1860 Birth

George was born on 11 May 1860 in Portsea, Hampshire, England.

He was the son of James Dadd and Caroline according to the 1871 England and Wales Census.

1871 Census

In the 1871 England Census, George was recorded as follows:

  • Name: George Dadd
  • Sex: Male
  • Age: 11
  • Birth Year (Estimated): 1860
  • Birthplace: Portsea, Hampshire
  • Occupation: Scholar
  • Relationship to Head of Household: Son
  • Event Type: Census
  • Event Date: 1871
  • Event Place: Portsea, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom
  • Event Place (Original): Portsea, Portsea, Hampshire, England
  • Sub-District: Portsea Town
  • Enumeration District: 2
  • Household Identifier: 127
  • Entry Number: 16

1875 – Joined the Royal Navy Service

On 20 October 1875, Dadd joined the United Kingdom Royal Navy. He was listed as being 5 feet 4 inches tall, with light brown hair, hazel eyes, and a “fresh” complexion. He was a shoemaker by trade. The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen’s Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 102.

1875-1876 H.M.S. St Vincent in England

From 20 October 1875 to 1 April 1876, Dadd served on the ship H.M.S. St Vincent in the Royal Navy. Dadd’s character was stated as “Good”. The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen’s Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 102.

The HMS Vincent began construction at the Plymouth Dockyard in 1810 and launched on 1815, and initially had 120 guns. It was involved in the Crimean War, and later became a training ship for boys, retaining 26 guns. This is consistent with Dadd serving onboard it as a 15 year old.

HMS Vincent in Portsmouth Harbour

1876-1880 H.M.S. Danae from England to Australia

From 8 November 1876 to 17 August 1880, Dadd served on the ship H.M.S. Danae. Dadd’s character was stated as “Good”.

The Dane was an Eclipse-class sloop which served as 12-gun corvettes. From 20 September 1876 to 3 July 1881, the Danae was captained by Captain John Child Purvis. In September 1878, the Danae sailed to the Cape of Good Hope, a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa, then onto the Solomon Islands, then into Sydney, Australia, in October 1879.

In October 1879, Dadd disembarked in Sydney.

In August 1880, the Danae sailed from Australia back to England, though Dadd had joined the H.M.S. Emerald by this time. 

1880-1882 H.M.S. Emerald in Australia

From 28 August 1880 to 20 June 1881, Dadd served on the ship ‘Emerald’. The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen’s Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 102.

The Emerald was an Emerald-class corvette launched in 1876. From 1878 to 1882 it was captained by Captain William H. Maxwell.

In October 1881, the Emerald left Australia and sailed to England. Dadd was noted as a “Bugler”. Dadd’s character was stated as “Good”.

1882-1883 H.M.S. Nelson in Australia

From 16 April 1882 to 18 May 1883, Dadd served on the ship Nelson. The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen’s Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 102. 

The Nelson was built in Glasgow in 1876. It was completed in July 1881 and then sailed to Australia. “Commodore Erskine arrived in HMS Nelson in Sydney Harbour on 8th January 1882, amid an impending Russian war scare and great jubilation from the citizens of Sydney.”

Dadd finished his service onboard the Nelson on 18 May 1883. Dadd’s character was stated as “Good”.

~1885 – Joined the New South Wales Fire Brigade

After leaving the navy, Dadd joined the New South Wales Fire Brigade.

1885 – Marriage to Elizabeth Fanny Fearnside

On 3 March 1885, Dadd married Elizabeth Fanny Fearnside in Young, NSW. NSW BDM, Marriage Registration 7552/1885. 

On 1859 Elizabeth Fearnside was born in Parramatta, New South Wales. NSW BDM Birth Certificate Registration 10752/1859. She was the daughter of Edwin Horner Fearnside and Eliza Jane Perkins, who were both born in England and had travelled to Australia in 1852.

1890 – Fire Brigade District Officer

On 13 February 1890, Dadd was stated by the Parliament of New South Wales to be the Metropolitan Fire Brigade District Officer of the Western District, No. 43 Station.

1899 – Fire Brigade Instructor

On 2 May 1899, the newspaper Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative stated Dadd was a fire brigade instructor:

“Mudgee Fire Brigade. Drills are boing hold every evening under Instructor George Dadd, and the men are making good progress. We hear that the Resident Engineer of the water works was applied to for permission to use some of the water in the mains, but permission was not granted on the ground that there is so little water. We certainly think it a great pity that now the instructor is here there should not be a complete drill. Perhaps the matter could be arranged somehow.”

1905 – Senior Officer in the New South Wales Fire Brigade

On 18 October 1905, the newspaper The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser published a photograph of Dadd and stated that he was of Balmain and was a “Metropolitan Fire Brigade Long Service Medallist”.

Dadd rose to become the inspector of country fire brigades.

1921 – Death of George Henry Dadd

On 29 September 1921 Dadd died in Granville, New South Wales. NSW BDM Death Registration Number 12524/1921.

On 30 September 1921 the newspaper The Daily Telegraph published an article FIRE BRIGADE IDENTITY DEAD:

“The death of Mr. George Dadd, yesterday afternoon, removes one of the “old hands” of the New South Wales Fire Brigades. He joined up as a fireman in 1890, completing 31 years of service, and at the time of his death had reached the rank of Inspector of Country Brigades. The late Mr. Dadd was born at Portsmouth, in 1860, and followed a seafaring career in the Royal Navy until 30 years of age. He leaves a wife and four children.”

On 1 October 1921 Dadd was buried at Rookwood General Cemetery.

On 8 October 1921 the newspaper The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate stated:

“The funeral of the late Mr. George Henry Dadd, inspector of country fire brigades, moved from his late residence, Blaxcell street, Granville, last Saturday, for the Church of England cemetery, Rookwood. The coffin, which was borne on a fire engine, was draped with a Union Jack, and part of the way to the cemetery the fine band of the Sydney Fire Brigade led the procession. There was a large gathering at the graveside, and the last rites were performed by the Rev. C. T. S. West.”