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Gordon James Dredge - Information

Gordon was the second child of John Frederick James and Margaret Jane Dredge. Gordon was born in Rooty Hill in 1898, before his father moved the family to Campbelltown in 1900, and then to a property at Douglas Park, where John Frederick and his family resided for over 40 years. The Dredge'€™s established a dairy farm, and had quite a large family of at least ten children. When war broke out, Gordon was living on the family property working as a labourer. When he was just 18 years old, he decided to enlist in the AIF on the 1st of April 1916 in Goulburn.

After enlisting, he was stationed to Goulburn Depot, where he was posted to C Company, 56th Battalion in May. He was then transferred to the 2nd Reinforcements, 35th Battalion at Rutherford. As a Private with the 35th Battalion, Gordon departed Sydney aboard the HMAT Port Sydney on the 4th of September 1916. He landed at Plymouth in late October, and was marched out for further training. While in England, he was admitted to hospital in December with influenza. However, Gordon was suffering during training, from an old hernia. Completing daily exercises, the hernia began to strangulate. Concurrently, an examination was ordered, uncovering that the left inguinal hernia had grown since his enlistment, causing much pain. Gordon was also diagnosed with rheumatism, and his hernia required an operation if aggravated further. Therefore, on the 27th of August 1917, Gordon was sent back to Australia for home service. He arrived in Australia on the Pakeha in late October 1917.

Gordon eventually joined his family in Douglas Park, and on the 2nd of September 1918, he married Matilda Simpson at St Peters Campbelltown. Gordon and Matilda then moved to Queensland, where he passed away in 1988.