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3652 PRIVATE WILLIAM HENRY DODD: 1ST BATTALION ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS.

A recently acquired QSA to one of my favourite regiments, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. They really were ubiquitous throughout military history from the American War of Independence, Crimea, Coomassie, Indian Mutiny, Relief of Pekin, second Anglo Boer War and into the 20th Century global conflicts.

Following the usual searches on Findmypast, there are two possibilities for the beginnings of the life history of William Henry Dodd. I will give a very brief summary of these now, with a view to expanding in the event of gaining any positive leads in the future.

William Henry Dodd 1.
The 1881 Census has a William Henry Dodd who was born in Caernarfon in 1880 living at 7 Shirehall Street, Llanbelig, Caernarfon, Caernarfonshire, Wales. His father Mathew (30) was a bookbinder by trade and originated from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. Sarah (27, nee Allen) , his mother, was born in Warwick. Brother Mathew (2) was born in Caernarfon.

William Henry Dodd 2.
Born in Brymbo, Denbighshire, Wales in 1869, resided at Halcok House, Broughton, Wrexham, Denbighshire in 1881.
The rest of his family were all Welsh born; father Samuel Dodd (40), mother Sarah (38), John (15), Richard (10), Sarah Ann (8), Hannah (4), Mary Alice (1). They were joined by boarder John Meredith (25).

The jury is out at the present time as to which W.H.Dodd is our man, as both profiles would certainly fit!

Notwithstanding, William Henry Dodd was a member of the 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers who embarked upon the "Oriental" on the 22nd October 1899, arriving at the Cape on 13th November 1899.
The battalion were sent to Durban along with the 2nd Royal Fusiliers, 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, and 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers to form the 6th Infantry Brigade under Major General Barton.

The 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers were involved in the fighting at the first attempt to defeat the Boers at Colenso, but were not in 'the thick of it, consequently their casualties were trifling.
They joined Lord Dundonald in Bullers successful assault on the Boer positions at Hussar Hill on the 14th February 1900.
The Royal Welsh Fusiliers were holding some kopjies near Langverwachte along with the Royal Fusiliers where they came under an intense shell and rifle fire, losing Colonel Thorold, another officer and 6 men killed. Also 2 officers and 29 men wounded.
In April 1900, the 6th Brigade was concentrated around Kimberley.
Private Dodd would most certainly have been involved with all of the previously mentioned actions along with his comrades leading upto the Battle of Rooidam on 5th May 1900, when his luck would run out!

THE BATTLE OF ROOIDAM 5TH MAY 1900
The following passage quoted from Findmypast:
"A farm in the Cape Colony (Warrenton district),:20 km Southwest of Warrenton. Early in March 1900 a group of rebels from Vryburg district arrived on the farm to be joined by some 200 more from the same district, these commandos being under the command of Veg-Gen P. J. Liebenberg and Commandant du Perez. Lt. Gen. Sir. A. Hunter, with a force of Imperial Yeomanry from the 6th Infantry Brigade of his 10th Division, moved against the Boer positions on the farm across some 7km of rocky Koppies. Enfiladed by the 11th (Yorkshire) Company of the 31st Imperial Yeomanry and 14th (Northumberland) Company of the 5th Imperial Yeomanry, the Boers were frontally assaulted by the 2nd Royal Fusiliers and the 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Outflanked, the Boers retired towards 14 Streams, among those killed were Commandant B. van Aswegen."

During the assault, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers suffered numerous casualties including 3652 Private William Henry Dodd who was severely wounded during the battle and tragically succumbed to his wounds on the following day at Rooidam.

His comrades who also became casualties at the Battle of Rooidam as follows:

KILLED IN ACTION
Captain Lovett, R. G. B.
2850 Lance Col. Moore, M.
3663 PTE. Ballard, T.
5384 PTE. Ledbrook, F.
971 PTE. Leadbetter, J.

SEVERELY WOUNDED
Captain Martell, P. R.
Captain and Adjutant Braithwaite, W. G.
2657 Sgt. Graham, J. W. (Died 5the July).
4156 Lance Sgt. Mikes, C.
3169 Cpl. Wolmsley, T.
3223 Lance Col. Rogers, J.
3652 PTE. Dodd, W. (Died 6th May 1900).

DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED
2753 Davies, J. (Died 6th May 1900).
2506 Hunt, H.

SEVERELY WOUNDED
5850 PTE. Davies, T.
881 PTE. Roberts, J. C.
2773 Pte. Williams, I.
3279 Pte. Hall, T.
2273 PTE. Locker, W.
1147 Pte. Edwards, S.
3184 PTE. Parry- Ellis.

SLIGHTLY WOUNDED
3714 PTE. Roberts, T.
720 Pte. Jones, W.
2791 PTE. Williams, O.





Queen's South Africa medal awarded to 3652 Private William Henry Dodd bearing the clasps Cape Colony, Tugela Heights and Relief of Ladysmith.


Reverse of his QSA.


Impressed naming to the rim of the medal.


Regimental naming to the rim.

Private Dodd's remains are interred with his fellow comrades at Kimberley West End Cemetery and his name commemorated on panel 1 of the memorial there.

His memory is further perpetuated on the Welsh National South Africa Memorial at Cathays Park in Cardiff and also on the impressive memorial tablet honouring the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at St. Giles Cathedral in Wrexham.

It is my hope that this post will further perpetuate the memory of this brave Welsh Fusilier.

Steve - William Henry Dodd 1 is definitely not your man as here he is on the 1901 Census living at 41 Argyle Street, Barrow-on-Furness with his bookbinder father, mother Sarah and elder brother Matthew:



He can also be found on the 1911 Census married to Maud and even the 1939 Register with children still at home one of whom they christened Peace (daughter). Public Family Trees on Ancestry have him passing away in 1970.

Public Family Trees on Ancestry say William 2 born in Brymbo is your man but how they have worked that out is not clear.

David.

David,
Thank you for your detective work. The fact that William 1 stayed with his folks certainly helps in clearing the mists of time!
Kind of nice to know that William 2 made it to around 31 years old before his wounding and death at Rooidam.
Cheers Steve

British Memorial - West End Cemetery, Kimberley