William Dolting was originally from Devonport where he was living at West Devonport and working as a labourer. He enlisted in March 1916 and was originally allotted to the 18th reinforcements for the 12th Battalion. He later transferred to the 40th Battalion in September 1916. He was wounded in action in at Clery Copse. His earlier work with the animals belonging to the transport section was noted in the unit history but does not seem to have been taken any further. Dolting ‘kept his animals quiet and led them along the road with the ammunition when it was apparently impossible for anything to live there.’ After treatment in England for his wounds he returned to Australia in December 1918. In 1921 he married Ethel Parsons. The couple had one son. Two brothers also enlisted Leslie was killed in action in 1917 and Harold returned.
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