(alias Charles August Deane, Charles August De Gracie, Charles Augustine De Gracie) & Edgar ‘Eddie’ Dalton (alias Adamson Mitchell) circa 1920
Suspect, offence unknown (Gracey); suspected of being an idle and disorderly person and having insufficient means of support (Dalton) Men with serious or lengthy criminal records were forbidden to join up to fight in World War I, but these two felons had managed to enlist, with Gracey using an alias to dupe the authorities. Gracey was wounded on two occasions and was awarded medals for his service in France. For reasons unknown, Dalton had not embarked on a troopship, remaining in Australia.
circa September 1920
Hay’s lower leg was amputated after he was wounded in action in France while serving in the Australian Imperial Force. After returning to Sydney he broke into ‘Diggerville’, a workshop set up by the Commonwealth Government to train ex-soldiers in trades such as jewellery making, welding and leatherwork. In court, police alleged that Hay had made off with five suitcases and four kitbags. He was found not guilty.
Augustine Gus Gracey
