DUFTON, Private William Clark, Serbian silver medal

Private William Clark Dufton, Serbian silver medal
British Army (Territorials)
2nd, 12th & 16th Field Company Engineers AIF

by Robert Simpson

William Clark Dufton was born in Old Machar Parish in Aberdeen, Scotland on 22^nd July 1892 at 9.30 pm in the house at 8½ Mount Street West. He was a son to William Dufton, a Joiner (Journeyman) and Maggie Turner, who had been married on 9^th September 1891 at Coull. Their surname on the birth certificate was spelt Duffton. His father signed the birth certificate. William senior had been born in Aberdeen in 1866 and Maggie (Margaret) in Aberdeen in 1867. They also had another son and daughter, Robert Bertram Dufton, born 18^th March 1896 in the same parish and Jessie Alexander Dufton, born 6^th May 1898 in Cookney in Kingcardineshire. By the 1901 census they were living at Bridge Of Muchalls near Stonehaven, where his father was listed as a house carpenter. They had shifted to Cookney (about 5 km away) by the 1911 census.

In September 1914, William embarked on the Themistocles from London in 3^rd Class, giving his trade as carpenter. He was bound for Melbourne, arriving there on 7^th October 1914.

On 22^nd April 1915, William joined 6^th Reinforcements 8^th Battalion as Private 2224, enlisting in Melbourne. That was later crossed out and in red pen was written 2^nd Field Company Engineers. He was listed as a natural born British subject from Aberdeen in Scotland. William was a 24 and 9/12 year old carpenter, who served his apprenticeship as 4 years with his father. He was not married and his next of kin was his father, at Bridge of Muchalls, Kingcardineshire, Scotland. William stated he previously served with the Territorials, the 7^th Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders for 4 years with time expired. Unfortunately there have been no records found to confirm this. He was single and was prepared to have inoculations against smallpox and enteric fever. There were no convictions or dishonourable discharges against him. His pay book number was 155621. The description of William upon enlistment included his age as 24 years and 9 months, height of 5 feet and 5¾ inches, weight of 12 stone, chest measurement of 39 to 41 inches, and he was of fresh complexion with blue eyes and light brown hair. His religious denomination was Presbyterian. William had 1 vaccination mark on his left arm, a small scar on his left kneecap and tattoo marks 4 on the back of his right hand. The medical examination on 15^th April 1915 certified him fit for active service. He was appointed to the 6^th Reserve Battalion on 21^st May 1915.

From 21^st April to 11^th May 1915, William was posted to the Depot, before being posted to the 6^th Reserve Battalion on the 11^th. With the other reinforcements for the 8^th Battalion, he embarked on HMAT Wandilla A62 at Melbourne on 17^th June 1915. His rate of pay was 5 shillings a day. The nominal roll listed his father as next of kin, but misread the address as “Bridge of Minchelia, Kincardinshire, Scotland”. He arrived at Anzac on 6^th August 1915, joining the 8^th Battalion there. William was then transferred from 8^th Battalion to 2^nd Field Company Engineers on 12^th August 1915. (Another two entries says the transfer occurred on 8^th December 1915.) His service records also have the service number 1880 entered, but in some this is crossed out. It would seem his service number was changed to 1880 when he transferred to Divisional Engineers and this was the number used by them. He arrived in Alexandria on 27^th December 1915, disembarking from HT Caledonia.

On 10^th March 1916, he was transferred to 5^th Divisional Engineers at Serapeum. Another entry says he was taken on strength of the 12^th Field Company Engineers from the 2^nd Field Company on 6^th March. On 3^rd April 1916, he was sent to hospital with synovitis of the knee, and re-joined from the hospital on the 6^th. He received a Typhoid and Paratyphoid A and B injection on 18^th March and 11^th April 1916.

At Serapeum on 27^th April 1916, he was charged with (1) obscene language and (2) creating a disturbance after lights out, for which he was awarded 7 days field punishment No. 2. A Board of Enquiry found he lost his rifle, for which he was charged 3 pounds and 12 shillings, forfeited from his pay. He embarked at Alexandria on 4^th June 1916, disembarking at Marseilles on the 11^th to join the BEF. On 17^th August 1916 in France, he was wounded with a gunshot wound in the left arm and right leg and sent to hospital. He was admitted to the 1^st Casualty Clearing Hospital at Etaples on the same day, where his wounds were described as being in the left thigh and right arm. On 22^nd August 1916 he embarked on HS Dieppe for England from Calais. He was admitted to Ontario Military Hospital at Orpington Kent on the same day. An admission form shows he had gunshot wounds to the left and right arms and thigh. He was in hospital for 74 days, being discharged on 3^rd October 1916. The Remarks section reads “Wounded July 14^th 1916 received here July 22^nd 1916”. It then went on to discuss the wounds and maybe some treatment, but is hard to read. In September 1916, an entry in his service record says he was progressing favourably. He was marched in from the hospital to Perham Downs on 4^th October and proceeded to furlough on the 5^th. On 21^st October 1916, he reported back from furlough at No. 1 Company Depot at Perham Downs and was classified B1a. He was transferred to Wareham on 27^th October. On 28^th October 1916 at Command Depot No. 4, William was admitted to hospital with a gunshot wound to the right arm and left thigh and was complaining of pain in the left knee which prevented him from walking for more than a mile. He was recorded as B1A2 by doctors on 14^th November and 6^th December 1916 and then was improving to B1A3 until 29^th December 1916 where he had no disability. The last entry on the sheet has him as Class A.

He was awarded the Silver Medal by the King of Serbia for distinguished service rendered during the MEF campaign, which was authorised under AIF List 117 dated 2^nd December 1916. The entry was duplicated on 15^th February 1917, and then corrected and deleted. The recommendation form has a date of 6^th February 1917. It is headed 4^th Australian Divisional Engineers Brigade, 4^th Australian Division, 1^st ANZAC Corps. The recommendation for William is stuck on and just has Sapper 1880 William Dufton, 12^th Field Company Australian Engineers and Silver Medal. The other entry on the form was for 22 Sergeant George Pentland, and the action reads “When in charge of a survey party at POZIERES on 26-8-16 although the whole party was wounded and partially buried by shells, he assisted to dig out buried and wounded men, took the latter to a place of safety, and though slightly wounded himself completed a very accurate survey. The party were under very heavy fire the whole time.” Sergeant Pentland was recommended the Bronze Medal for Military Valour by C.R.E. 4^th Aus. Div., and the form was signed by Major-General W Holmes, commanding the 4^th Australian Division.

On 27^th February 1917, he was marched in to Infantry Draft Depot at Perham Downs from Wareham. He was then taken on strength of 16^th Field Company Engineers from the 12^th Company with the rank of Sapper on 7^th April 1917, and on the same day marched out from Drafting Depot at Perham Downs and marched in to No. 3 Camp at Parkhouse. He received dental treatment on 26^th April 1917. On 26^th July 1917 he received another Typhoid and Paratyphoid A and B injection. The injections were all recorded in his Military history sheet along with then he joined and his transfers. It also has his service number as 1880 and an entry has him as Class A. In England, on 11^th October 1917, he was transferred from 16^th Field Company (on the 10^th) and taken on strength of 1^st Army Troop. From Codford, he proceeded overseas to France, embarking at Southampton on 17^th November 1917. His correct regimental number was recorded in his service records as 2224, as notified by Administrative Headquarters.

On 3^rd August 1917, Base Records sent his father a letter “I have much pleasure in forwarding hereunder copy of extract from Sixth Supplement No. 29945 to the London Gazette of 13^th February, 1917, relating to the conspicuous services rendered by your son, No. 2224 Sapper W. Dufton, 12^th Field Company Engineers. SILVER MEDAL CONFERRED BY HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF SERBIA No. 2224 Sapper WILLIAM DUFTON. The above has been promulgated in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No. 116 of 25^th July, 1917.”

On 7^th October 1918, William went on leave in France and re-joined on the 24^th October. He again went on leave to Paris on 17^th February 1919 and re-joined on the 28^th. On 1^st April 1919, he returned to England for return to Australia.

From the 12^th Troop Company Engineers, he was discharged in England at Weymouth (being demobilised) on 9^th May 1919. On 10^th May 1919, William signed a Certificate of Final Payment by discharge member of the Australian Imperial Force in England. He acknowledged he had been discharged on that day and had received all of his pay and signed it as being in London, which was then crossed out and Muchalls written in. His mother witnessed the signing. Another nearly identical form was signed by a Captain. Obviously he should have kept the form his mother witnessed, but did not. The discharge certificate gave his service details, his birth and where he attested. He was discharged in consequence of being demobilised with effect from 10^th May 1919. William had served for 3 years and 19 days in the AIF. His medals were listed as the 1914-15 Star and Silver Medal (Serbian) for distinguished services. William was entitled to 4 blue chevrons for overseas service and to 1 wound distinction. His discharge was confirmed at London on 10^th May 1919. The other side of the form showed he was with the 1^st Army Troop Company Engineers with a description of age 27 years and 10 months, height 5 foot 5¾ inches, with fresh complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. His trade was a carpenter and he had 1 vaccine on the left arm, a small scar on the left knee cap, 4 tattoo marks on the back of the right hand and a wound on the right arm. His intended place of residence was Bridge of “Muchelos, Kingcardinshire,” Scotland. His will was sent to England in early 1920.

A misplaced piece of paper is in his service record, for Private 1880 Lloyd Wesley Pearce. Presumably it is the mix-up with the service number. Pearce joined reinforcements for the Light Horse Regiment in late 1915, and was transferred to 13^th Field Company Engineers in 1917. He was awarded a Military Medal in France and reached rank of Sergeant in 1918. He also had some number changes, originally 1879, then 8200 before getting the number 1880. Lloyd was also wounded, but survived and returned to Australia in 1919.

William’s brother, Robert Bertram Dufton, also served in WW1. He was initially with the Royal Army Medical Corps as Private 1621 before being promoted to Acting Corporal, and then transferring to the Royal Flying Corps with regimental number 317881. He entered France on 1^st May 1915 and was transferred to the reserve on 27^th March 1919 from the Royal Air Force. He was entitled to the standard WW1 trio of medals. Robert died in 1968 in England.

After returning to Scotland, he married Agnes Evelyn Thow on 29^th December 1922 in the Parish of Fetteresso in Kincardineshire at a home called Kettlebank in Robert Street, Stonehaven. That year Agnes also gave birth to twins, Evelyn Alexander Dufton and Margaret Abernathy Turner Dufton. In 1923, William moved to Australia. His service record stated he embarked on Sophocles on 25^th April 1923 from England, ex AIF, and arrived at Freemantle on 10^th May. Was it to be with his mates or for work, or both? After being in Melbourne for a while, he left on the TSS Katoomba in third class, bound for Freemantle, arriving on 24^th July 1924. On 18^th September 1924, the rest of the family left London on SS Ballarat, bound for Australia. Their previous address in Scotland was given as High Street, Drumlithie in Kincardineshire.

William joined the W.A.G.R. & T. in the Loco Branch on 1^st December 1924 as a carpenter. His location was West Midland and he was being paid 18 shillings a day. On 1^st January 1925, his pay went up a little bit and on 13^th September 1925 it increased to nearly 19½ shillings, which was the award agreement. On 1^st April 1926, William was retrenched. In the 1925 Electoral Roll, William was listed as living at 42 Bassinghall Street, Victoria Park, with an occupation as carpenter. Agnes is not listed at that address, but at 13 Herbert Street, Victoria Park, as a housewife. By 1926, they had both moved to 13 Hubert Street in Victoria Park. Agnes was listed in the Western Australia Post Office Directory of 1926 as living at that address. In the Rate Book for Victoria Park in the City of Perth from 1926 to 1929 is a listing for William Clarke Dufton, who was the owner and occupier of 13 Hubert Street. The capital value of the block was 625 pounds, with rates of nearly 5 pounds. On 9th September 1927, Elizabeth Isobel Dufton was born in Perth. Her birth was recorded in The West Australian on the 14^th and 17^th September. “DUFTON. – On September 9. At Nurse Cowling’s Private Hospital, Wakefield-street, Carlisle, to Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Dufton, of Hubert-street, Victoria Park- a daughter, (Elizabeth Isobel). Both well.” The situations vacant column in The Western Australian of 24^th July 1928 had the following entry “Bricklayer wanted for Double Chimney, E. C. Well and Copper, Marmelon-st., East Fremantle. Dufton and Harris.” There was also an advert for a painter that they wanted to apply on job on 9^th August 1928. The West Australian newspaper of 13^th September 1928 had the following entry under registrations – “The following registrations and transfers of motor cars, motor wagons and motor cycles were made by the Traffic Department, Perth during the week ending September 12^th.” Under “Waggon” Transfers was the entry – 18086 Dufton and Harris to W. J. Rolfe, Murray-street, Perth. Ford.” It would seem William had a builder partnership, but maybe due to the times, the business did not go well. The West Australian of 27^th February 1929 had the following article: – “TWO GIRLS KNOCKED DOWN. Running out from behind a stationary tram car in Albany-rd, Victoria Park, on Monday evening, two little girls named Dupton, both of 13 Hubert-street, Victoria Park, were knocked down by a motor car driven by Miss C. O. Spanney, of 703 Beaufort-street, Mt. Lawley. One of the girls was thrown clear, but the other- Evelyn Dufton (about 7) – fell under the car. Suffering from abrasions, she was taken first to Dr. Meagher’s surgery in Albany-road and later to the Children’s Hospital, where she was detained. The other girl was not hurt.” He was employed at his old railway job again on 17^th April 1929, at his old pay rate. On 1^st July 1929, it increased to just over 20 shillings a day, which was the basic award rate. On 18^th September 1929, he was again retrenched. The Mirror of 15^th February 1930 carried a petition from the residents of Victoria Park in the district of Canning, asking the Licencing Court for the district to approve a new wine licence so a pub could be built in the district. One of the signatures was “E Dufton, home duties, 13 Hubert-st.” Another petition in the newspaper on 28^th April 1930, for the area of land indicated being suitable for having a licenced premises on it, was also signed by “W. Dufton, carpenter, 13 Hubert-st.,” and “A. E. Dufton, married, 13 Hubert-st.”

His 1914-15 Star was issued on supplementary roll 5348 and his British War and Victory medals were issued by Australia.

After 1930, there are no more records, so it would seem they shifted back to Scotland between 1930 and 1931. Obviously, he was looking for more regular work, which would have been hard in that time. Possibly he returned to help his father. Three more daughters followed in Scotland, Dorothy Clark Dufton in 1931 at Perth in Angus, Shiela Caroline Dufton in 1933 and Alexina M Dufton in 1934, both born in Cookney, Kincardineshire. Tragedy struck the family, when on 24^th December 1934, Elizabeth Isobel Dufton (the only daughter born in Australia) died of scarlet fever and chicken pox at Newtyle in Angus. She was buried there on the 27^th. Evelyn married Arthur Renshaw in 1945 at Aberdeen, but nothing else is known of her life. Margaret married Arthur Beattie Herschell on 23^rd June 1945 at Aberdeen. Arthur was a Fight Sergeant during WW2, but nothing else can be found on him regarding his service. At some time they moved to Australia, where they are found at “Thuruna” in High Street Southport in the 1958 electoral roll, and Arthur was a painter. By the 1970’s they had moved back to Scotland, at 33 St. Vincent Street in Dundee, where Arthur died in 1992 and Margaret died on 15^th April 2008. Dorothy married Alexander Candlish in 1956 at Alloa, Clackmannanshire and they left from Southampton in 1962, arriving at Freemantle on 9^th May. In the 1963 electoral roll, they were living at 31 Grover Way, Medina and Alexander was a welder. The 1980 record shows they were living at 75 Calume Street and the family had grown. Nothing else is known after that. Shiela possibly died at Fort William in Inverness-shire in 1994 and seems not to have married. Nothing else has been found on Alexina.

On 9^th July 1939, his mother passed away and on 30^th January 1955 his father passed away.

William passed away on 10^th September 1961 at Glenbervie, Kincardineshire, Scotland. He was buried on the 13^th. Agnes passed away in 1978. They are both buried at Glenbervie Cemetery in Section C, number 14.

Glenbervie Cemetery at Glenbervie Parish Church

His medals are 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Serbian Silver Medal.

The museum has his Victory medal and Silver Serbian medal only.ighlandersHighlanders