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• Daniel Robert Desbois

confirmed

Born: 8 July 1891

Died: 12 May 1976

Served at Gallipoli where he was wounded in action.  Wounded in action for a second time in France.

Awarded the Military Cross.  The commendation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Mont de Merris near Strazeele, France, in 14th April, 1918, Lieut. Desbois was in charge of his Company Sector, and was attacked on both flanks and front.

By his courage and initiative he saved a break in the line and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy.  Though under heavy enfilade (flanking) fire the whole time he showed a careless disregard for his own safety and by his courage and cheerfulness inspired his men with great confidence.

The formation of attacking waves was broken time after time by the gallantry of his post.

[JSB]

All photos (2)

Service number

• Service number 2258

Ranks

• Held rank of Private
• Held rank of Lance Corporal
• Held rank of Corporal
• Held rank of Sergeant
• Held rank of Second Lieutenant
• Held rank of Lieutenant

Birth record

• 8 July 1891 in Cooktown, QLD, Australia

Death records

• Wounded
• 12 May 1976 in Byron Bay, NSW, Australian

Address

• 26 Royalist Road, Mosman, NSW, Australia

Relationships

• Father - Dan Evans Desbois
• Mother - Sarah Trimble
• Wife - Anne Roberts

Organisation

• 3rd Battalion, AIF

Main sources

• Desbois Daniel Robert : SERN Lieutenant 2258 : POB Cooktown QLD : POE Liverpool NSW : NOK M Desbois Sarah [NAA file] (webpage)
• DESBOIS DANIEL ROBERT : Service Number - N76149 : Date of birth - 08 Jul 1891 : Place of birth - COOKTOWN QLD : Place of enlistment - VICTORIA BARRACKS NSW : Next of Kin - DESBOIS ANNE [NAA file - World War 2] (webpage)
• Honours and Awards: Daniel Robert Desbois [Military Cross] (webpage)
• Honours and Awards: Daniel Robert Desbois [Commendation] (website)
• CASUALTIES. SEVENTY-FIRST LIST. NEW SOUTH WALES. WOUNDED. (newspaper article)
• MORE CASUALTIES NEW SOUTH WALES LOSSES. 188TH LIST. Wounded. (newspaper article)
• CORP. D. R. DESBOIS. (newspaper article)
• HONOURS FOR AUSTRALIANS. MANY RECIPIENTS. (newspaper article)
• RETURNING SOLDIERS. BY THE CITY OF POONA. (newspaper article)
• WEDDING DESBOlS--ROBERTS (newspaper article)
• PORTRAIT OF CAPTAIN DANIEL ROBERT DESBOIS, MC. DESBOIS WAS A LIEUTENANT IN THE 3RD BATTALION AIF IN THE 1914-1918 WAR WHEN HE WON THE MILITARY CROSS. THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN IN THE 1939-45 WAR, WHEN HE WAS A CAPTAIN. [AWM Collection] (photograph)
• Group portrait of the officers of the 3rd Battalion at Meteren, France. Identified from left to right, back row: ... Lt Daniel Robert Desbois, MC from Mosman, NSW (9th from left); ... [14 February 1918, AWM Collection] (photograph)

Commemorations

• DESBOIS D. R. on the South Face of the Mosman War Memorial
• Desbois, D R on the St Peter's Anglican Church World War 1 Honour Roll