Detmold, JF — Alleyn's World War One Memorial Website

Julius Frederick Detmold

Driver, 3^rd Field Artillery Brigade (Park Section), Australian Imperial Force

Driver Julius Frederick Detmold (b. 1883) and his brother Private Albert Detmold (b. 1884) were the sons of Frederick Detmold, stockbroker, who was of German descent. They both joined Alleyn’s in 1895, with Julius leaving school in 1897. The 1901 census shows Julius Frederick was living with his parents and siblings in Auckland Road, Upper Norwood working as a clerk in a soap factory. Julius (known as Fred) left Liverpool for Canada in 1902, along with his brother, Albert) in search of new opportunities and employment.

When war broke out the family’s home was in Alleyn Park in Dulwich, but Julius was working in Australia as a manager of a taxi cab company. He signed up for the war effort, aged 31, in October 1914 and sailed from Australia in December 1914.

The work of the Artillery Brigade was to keep the infantry brigades supplied with ammunition. Julius’ war record showed that he saw service in Egypt and the Western Front. He was hospitalised twice with routine ailments and discharged as medically unfit towards the end of the war in June 1918. After the war, his parents remained in Dulwich and he went to live in Canada.

The WW1 service histories of other Detmold relatives of Julius have also been traced. He had another brother who did not attend Alleyn's. Godfrey William Detmold enlisted with the Royal Flying Corps. Julius' cousin, Philip Walter Detmold, who attended Latymer Upper School in London also served with a Canadian regiment, the 27th Battalion (Manitoba Regiment). Philip was killed on 18 April 1917, aged 23 and is buried at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery (Grave IV.C.7).

All of these Detmold family members were also cousins of the celebrated twin artists Maurice and Edward Detmold who provided the iconic illustrations for the 1903 edition of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.

With thanks to Alexandra McKinnon, Directorate of History and Heritage, Canadian Department of National Defence, for much of this information.