This site commemorates the men and women of Collingham, Linton and Micklethwaite who served during World War 1.
Dawson, Donald Stead
(1892-1958)
 

Rank and Unit at End of World War One

Rank Gunner

Service Number 183704

Service Army

Battalion 109 Heavy Battery

Regiment Royal Garrison Artillery

Buried London

Pre-war Occupation*/marital status**

Trade or Occupation pre-war: Salesman Millinery Warehouse
Marital status: Single


* Taken from attestation papers or 1911 census
** Marital status on enlistment or at start of war
Connection with Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite and reason for inclusion on this web site
  • Lived in Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite immediately prewar or during the war
  • Named as an Absent Voter due to Naval or Military Service on the 1918 or 1919 Absent Voter list for Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite

Biography

Family Background

Donald Stead Dawson was born in Cleckheaton on the 15th April 1892, the son of George Henry Dawson and his wife Annie Eleanor Dawson.

In 1901, the family were living at Potter Newton, Leeds but by 1911, George and his family were living at Fair View, Collingham. George was a carpet salesman, his eldest son, George Elliot Dawson was a farmer, Donald was a salesman in a millinery warehouse and Donald's sister and brother, Doris and Joseph, were at school. Also living at Fairview was Lena Fletcher a 16-year old servant.

Service Record

We do not know when Donald's service started, and no definitive service record has survived, but we believe Donald served as Gunner 183704 in 109 Heavy Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery.

The war years were eventful for Donald - he married Ida Constance Smith in 1916, and his brother George Elliot Dawson was killed in 1917.

As his service record has not survived we cannot be sure that Donald spent the whole of his service with 109 (Heavy) Battery RGA, or if was transferred to another unit or was away for periods of leave or injury. If he remained with 109 (H) Battery then our search for his service will lie with the units with which 109 (H) Battery served. These were:

DateUnit/notes
23 Sept 1914Went to France
17 Oct 1914 - 21 Dec 1914Joined Lahore Division
22 Dec 1914 - 24 Dec 19141st Division
24 Dec 1914 - 25 Jan 1915To rest
27 Jan 1915 - 21 Feb 1915Attached to 8th Division
22 Feb 1915 - 26 Feb 1915Lahore Division
27 Feb 1915 - 5 Mar 1915Meerut Division
6 Mar 1915Joined 1st Heavy Artillery Brigade
31 Mar 1915To 4th Heavy Artillery Brigade
19 Apr 1915To 10th Heavy Artillery Group (HAG)
11 Jun 1915To 4th Heavy Artillery Group (HAG)
5 Apr 1916To Left Group XI Corps Heavy Artillery
20 Apr 1916To Anzac Heavy Artillery in 'Lorings Group'
27 Jun 1916To 13th Heavy Artillery Group (HAG)
3 Oct 1916To 60th Heavy Artillery Group (HAG)
21 Mar 1917To 69th Heavy Artillery Group (HAG)
24 Mar 1917To 60th Heavy Artillery Group (HAG)
11 Jun 1917To 19th Heavy Artillery Group (HAG)
5 Jul 1917To 22nd Heavy Artillery Group (HAG)
26 Aug 1917To 45th Heavy Artillery Group (HAG)
15 Nov 1917To rest
4 Dec 1917Joined 5th Heavy Artillery Group (HAG)
27 Dec 1917To 6th Heavy Artillery Group (HAG)
To end of warNo subsequent changes
After the war

After the war, Donald returned to the area and he and Ida had two children, Arthur Elliott Dawson (1919-1996) in Wetherby, and Mary Gwendoline Dawson (1922-1991) in Leeds.

Donald Stead Dawson, then of 20 Brownberrie Walk, Horsforth, died on the 25th March 1958.

Biography last updated 13 November 2019 21:35:06.


Sources

1911 Census. The National Archives. Class RG14 Piece 25962
First World War Medal Index Cards. The National Archives (WO372).
First World War Medal Index Rolls. The National Archives (WO329).

If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info