Port Adelaide
South Australia

John Dunstan Dallas

Enlistment Date
13/01/1915
Age At Enlistment
24
Rank On Enlistment
Lance Sergeant
Regimental No.
1933
Battalion
10th Battalion
Fate
KIA
Fate Date
21/03/1918
Fate Place
Belgium
Occupation
Carpenter
Place of Birth
Port Adelaide, South Australia
Religion
Presbyterian
Marital Status
Single
Embarkation Details
Embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 20 April 1915

John Dunstan Dallas was a carpenter, born in Port Adelaide in 1890. He seems to have only taken up soccer in 1914 when he joined the Port Adelaide club, played in the reserves and went on to make a few first team appearances.

He joined the AIF in January 1915 and served with the 10th Battalion at Gallipoli from July until being evacuated sick three months later. In France he was wounded at Pozieres and by 1918 had been promoted to Staff Sergeant. On March 21st 1918 Dallas was killed in action as the Allies battled to halt the big German offensive, Operation Michael.

In 1933 there was a dispute over John Dallas’ war medals. After the deaths of his mother and sister they had passed on to the brother-in-law. Dallas’ brother claimed them but the brother-in-law was refusing to hand them over. The Army eventually decided that they had no jurisdiction in the matter.