The following story was supplied by Gail and Keith Dodd and is produced here with their kind permission. The subject of the story is Norman W G Dodd who is Keith’s Great Uncle. It shows that it is possible to have the unrecognised grave of a victim of war finally honoured. Many more soldiers died after their return to Australia from illness, disease and of course suicide. My own husband’s grandfather was another such man whose life was ended by the privations he experienced during his military service both mentally and physically. I hope that this story may encourage others with unrecognised family members to endeavour to correct this omission. – Lest we Forget
Death By Despair:
Norman Walter Gilmore Dodd (1889-1942)
By Keith Hugh Dodd – July 2022
A metal number at Leonora’s arid graveyard was the only indicator of my Great Uncle, Norman Dodd’s grave when I visited the Leonora Cemetery in Western Australia. in 2022. That’s about to change! Thanks to the efforts of volunteers at Outback Graves, a plaque will soon identify his final resting place and the Office of Australian War Graves has now commemorated that site.
His is one of 31 cases ‘recorded as suicide’ (out of 1653 burials) in thatcemetery in Leonora, but there may be others whose death was caused by the desperation of their personal circumstances.
Norman W G Dodd – Photo Gail Dodd
Norman’s suicide note states that he was set up as the fall person for fraud and that he was too old to start his life over again. In fact, he had attempted and threatened suicide many times before because he was wracked with ill health. He regularly suffered weeks of very severe headaches, fever, shaking and trembling, and an inability to eat, coupled with a harsh dry cough that brought up thick tenacious phlegm with difficulty. He had prematurely aged from chronic bronchitis.
Norman served in the Australian Imperial Forces as did two of his brothers, ‘Hughie’(2) and ‘Mac’. (3) All three suffered severe war-caused health issues. This was pitiful because their father, the Hon Jabez Edward Dodd, MLC (1867-1928) supported compulsory military service. Jabez delivered a highly controversial lecture at Cottesloe Beach in 1916 to a capacity crowd announcing himself ‘in favour of conscripting wealth and men in order that Australia’s part in the war might be thoroughly performed.’
Norman enlisted in 1917 and was subsequently posted to the 16th Battalion. He served one year and 206 days abroad. On 8 August 1918 during the famous Battle of Amiens in France, he was wounded by a gunshot to his left side and hospitalised in the United Kingdom. When discharged Norman received a part-pension for his disability and until his death, had a long record with various medical practitioners who treated him for regular bouts of acute/chronic bronchitis. Although awarded a grant under the Soldiers Land Settlement scheme, and cleared medically fit for that grant, he later withdrew his application stating that ‘owing to physical incapacity it was useless to proceed with the land application’.
In 1921 Norman married Dorothy Irene Ferres in Perth WA and they had two children: Norma born in 1922, and Robert born in 1925. The family had a war service home at 6 James Street, Bassendean. The Soldiers Industrial Committee monitored his efficiency and classified his wages scale as a trainee with Westralian Farmers, then Douglas Jones & Co. Ltd, timber and hardware merchants in Guildford. By 1929 Norman was working as the Assistant Manager at the latter company. He invested in company shares but the Australian economy suffered badly during the Great Depression in the 1930s. Conversely, a gold boom led to a golden age in Norseman. In 1934 Norman won a position as an accountant at Central Norseman Gold (CNG was a subsidiary of Western Mining Corporation) and the family lived at the Phoenix Mine. Norseman became virtually a company town, with CNG owning most of the leases, employing most of the workers, and investing heavily in infrastructure and community facilities in the town.
The Phoenix Mine was found to be very rich. But the cost of living at Norseman was very high and by 1938 Norman’s debt to Douglas Jones & Co. Ltd. for shares and perhaps furniture he had purchased from them had not been cleared. The court ordered the sale of 250 shares. Consequently, Norman suffered a substantial loss, leaving a balance still owing of £194/2/5. He applied for bankruptcy. At that time Norman’s monthly wage was £39/8 and his Bassendean home was valued at £919, of which he owed £619. He was not granted bankruptcy but had his wages garnished by £3 per week to repay his debt. He told the courts that he was unable to save any money and that his daughter, Norma was attending school in Perth, which cost £30 per term.
Despite his ill-health and financial difficulties, Norman was interested in practically every movement and organisation in Norseman and put his whole energies into the district’s progress. He was on the Executive Committee of the Norseman Race Club, a registered postal vote officer, Vice President of the Ambulance Association and a member of Norseman’s Hospital and Roads Boards. He was also a sportsman. In his youth, he gained his teachers’ certificate from the Royal Lifesaving Society and was part of Norseman’s cricket team.
On 3 February 1937, Norman was elected Sub-Branch President of the RSL, Norseman and Country Vice President for the whole of the state. At a social in his honour, a framed personal photograph was presented to him as a mark of the community’s esteem. Contemporaries described him as a leading citizen and force at Norseman. A photograph of Norman, with Mr De Caen, Supervisor CNG appeared in The Sunday Times newspaper on 9 June 1940, (see below). A photograph of his brother, Les (after whom Dodd Hall is named) hangs in the Council building. Les was an Engineer at the Central Norseman Goldmine (1934-1957) and Chairman of the Roads Board.
Norman Dodd Accountant -Sunday Times Perth 9 June 1940, page 12
Shockingly, he was summarily dismissed from CNG in Norseman in 1942 but found work immediately as a Timekeeper at the Sons of Gwalia Mine in Leonora. According to a CNG official, Norman’s ‘insobriety and unsatisfactory performance of his duties during the last 12-18 months of his employment were the reasons for his dismissal’. There was a complete change in the administrative staff at that time, due to their presence at a hotel during office hours. One such person was Stanley Raymond Joseph, a clerk who was charged with stealing £633 from CNG from January to May 1942. When first questioned by police in Melbourne about the charge, Joseph did not mention Norman but later told police that he had carried out the fraud under my Great Uncle’s direction.
It is noted that Joseph was subsequently acquitted of the charges laid against him. Coronial evidence into Norman’s suicide provides further insight. Before his death, Norman was visited by the police. He left a hand-written letter to Reginald Arthur Barden, Underground Manager, Sons of Gwalia Mine – It said:
‘Dear Reg As I previously told you there are many ways that one is fooled, after seeing Hagin (Sergeant William Patrick Hagan) yesterday I (am) satisfied and although feel perfectly clear myself no doubt I slipped in trusting the jokers working for and whatever the outcome it does not show me up too good and being too old to start over again only one way out. Shall be glad if you would look after my personal belongings and see they are sent home. Assure Johnnie and Cranston that I have not let them down. Yours, etc. (signed) Norman Dodd.’
A sworn statement by Sgt Hagan said that when he interviewed my Great Uncle on 22 February 1942, ‘he was in his pyjamas lying on bed and told me he was suffering from bronchial trouble. I said I am inquiring into defalcations on payroll on Central Norseman Mine. No doubt you have heard about it and Joseph the timekeeper has been arrested. I explained to him the system by which Company had been defrauded and said it would seem that Joseph was in collusion with someone or other members of staff which is why I am here to see you. He said: What has Joseph said. I said: I have here a copy of the statement Joseph has given me. He said: can I see it. I said yes, handed it to him, and warned him he need not make any comment on the statement. Joseph alleged that Dodd was the principal in the fraud and that Joseph did it under duress from Dodd. Dodd said: What a bloody beauty. I asked Dodd if he had any share of the proceeds of defalcations – he denied this emphatically and quite willingly gave me a statement with regard to payroll and he denied complicity. I intimated that I was leaving for Kalgoorlie. He said: What are you going to do about me. I said: That will be considered when I return to Kalgoorlie. He said: I am taking over another man’s job on Tuesday – he is leaving, and if I can’t take it, it will mean he will have to stop. I said: I will let you know one way or another tomorrow. I left him. He was quite rational – he didn’t appear to be the slightest perturbed.’
In other evidence, the Underground Manager, Sons of Gwalia Mine stated that he knew Norman since last May and that they were friendly. Stated that Norman was a moderate drinker – he would occasionally have a few drinks.’ The Assistant Accountant at Sons of Gwalia swore on oath that he had known Norman for six months and that he was a competent, conscientious official. He also stated that he was not an excessive drinker. Further ‘on 20 November 1942 he completed his work at the office. He had had a cold for a week and had been coughing a lot….’
Keith Dodd beside his Great Uncles grave at Leonora – Photo Gail Dodd – April 2023
According to witness, Francis Hynes (who identified my Great Uncle’s corpse and had known him for 30 years), ‘he seemed older than his age and I don’t think he drank to excess at all’. The deceased appeared to be old before his time and worn out.’ An Appeal lodged on 17 May 1943 by his widow for a war service pension included the following witness statements:
Dorothy Dodd (wife) – I hereby appeal against the rejection of my claim for the acceptance of my husband’s death due to war service. My grounds for the appeal are that continual suffering from his accepted war-caused disability eventually caused him to take his life. On numerous occasions, he had threatened to do this, particularly after severe bouts of bronchitis. In 1939 his condition was so bad that he was ordered to take a trip to Queensland which he did. This did not seem to improve his health. Am enclosing statements from my daughter aged 20 years, son aged 17 years and a neighbour who resided in Norseman and was at our house during the times my husband was suffering.
L.E. Taylor (neighbour) – I hereby declare that the late Mr N.W.G. Dodd has threatened to take his life in my presence, and also seen him intercepted. The occasions he threatened to take his life were made while he was suffering extreme distress with his chest and prolonged coughing.
Robert E.H. Dodd (son) – I hereby declare that for years my father, the late N.W.G Dodd has in my presence threatened to take his life owing to his continuous suffering from bronchitis. On numerous occasions, I have prevented him from doing so.
Norma Dodd (daughter) – I, Norma Thelma H Dodd do hereby testify that my father the late Norman Walter Gilmore Dodd has threatened to take his life many times in my presence. He usually made these threats after an attack of bronchitis and continuous coughing.
Leonora Cemetery – War Grave of Norman W G Dodd – Photo Gail Dodd – April 2023
DODD Norman Walter Gilmore — 44yrs, d 23 Nov 1942, at Sons of Gwalia GM, Leonora, Mess Room, Occ: Timekeeper, Cause: Suicide, gunshot wound by a 22-calibre rifle to the head, self-inflicted, Verdict of the Coroner, Father: Jabez Edward DODD (Hon), Mother: Florence Wilson JOHNSTON, Born: Coolgardie WA in 1899, Married to Dorothy Irene FERRES in Perth WA at age 23yrs, Children: Norma 20yrs, Robert J 18yrs, Reg Mt Margaret 24/1942, METH, Buried Leonora Cemetery. (Death Certificate details)
References:
2 My Grandfather, Sergeant Edward Gilmore (Hughie) Dodd 4209 served in the No. 6 Tunnelling Corp in World War 1 in France. His service records show repeated hospitalisations for treatment of trench fever, then tonsilitis. He was Phosgene gassed at Ypres and suffered the effects for the rest of his life.
3 Major Foster Lindsay Gilmore Dodd WX11002 served in the Dental Unit, 2/13 Field Ambulance in World War II. He served in the Middle East from June 1941 and was returned to Australia as a repatriation case with chronic bilateral otitis media (with deafness).
Researched by Gail and Keith Dodd, 36 Stefanelli Close Wandi – doddgail6@gmail.com 2
Moya Sharp
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