This site commemorates the men and women of Collingham, Linton and Micklethwaite who served during World War 1.
Dawson, George Elliott
(1888-1917)
 

Rank and Unit at End of World War One

Rank Gunner

Service Number 69508

Service Army

Battalion 169 Siege Battery

Regiment Royal Garrison Artillery

Died of Wounds: 5th November 1917

Buried Nine Elms British Cemetery, Belgium

Pre-war Occupation*/marital status**

Trade or Occupation pre-war: Farm hand
Marital status: Married


* 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 on war village memorials or Roll of Honour

Biography

Family background

George Elliott Dawson was the eldest son of George Henry Dawson and his wife Annie Eleanor Dawson of Fair View, Collingham and the husband of Hilda Mary Dawson of Hill Top, Collingham. George Elliott Dawson had been born on the 29th October 1888 at Fern Bank, Whitcliffe, Cleckheaton. In 1911, George was living at Fair View, Collingham with his parents, 2 brothers and a sister and a servant. George's father was a carpet salesman and George was listed as a farmer. One of George's brothers, Donald Stead Dawson, also served in World War 1.

Service record

George enlisted for military service in Wetherby on the 4th December 1915. He would have undertaken his basic military training and first went to France to serve on the 5th October 1916 with the 169th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) less than 2 months after the birth of his son, George Alfred Elliott Dawson.

169 Siege Battery landed at Boulogne on the 5th October 1916, and quickly proceeded to a position NE of Mametz Wood in support of the attack on Butte de Warlencourt. The Battery mainly consisted of North Country men, recruited under the Derby Scheme who joined in March to June, and armament of 8in MK V Howitzers.

Around August 1917 George spent about a month in hospital and in September was posted to 331 Siege Battery RGA. He was seriously wounded in the right shoulder head and back while serving with this unit and was treated at the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station where he died on the 5th November 1917 aged 29. George's body was buried in the Nine Elms British Cemetery in France.

George's death was reported locally in the York Herald:

York Herald

COLLINGHAM GUNNER DIES OF WOUNDS.

HIS BROTHER ON ACTIVE SERVICE

Mrs. Dawson, Hill Top, Collingham, has received official intelligence that her husband, Gunner George Elliott Dawson, died in hospital on November 5th of shell wounds in the right shoulder, head, and back, received in action two days earlier. When admitted to hospital he was in a state of collapse, and though operated upon immediately, he became worse and passed away as stated. Gunner Dawson, who was in the Royal Garrison Artillery, was 29 years of age, and was only married about two years ago. His brother is also in the Royal Garrison Artillery.

 

George's brother in law, William Lee Stoker, was also killed in the war. George's brother, Donald Stead Dawson, also served in the army but survived the war.

Biography last updated 07 April 2020 18:12:06.

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).
First World War British Army Service Records. The National Archives (WO363).
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery and Burial Reports

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