter Rowley and aunt; studied at St Edwards School, Oxford; experience in mining in South Africa; served Cape mounted police 2 ½ years

Arrived at Australia -

Residence before enlistment Alder Hill, Konagaderrer PO, via Craigieburn, Vic

Occupation farmer

Family by 1914 widower, daughter Emma Winifred E. Dyson

Service

service number 1373   enlisted 21.08.1914   POE Albert Park, Victoria

unit 2nd FAB, 52nd Battery, 5th DAC   rank Gunner, Corporal, Temporary Sergeant

place Gallipoli, 1915; Western Front, 1916-1918

final fate KIA 24.04.1918

cemetery details 210 Bonnay Communal Cemetery Extension, France

Naturalisation natural born British subject

Materials digitised service records (NAA)

digitised Roll of Honour card (AWM)

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

The very first contingent [...] — this First Fleet of the new Australian nationhood — left Australian waters in early November 1914 with at least 12 Russians: the Finns Baer and Hiltunen, the ethnic Russians Arn, Kamishansky, Sast and Sindeeff, the Polish-born Markowicz and Watson, the Jews Zander and Levene, and the Russian-born Englishmen Ball and Dyson.

    [...] farmer [...] Francis Wilfred Holt Dyson was from Riga, [...] [he]  went to England after his mother’s death, to live with his aunt’s family, and subsequently served with the Cape mounted police in South Africa.

    [...] Sergeant Francis Dyson, an Englishman born in Russia, was killed while ‘out with convoy proceeding to the Batteries with ammunition when a shell exploded 10 yard away, a portion of it striking Dyson near heart’. A widower, he left a young daughter orphaned.

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