The disappearing cousin -- Arthur James Walter DENING

[jestina_d]

Hi,

My grandfather's 1st cousin, Arthur James Walter DENING, son of Charles Edward Davy DENING and Annie SMITH, was born 28 January 1905 at Naracoorte SA.  He went to Western Australia, and while living there he listed in the army at Claremont WA during WWII.  His sister Daisy told me that he visited his family in SA after WWII, and as he was leaving he said he would write, but never did.
 
I have hunted but cannot find anything beyond that — it seems that he just vanished off the face of the earth.  I now fear that he might have changed his name or been lost in the bush.  In the hope that is not the case, I wonder it anyone can help me with this, please?

Cheers,
Jestina

[giblet]

Hi,

You can apply to obtain his military records, quiet expensive. I was just thinking that sometimes there is correspondence between the person concerned and the military with pensions etc in their files  long after they have been discharged. A lot of money for something that isnt guaranteed tho.

DENING ARTHUR JAMES WALTER : Service Number - WX31261 : Date of birth - 28 Jan 1905 : Place of birth - NARRACOORTE SA : Place of enlistment - CLAREMONT WA : Next of Kin - DENING JOHN

[jestina_d]

Thank you for that.  He did visit SA after his discharge from the army, so I suspect that the chances are slim of there being any corres there. 

I knew his two sisters well, and John (Jack), the next of kin on the army record, lived not far away, too, and I also met their youngest brother a few times.  None of them ever heard from him after his visit just after WWII.

I imagine him prospecting in the gold fields of WA and getting injured or lost and the body never found (no evidence for this, of course).

[sparrett]

What occupation did he follow prior to his enlistment?

Under his full name (which you  have given), he appears not to have registered to vote at all in WA.

 So, though eligible to vote  by 1926 onwards, I have not seen a registration in for any election in that full name in WA.

When did he go to WA?

Sue

[giblet]

Wonder if anyone reported him as a missing person? 

I looked in Trove and couldnt find anything in the papers but then that doesnt mean to say he wasnt reported missing.

[rosball]

I can't see him on metropolitan W.A. Cemeteries http://www2.mcb.wa.gov.au/

Perhaps it is worth trying this site  which has lots of burials in "outback" Western Australia - but you need to search by cemetery.   They also offer Photos of the graves.
http://www.ozburials.com/CemsWA/waus.htm

Ros

[Aussie1947]

Hi,

Being a WW2 veteran he may have a DVA File but these are not available for general public access..

http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/fact-sheets/fs54.aspx

Gerry

[jestina_d]

Thank you everyone for your help and advice.

Sue: I don't know what his occupation was -- I guess it would have been something like shearing or truckdriving.  Nor do I know when he first moved to Western Australia.  I had the impression from his sister Daisy that it was before WWII.  Thank you for checking electoral rolls.
 
giblet: from what I understood from Daisy I think the family were hurt and disappointed rather than worried for his safety.  Thank you for checking Trove -- I too have thried there without the faintest hint of success.

Ros: thankyou for the ozburials link -- I'll start on them tomorrow.

Gerry: I had no idea that DVA files were ever open.  Arthur was a WWII vet, so no chance of his file being open yet, but it is certainly useful information -- thank you very much.

Again -- thank you for all your help

Cheers,
Jestina

[Priscilla]

In case you haven't seen this ...

https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/539257

and

http://joda.freeservers.com/board2.html