1st Battalion, Auckland Regiment (New Zealand Army)
Date Of Birth:
30/07/1896
Died:
23/06/1917 (Died of Wounds)
Age:
20
Summary
William David Dunwoody was the son of William and Anne Dunwoody. He and his twin sister Harriet were born on 30th July 1896 in the district of Lurgan. They were the youngest of four children. William’s mother died when he was a baby. The family lived in Caledon, County Tyrone. His father was a gardener. William Dunwoodie attended Dilworth Ulster Institute in Auckland, New Zealand from 1906-1911. After leaving school William worked as a labourer. He enlisted on 25th July 1916. Rifleman William David Dunwoodie died of wounds on 23rd June 1917.
Further Information
William David Dunwoody was the son of William and Anne Dunwoody. William Dunwoody and Anne Williamson were married on 1st March 1893 in the district of Armagh.
William and his twin sister Harriet were born on 30th July 1896 in the district of Lurgan. They were the youngest of four children.
Known family: William Dunwoody, Anne Dunwoody, Robert James Dunwoody (born 6th August 1893, Lisburn), Emma Dunwoody (born 26th November 1894. Lurgan), William David Dunwoody (born 30th July 1896, Lurgan), Harriet Dunwoody (born 30th July 1896, Lurgan).
William’s mother, Anne Dunwoody died in Lurgan on 27th March 1897, aged 38. William was nine months sold.
The 1901 census ists William David Dunwoody as age 3, living with the family at house 5 in Millberry, Caledon, County Tyrone. His father was a gardener. William had a 20 year old step sister, Annie Harker.
William Dunwoodie attended Dilworth Ulster Institute in Auckland, New Zealand from 1906-1911.
James Dilworth was a Dungannon man who emigrated to New Zealand and became a prominent businessman. Having no children of his own, Dilworth was attracted by the idea of helping underprivileged boys to become, as his will expressed it, “good and useful members of society”.
Dilworth also wished to show affection for his native Ulster in a practical way. Unfortunately, the prospect of sending their boys to New Zealand at a tender age did not, in the outcome, appeal to many Ulster parents and guardians. The plan had therefore to be set aside after a dozen lads had been received. The Dilworth School, as it was later called, opened in 1906 with 12 pupils, William David Dunwoodie being one of them.
After leaving school William worked as a labourer for Findlay Brothers in New Zealand.
He enlisted as William Dunwoodie with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade on 25th July 1916 at Trentham Camp. By 1916, New Zealand had introduced conscription.
He listed his next of kin as P J Tristram of Te Awamutu, New Zealand, who he lists as his (adopted?) father.
Rifleman William David Dunwoodie embarked for France on-board the troop ship Maunganui, on 15th November 1916 as a Rifleman in E Company, 13th Reinforcements, 1st New Zealand Rifle Brigade.
He subsequently was posted to 1st Battalion Auckland Regiment.
Private William David Dunwoodie died of wounds on 23rd June 1917, aged about 19.
In relation to his death, Private Stevenson states:
During the raid by us on 23rd June, I got in the same shell hole as Private Dunwoodie ??, were Dunwoodie raised himself to get out of the hole and was shot in his right side. Where the bullet came out, he was bleeding from the mouth. I went forward with the company, leaving him in the shell hole. I am certain he could not possibly live as he was nearly dead when I left him.
In 1921, his medals were addressed to be sent to his biological father, who was by then deceased, and were addressed to Mr R Dunwoodie, c/o J Hamilton Esq,, 33 Shannon Street, Old Park Road, Belfast. A second address is annotated: 2+4 Woodburn Street, Shankhill Road, Belfast.
The plaque and scroll were sent to Mrs E Statt? 15 Stanley Street, Belfast, which may be his sister Emma.
Rifleman W D Dunwoodie has no known grave and is commemorated on the Messines Ridge New Zealand Memorial in France.
Rifleman William David Dunwoodie is commemorated in New Zealand on the Dilworth School War Memorial Board. The inscription reads: Dilworth Ulster Institute. Non impetu sed consilio. Roll of Honour in the Great War, 1914-1919 Master L.E. Collins (Killed in Action) Old Boys E.G. Ancell (Killed in Action) W.D. Dunwoodie (Died of Wounds).
Rifleman William David Dunwoody is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial and on the Brantry Church of Ireland WWI Roll of Honour, which lies midway between Aughnacloy and Benburb.
