Dadson, FH

Captain Frederick Horan Dadson

Fred was born on September 6^th 1878, the fourth child of lecturer Arthur Dadson and his wife Jessie, who passed away before Fred was three years old. At the start of 1892 he joined the College, alongside his younger brother Hilary, and went on to be at Dulwich for almost four years, leaving in October 1895. Over the next few years he spent some time at sea as an apprentice, as well as working in the City, before going out to Australia. After a year or two there he joined the Australian Bushmen’s Corps, with whom he went on to serve in the Boer War in South Africa. During the war he transferred to the Natal Mounted Police, with whom he remained in South Africa for the next seven years, including seeing service in the Zulu trouble of 1904. In 1907 he was granted a discharge, and subsequently returned to England for a year, before once again going back to Australia, where he began work as a journalist.

The outbreak of war in 1914 saw Fred once again volunteer for service, joining the 14^th Battalion of the Australian Infantry, with whom he turned down a commission. He was part of the first wave of Australian landings at Gallipoli, where he was promoted on the field from Sergeant to Lieutenant. Not long afterwards he was seriously injured in a shell blast, breaking his thigh so severely that amputation of the leg was considered. After a long period of recuperation in England he went on to rejoin his unit in France, where he was promoted to Captain, despite being officially considered “lame” as a result of his wounds. He was killed in action whilst leading his men into battle near Bullecourt, most likely on April 11^th 1917, although some sources indicate that it may have taken place a year later.