Servicemen buried in Old Dubbo Cemetery

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Patrick Bourke

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Two men, Stanley Worthington and Ernest Douglas Bayley, whose names are on this memorial, are buried in the Old Dubbo Cemetery, at the request of their families.

Stanley Worthington died as a result of cerebral meningitis and influenza in the Army Field Hospital at Liverpool, Sydney, on 1 June 1915, as noted on his death certificate in his service records. He went to Dubbo Public School and his name is on their WW1 Roll of Honour. His brother, Victor Robert Worthington, died at Gallipoli on 27 July 1915. 

Ernest Douglas Bayley, who was in the RAAF, was killed on 9 June 1942 as a result of a plane accident at Long Point, near Sale in Victoria, whilst on active service. He went to Dubbo Public School and Dubbo High School. His name is on the Dubbo High School's WWII Honour Board at Dubbo College, senior campus. 

The Old Dubbo Cemetery was a focal point for local Anzac Day Services prior to the completion of the Dubbo War Memorial in Victoria Park in 1925. 

Two other servicemen on this war memorial are also buried here. They are the brothers Aubrey and Harold Field. They returned home from the Western Front but later died due to their war service.

The brothers went to Dubbo Public School and their names are on the Australian War Memorial's Roll of Honour. The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate newspaper on 23 January 1920 wrote an obituary for Harold Field. Another ex-student whose name is also on this war memorial and is buried in the old cemetery is Norman Knight. He died from an accident at the Army Field Hospital at Liverpool in Sydney on 11 April 1916.     

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission confirms that there are 19 war graves in the (Old) Dubbo General Cemetery, which includes the above five local servicemen. There are other Australian war graves in this cemetery which have been accepted as due to their service but their deaths occurred outside the eligibility dates for Commonwealth War Graves.

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