The disappearing cousin -- Arthur James Walter DENING

[jestina_d]

Thank you Priscilla.  I had seen the RSL virtual war memorial, but not the joda site.  I tried emailing the person who posted that query to see if she gained any information in response to that post, but the email account is no longer active.  Thank you for your hunting and suggestions.

Cheers,
Jestina

[Aussie1947]

Hi,

Charles relating to copying from the Australian National Archives.

http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/fact-sheets/fs51.aspx

Gerry

[jestina_d]

Thanks Gerry.  I understand that if I have a WWII army file opened I can have it made accessible on-line for a fee.  I think I paid about $19 per file a year or so ago, but when I rang NAA today to check the fee they said at the beginning of the year it went up to $75 per file!  And apparently they don't offer hard copies any more, just digitisation (for $75) to be accessed online.  Apparently the increased fee is to cover costs. 

Cheers,
Jestina   

[Aussie1947]

Hi Jestina,

$75 is a bit steep when you might not get any post WW2 information, $19 would be worth a punt.

When he was discharged from the AIF he was with the 2/12 Transport Platoon which I believe served at part of the 7th Division at Morotai towards the end of the war, it would be interesting to try and find out when they shipped out of Morotai where to back in Australia that's where he may have been discharged from the AIF.

Gerry

[jestina_d]

Thanks Gerry.

The AWM site confirms what you have said but adds little.

https://oldsite.awm.gov.au/unit/U56055/

"On 1 July 1945, [the 2/12th] landed at Balikpapan in Borneo. Well supported by artillery and tanks it captured its objectives with relatively light casualties, and its active role was over by 5 July. Following the end of the war on 15 August, 2/12th personnel were progressively returned to Australia for discharge. The battalion disbanded at Balikpapan on 1 January 1946."

At least now I know where he was n the latter part of the war.  Thanks again.

Cheers,
Jestina

[DeningSA1849]

Hi my name is Tracy Harris nee DENING - Hoping someone is still monitoring this thread regarding Arthur James Walter DENING.  I am his great niece (my gfather is Arthurs brother John (Jack)) and have been searching for him since the 80's !
I have learnt over the decades that never give up on finding a disappearing ancestor - surprises do happen.  Having said that - Arthur is elusive.  I have followed the DENING name in Cenduna and the Northern Territory linked with the Aboriginal communities there -no luck.  I am hesitant to do a genealogy DNA test yet  although I think this may be the last option to try and find a connection with Arthur.  I did think at one time he may have been the Somerton Man in SA as his disappearance was around the time the Somerton man was discovered.
My Dad said that Arthur showed him some gold nuggets when he visited the family in 1946 and told him he was heading back to his claim in WA.   I am trying to navigate the WA mining leases to see if that will give me something.
I have checked out the WA newspapers as I assume that he went to WA sometime in the 20's as he had an Aunty Anna Newton and cousins there.  I have also searched with a plethora of possible name variations I can think of including Arthur using Smith as a surname. 
Thank you for your time
Tracy

[gilly1952]

Tracy.
There is a Arthur James Walter Dening in my husbands native welfare history
He was here in WA in the 30s and was thought to be the father of my father in law Norman William Little born in Cue Western Australia.
Arthur James Dening left WA and went to South Australia the family never met him he only appears on documents from the Native Welfare
Gillian

[Christine Cramer]

Here is a link to his WW2 record but I don't think it helps.  I have searched without any luck so far.

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6377651

[jestina_d]

Hi Christine

Thank you for the link.  When I was originally writing here that file was not open.  When I looked at it this evening i could not believe it!  The negative of his i/d photo is so badly damaged that there is not even a hint of an image.  How elusive can one man get?

Thank you also for drawing my attention back to this post -- I see that I have received a message nearly a year ago and have not replied.

AND

Hi Tracy

I must begin by apologising for not have seen or replied to your message earlier.   
 
I'm related through the Smiths, but Ella was my great aunt by marriage as well as being a blood relation on the other side on my mother's family (weird, but nothing inappropriate).

My Dening section of the family tree is a bit sparce, but I'm sure I can help you out with the rest of the Smiths.  I would love to be able to see if we can exchange information and help each other out.  Are you on any online family tree sites through which we could communicate less publicly?

Cheers