Henry Dodson Noon
- Family History
- Military History
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Henry Dodson Noon was born in 1894 in Eastwood and was the son of George Henry a butcher and farmer and Mary Catherine Noon née Dodson of 'Springfields' Eastwood Nottinghamshire. George Henry Noon was born in 1863 at Eastwood, Mary Catherine Dodson was born in 1868 at Kirkby in Ashfield, they were married on 18th July 1890 at St Mary's Church Eastwood , they went on to have 8 children all of whom were born in Eastwood. In 1911 the family are living at 32 Church Street, Eastwood, George Henry 46 yrs is a butcher and farmer, he is living with his wife Mary Catherine 43 yrs and their 8 children including Henry Dodson 17 years a butchers assistant. Henry Dodson emigrated to Australia during 1911.
Henry Dodson Noon enlisted on 25th September 1914 in Australia. He embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 22nd December 1914. He was wounded at Galliopli around May 7th 1915 receiving a bullet wound through the nose. After treatment in Egypt he returned but the wound became infected and he was hospitalised in England. He arrived in France during the Spring of 1916 and was killed in fierce fighting to capture Mouquet Farm on the Somme on 31st August 1916. His body was identified and buried near Mouquet Farm but his grave was subsequently lost. His name is commemorated on the Villers Bretonneux Memorial on the Somme.
The battalion's war diary for 7th May 1915 states the following :- The battalion war diary recorded: “Heavy volume of rifle fire here & at 7 pm a particularly heavy bombardment in the place mentioned before, [Cape Helles] the high point of the ridge, took place the naval guns backed up by artillery on shore. Lasted nearly an hour. Along the ridge and down the gulleys our shells were bursting in clusters. Rifle fire could not be heard through the din.” war diary reference AWM4/23/3/6 and is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 In memoriam published 31st August 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “NOON. – In proud and loving memory of Sgt. Henry Dodson Noon, Australian Imperial Forces, aged 22, only son of Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Noon, Springfields, Eastwood, who was lost at Mouquet Farm, France, August 31st, 1916. His country called – he answered.” Notice courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
