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William Lambert Dunn - Information

William belonged to the Dunn family, who lived on a farming property in Mt Hunter near Camden. William was born on the 12th of August 1891 in The Oaks to George Lambert and Elizabeth Dunn. Like his younger brother George, William worked on the family farm, while he served in the Senior Cadets and for 3½ years in the 9th Light Horse in Camden. In 1914, William watched his brother join up and leave for war. William followed suit, signing up in Liverpool on the 23rd of June 1915, aged 23. During training, William was despatched to the 7th Reinforcements, 1st Light Horse Regiment as a Trooper in late July; the same unit his brother was serving in. He was then sent overseas from Sydney on the 16th of August 1915 onboard the HMAT Marere.

William landed in Egypt, and shortly joined his unit. William would have been lucky to see his brother for a short time, before he was struck ill. The 1st Light Horse were responsible for defending the Suez Canal before operations moved into the Sinai Desert. In late July 1916, he was attached to the Machine Gun Section, 1st Light Horse Brigade. He was then promoted to Lance Corporal on the 1st of August 1916. William worked hard patrolling throughout the Sinai Desert and Palestine. In this modern warfare, the advantage of the machine gun was paramount. The troops relied heavily on them in advancing and covering their flank and withdrawals. He was then promoted to Corporal on the 12th of June 1917. He was subsequently appointed Temporary Sergeant on the 15th of August. From the 25th of August until the 16th of September, he attended a school of instruction. Here, William became qualified in using the large Vickers Machine Gun. On the 9th of March 1918, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. While fighting in Jordan, William contracted malaria in July. He subsequently became very ill, with fever and debility. He was admitted for treatment, and was out of the lines when the war ended. Just before Christmas, William was invalided home onboard the Leicestershire.

After his discharge, William returned to Mt Hunter. He reunited with his brother George and the rest of his family.