This photo was provided by Eileen Mina Cormick with the suggestion that he was possibly the subject of one of our WW1 biographies: George Joseph Dunkling. She suggests that he was adopted by the Dunkling family and when war was declared enlisted under his adopted name, George Jospeh Dunkling. The following background was provided and edited by Ms Cormick:
Dear Ms Fenwick,
I understood that legal adoptions in Victoria began in 1929. Searching the internet I came across document regarding George Joseph Dunkling, Dob 25 August 1879. I found this most interesting as in my family there was mention of one of my granduncles who had been adopted by family Dunkling, related to Dunkling the jeweller.
The parents of my grandfather John Thomas Smith married in Ballarat in January, 1875. They were George Smith, blacksmith and Mary Elizabeth Smith nee Thomas. They had together eight children. My mother's grandfather, supposedly died during a typhoid fever epidemic. Date of death of father George Smith unknown. Date of death of mother, Mary Elizabeth Smith nee Thomas, 5th September 1891. There were eight children in the family. Burial of youngest 11 month old sibling of John Thomas, Bertie 12-11-1891., approx. two months after mother's death.
According to birth registration record of the children, the Smith family had lived in Town of Hotham, and Bourke Ward.
When I asked about my mother's family, especially her grandparents I was told that one of the siblings of my greatgrandfather, a brother was adopted by family Dunkling. It was all a bit of a mystery what the exact facts were but it was said that the the chiildren had been adopted.
Before digital archiving a nephew (Smith family) had done research regarding the Smith family. He also had heard same family information regarding a sibling of his grandfather being adopted by Dunkling family.
My mother had very little contact with her brothers therefore I was in my mid-20's when I finally heard of having a cousin who had contacted my brother regarding his research on the Smith famiily.
The cousin gave information on grandfather's brothers. On notes he wrote that George Alexander James had been adopted by Dunkling family and possibly in later life he had a daughter called, Nancy.
I do not know if my cousin finally found any letters or official adoption papers of George Alexander James. as I have lived in the Netherlands since 1970.
I do know that two of my grandfather's siblings were females and one Edith Maud Roff nee Smith died in Ballarat on 6th July, 1940. I have her bridal portrait of 1914 which came from Photographer Fraser in Ballarat. My grandmother would visit relations in Ballarat.
Also, one brother Joseph Henry Smith was married 1911 in Woollaran N.S.W.
I do have a Collingwood studio photo from The Model Studio of George wearing a WW1 uniform addressed to his brother (my grandfather and his wife). Although my grandfather had seven children and one adopted daughter and eldest son Charles already a soldier in WWI, he decided to join up for WWI.. Also, eldest son, Charles was missing in action. My mother, born 1 July,1915 was about one year old at the time and also youngest of the family. Grandfather suffered greatly in the trenches and returned a broken man. He returned as a war invalid. Senile and suffering from trench feet. War medals were returned. He died in February of 1937.
Sincerely yours,
Eileen M. Cormick
A later note:
My Smith side came from Aberdeen, Scotland. Such names as George, James, Alexander and even Joseph are family First Names. Grandfather of George was a miner. His children all born at Ballarat some died East Melbourne or Carlton.
The Medal Studios, Collingwood.
There is also an embossed crown on the lefthand corner.