| Mounted Photograph 9 Inches by 6 1/2 Inches (22.5cm x 16.5cm) Cleary's Photographic Studio - Photographer Kingston, Jamaica c. 1911 Dodd's service papers are rather difficult to read but his career as far as it can be read follows: After attesting for short service as Gunner No. 7 Company of the Royal Artillery on 11 November, 1894 he was granted his first Good Conduct Pay on 11 November 1896. He was granted his second Good Conduct pay on 11 November, 1900. Appointed Acting Bombardier on 24 November 1900 he extended his service to complete 12 years of 21 December, 1900. His unit was re-designated No. 23 Company of the Royal Garrison Artillery on 1 January, 1902. Promoted Bombardier on 10 may, 1903 an then Corporal on 13 March, 1905. On 4 December of that same year Cecil Dodd extended his service with the Royal Garrison Artillery at Newport to complete 21 years service. Although not mentioned in his service papers it is safe to assume that Dodd was pursuing his trade as a tailor during these years. Promoted Sergeant on 4 December, 1905 he transferred to the "D' Company, 2nd Battalion, The West India Regiment at the same time. He was promoted to Sergeant Master Tailor on 13 January, 1906. Dodd was granted the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal on 1 July, 1911. Dodd remained with the 2/West India Regiment until 21 August, 1914 at which time he transferred to the 3rd Battalion , the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders. Dodd served out the remainder of his 21 years as Sergeant Master Tailor with the Highlanders taking his discharge on 9 November, 1916. Sergeant Master Tailor Cecil Dodd does not appear to have re-enlisted during the remainder of World War One. I was unable to find a Medal Index Card under his name but did come across a Silver War badge card for him on which his is listed as No. 2538 Sergeant Master Tailor Cecil Dodd of the 3/A & S Highlanders. While the War Badge was generally issued to men who had been invalided out of service due to sickness or wounds the badge was apparently also issued to pre-war long service soldiers whose term of engagement ended during the war. These received the badge in lieu of any of the other regularly issued war medals. One interesting fact shown in Dodd's service papers is the fact that during his entire time at home and overseas he was never once admitted to the hospital for any reason. His medial record is simply marked "No Addmission" fifteen times. Dodd's posting at home and abroad were: Home: 10 November, 1894 - 29 December, 1905 West Indies: 30 December 1905 - 30 December 1908 "On Voyage": 31 December, 1908 - 15 January, 1909 West Africa: 16 January, 1909 - 24 October, 1909 "On Voyage": 25 October, 1909 - 3 November, 1909 Home: 4 November, 1909 - 1 June, 1910 "On Voyage" : 2 June, 1910 - 12 June, 1910 West Africa: 13 June, 1910 - 13 June, 1911 "One Voyage": 14 June, 1911 - 25 June, 1911 Home: 25 June, 1911 - 24 October, 1911 "On Voyage" 25 October, 1911 - 5 November, 1911 West Africa: 6 November, 1911 - 11 December, 1911 West Indies: 13 December, 1911 - 29 May, 1914 "On Voyage": 30 May, 1914 - 22 June, 1914 Home: 23 June, 1914 - 9 November, 1916 Dodd served a total of 23 years, 320 days with the colours. It is interesting to speculate as to why Cecil Dodd did not choose to remain in the service for the final two years of World War One when so many of the "Old Contemptibles" chose to do so. Perhaps he simply felt that almost 24 years with the colours under three different sovereigns was simply enough. In hindsight when the horrors of the trenches are taken into consideration I am inclined to think he made the right decision. Former Sergeant Master Tailor Cecil Dodd married Miss Mary Sanderson Ferguson on 15 February, 1917 at Central Hall, Tollcross, Edinburgh, Scotland. It is not known if or how many children they may have had. Cecil Dodd died in December 1967 at Hastings, Sussex, England. |
