Individual Details
Dalmorton Joseph Owendale "Peter" RUDD DSM
(14 Jun 1896 - 7 Feb 1969)
Cheryl Gray says: Dalmorton Joseph Owendale Rudd, a huge name and I think a life to match. There is much written about his extraordinary life, particularly his Navy career and war service during WW1. I will attempt to highlight his career here and attach all the information in the media link.
Dal was born in Sydney, the eldest child of Joseph Dalmorton & Annie Rudd. He attended Canterbury Boys High School and joined the RAN on 30th October 1913, aged 17, for an initial period of 5 years. His service number was 3389, initial training was at HMAS "Cerberus" at Williamstown, Victoria from November 1913 until late April 1914. He then joined the light cruiser
HMAS "Melbourne" on the 26th April 1914. Shortly afterwards, 10th June 1914 he was posted to the battle cruiser HMAS "Australia". On the 14th June 1914 he was automatically promoted to Ordinary Seaman on turning 18 years of age.
Dal served on the "Australia" for the remainder of his naval career, and with the outbreak of war in August 1914 the "Australia" saw extensive service in the Pacific, then entered the South Atlantic Ocean on 1st January 1915. In late January the "Australia" arrived in Britain and was attached to the Royal Navy for service in the North Sea. Dalmorton was promoted to Able Seaman on the 18th August 1915. The "Australia" was involved in escorting convoys, patrolling and searching for the German fleet. On the 12th Dec 1917 Dalmorton was promoted to Leading Seaman, aged 21, he seemed to have a promising career ahead. His brother Leonard joined the "Australia" in October 1917.
Dalmorton was involved in the ZEEBRUGGE EXPLOIT after volunteering for a dangerous venture.
This was a British assault on the port of Zeebrugge in German occupied Belgium. This took place on 22nd April 1918. The port was a base for German U-boats & destroyers, the Royal Navy was to block the Bruges Canal by sinking 3 old cruisers. Dal was one of 5 RAN ratings aboard the HMS
"Vindictive". They came under intense fire suffering heavy casualties including most of the officers in charge of the raid. Over 1700 men were involved, 220 killed, 350 wounded and a dozen taken prisoner.
Dal was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and later placed in the ballot for a VC for his bravery during the raid. He returned the to the "Australia"after the raid where he stayed until the end of the war.
During this time Dal met and married 27 year old Isabel Whitley, at Leeds, Yorkshire, in January 1919, but less than 2 months later she died from Pneumonic Influenza (Spanish Flu). Dalmorton was with her at the time of
her death at their residence at 44 Belgrave St, Leeds, Yorkshire. Just 2 days before her death Isabel gave birth prematurely to their daughter also named Isabel Amelia. Sadly she died just 5 months later.
After being absent from Australia for 4 years the "Australia" departed England on 23rd April 1919, calling at the port of Aden in early May. No leave was granted but Dal, still coming to grips with the death of his wife, managed to get alcohol from ashore and was found drunk on board. On 12th May 1919 he was reduced to the rank of Able Seaman. Unfortunately worse was to follow.
The "Australia" arrived in Fremantle on 28th May, the first Australian port the ship had visited since late 1914. Shore leave was granted, however, when the ship was ready to leave the crew asked for more time to thank the people of Fremantle for the rousing reception, this was refused, the stokers were convinced to abandon their posts, subsequently several ratings were arrested for mutiny. Dalmorton & his brother Leonard were amongst those arrested.
On arrival in Sydney on 15th June a court martial was held on board the HMAS Encounter. Five mutineers were found guilty of committing a mutiny without violence, having all plead guilty and admitting regret for their actions. They received harsh sentences, Dal was dismissed from the RAN
and sentenced to 2 years hard labour in Goulburn Gaol. Leonard also dismissed with 2 years of hard labour.
After much public outcry and media attention Prime Minister Billie Hughes approached the Naval Board who refused to release the men on his request. He went directly the Admiralty and the British authorities agreed with his request. They were released on 20th December 1919. 1st Naval
Member Rear Admiral Sir Edmund Grant and Fleet Commander Rear Admiral J S Dumaresq resigned in protest but later revoked their resignations, Billie Hughes got his way.
Although dismissed from the RAN, Dalmorton was not stripped of his DSM and he received his war gratuity in 1920 (this was usually forfeited by those dismissed from the service).
On his release Dal worked as a labourer in Sydney. He met Irene Weston and they married on 20/11/1920, she was 22. They had 3 children, Edwin, "Ted", Valvy Doreen (known as Doreen) and Mavis. These were tough times for all after the War and without making excuses for his behaviour Dalmorton had been used to a life with men only most of the time, he no doubt had witnessed the horrors of war first hand and enjoyed a certain amount of freedom as he spent time in Britain, etc.
So life was not necessarily easy & harmonious in the Rudd household, by 1934 according to Electoral rolls, Dal was living at Redfern and Irene was still at Dee Why caring for their children. In the divorce petition dated 9/11/1942, Dal states that Irene deserted him 29/8/1933, he was the petitioner in the divorce. He is still at the same address as Irene on the 1933/34 electoral rolls and she stayed at that address in Dee Why until 1937 at least, so I guess he left her but he petitioned for the divorce and possibly paid so she would have needed to admit guilt on her part. In 1937 Dal is the "boarder" at 76 Darlington Rd, Golden Grove (Newtown), this was the home of Mary
Magdalene Roach/Hanley his future wife, who had divorced her husband in 1927. He was a heavy drinker & gambler.
Dalmorton & Mary Magdalene married 30/6/1945, they continued to live in the house at Darlington until Dal retired from his job as a labourer. They then moved to 30 Jacaranda Ave, Patonga in 1963 until his death in 1969.
The official cause of his death was accidental drowning when the boat capsized when hit by waves in waters of the Pacific Ocean near Palm Beach.
Dalmorton is buried at Point Clare cemetery on the Central Coast of NSW.
Dal was born in Sydney, the eldest child of Joseph Dalmorton & Annie Rudd. He attended Canterbury Boys High School and joined the RAN on 30th October 1913, aged 17, for an initial period of 5 years. His service number was 3389, initial training was at HMAS "Cerberus" at Williamstown, Victoria from November 1913 until late April 1914. He then joined the light cruiser
HMAS "Melbourne" on the 26th April 1914. Shortly afterwards, 10th June 1914 he was posted to the battle cruiser HMAS "Australia". On the 14th June 1914 he was automatically promoted to Ordinary Seaman on turning 18 years of age.
Dal served on the "Australia" for the remainder of his naval career, and with the outbreak of war in August 1914 the "Australia" saw extensive service in the Pacific, then entered the South Atlantic Ocean on 1st January 1915. In late January the "Australia" arrived in Britain and was attached to the Royal Navy for service in the North Sea. Dalmorton was promoted to Able Seaman on the 18th August 1915. The "Australia" was involved in escorting convoys, patrolling and searching for the German fleet. On the 12th Dec 1917 Dalmorton was promoted to Leading Seaman, aged 21, he seemed to have a promising career ahead. His brother Leonard joined the "Australia" in October 1917.
Dalmorton was involved in the ZEEBRUGGE EXPLOIT after volunteering for a dangerous venture.
This was a British assault on the port of Zeebrugge in German occupied Belgium. This took place on 22nd April 1918. The port was a base for German U-boats & destroyers, the Royal Navy was to block the Bruges Canal by sinking 3 old cruisers. Dal was one of 5 RAN ratings aboard the HMS
"Vindictive". They came under intense fire suffering heavy casualties including most of the officers in charge of the raid. Over 1700 men were involved, 220 killed, 350 wounded and a dozen taken prisoner.
Dal was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and later placed in the ballot for a VC for his bravery during the raid. He returned the to the "Australia"after the raid where he stayed until the end of the war.
During this time Dal met and married 27 year old Isabel Whitley, at Leeds, Yorkshire, in January 1919, but less than 2 months later she died from Pneumonic Influenza (Spanish Flu). Dalmorton was with her at the time of
her death at their residence at 44 Belgrave St, Leeds, Yorkshire. Just 2 days before her death Isabel gave birth prematurely to their daughter also named Isabel Amelia. Sadly she died just 5 months later.
After being absent from Australia for 4 years the "Australia" departed England on 23rd April 1919, calling at the port of Aden in early May. No leave was granted but Dal, still coming to grips with the death of his wife, managed to get alcohol from ashore and was found drunk on board. On 12th May 1919 he was reduced to the rank of Able Seaman. Unfortunately worse was to follow.
The "Australia" arrived in Fremantle on 28th May, the first Australian port the ship had visited since late 1914. Shore leave was granted, however, when the ship was ready to leave the crew asked for more time to thank the people of Fremantle for the rousing reception, this was refused, the stokers were convinced to abandon their posts, subsequently several ratings were arrested for mutiny. Dalmorton & his brother Leonard were amongst those arrested.
On arrival in Sydney on 15th June a court martial was held on board the HMAS Encounter. Five mutineers were found guilty of committing a mutiny without violence, having all plead guilty and admitting regret for their actions. They received harsh sentences, Dal was dismissed from the RAN
and sentenced to 2 years hard labour in Goulburn Gaol. Leonard also dismissed with 2 years of hard labour.
After much public outcry and media attention Prime Minister Billie Hughes approached the Naval Board who refused to release the men on his request. He went directly the Admiralty and the British authorities agreed with his request. They were released on 20th December 1919. 1st Naval
Member Rear Admiral Sir Edmund Grant and Fleet Commander Rear Admiral J S Dumaresq resigned in protest but later revoked their resignations, Billie Hughes got his way.
Although dismissed from the RAN, Dalmorton was not stripped of his DSM and he received his war gratuity in 1920 (this was usually forfeited by those dismissed from the service).
On his release Dal worked as a labourer in Sydney. He met Irene Weston and they married on 20/11/1920, she was 22. They had 3 children, Edwin, "Ted", Valvy Doreen (known as Doreen) and Mavis. These were tough times for all after the War and without making excuses for his behaviour Dalmorton had been used to a life with men only most of the time, he no doubt had witnessed the horrors of war first hand and enjoyed a certain amount of freedom as he spent time in Britain, etc.
So life was not necessarily easy & harmonious in the Rudd household, by 1934 according to Electoral rolls, Dal was living at Redfern and Irene was still at Dee Why caring for their children. In the divorce petition dated 9/11/1942, Dal states that Irene deserted him 29/8/1933, he was the petitioner in the divorce. He is still at the same address as Irene on the 1933/34 electoral rolls and she stayed at that address in Dee Why until 1937 at least, so I guess he left her but he petitioned for the divorce and possibly paid so she would have needed to admit guilt on her part. In 1937 Dal is the "boarder" at 76 Darlington Rd, Golden Grove (Newtown), this was the home of Mary
Magdalene Roach/Hanley his future wife, who had divorced her husband in 1927. He was a heavy drinker & gambler.
Dalmorton & Mary Magdalene married 30/6/1945, they continued to live in the house at Darlington until Dal retired from his job as a labourer. They then moved to 30 Jacaranda Ave, Patonga in 1963 until his death in 1969.
The official cause of his death was accidental drowning when the boat capsized when hit by waves in waters of the Pacific Ocean near Palm Beach.
Dalmorton is buried at Point Clare cemetery on the Central Coast of NSW.
Events
| Birth | 14 Jun 1896 | Campsie, New South Wales, Australian Colonies | |||
| Marriage | Jan 1919 | Leeds, Yorkshire West Riding - Isabel Amelia WHITLEY | |||
| Marriage | 20 Nov 1920 | St Clements Church of England, Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia - Irene WESTON 🧬 | |||
| Marriage | Jun 1945 | Redfern, New South Wales, Australia - Mary Magdalene "Elsie" ROACH | |||
| Death | 7 Feb 1969 | Pacific Ocean (near Lion Island), Broken Bay, New South Wales, Australia |  | ||
| Burial | 1969 | Point Clare General Cemetry, Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia |
Families
| Spouse | Irene WESTON 🧬 (1898 - 1988) |
| Child | Edwin Dalmorton RUDD (1921 - ) |
| Child | Valvy Doreen RUDD 🧬 (1923 - 2020) |
| Child | Living |
| Spouse | Isabel Amelia WHITLEY (1891 - 1919) |
| Spouse | Mary Magdalene "Elsie" ROACH (1890 - 1975) |
| Father | Joseph Dalmorton RUDD ( - ) |
| Mother | Annie Elizabeth Catherine FLEMING ( - ) |
Notes
Death
NSW #15572In the waters of the Pacific Ocean near Palm Beach