No.11197, Private, Gilbert William DOBSON
Aged 21
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Gilbert William Dobson was born in Gosport ( Alverstoke Q3-1894 2B:550), the son of Joseph and Eliza DOBSON (née TURNER ?).
1901 census...Aged 6, he was at 14 Whitworth Road, Alverstoke, Hants with his father Joseph DOBSON [41] Royal Marine Colour Sergeant, born Preston, Yorks and his mother Eliza [33] born Fulbourn. His father died in 1907 (Chesterton Q4-1907 3B:252). 1911 census...Aged 16, a Great Eastern Railway porter, he was at Carter Street, Fordham with his widowed mother and brother Victor [6] born Great Shelford. One sibling had died. |
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He enlisted in Bury St. Edmunds. The Royal Scots were often referred to as "Pontius Pilate's Bodyguard", from a baseless claim that hey were descended from the personal guard of Pontius Pilate in 33 AD. They are however "First of foot, right of the line and the pride of the British Army" by virtue of being the oldest British infantry regiment and therefore the senior regiment of foot, formed in 1633. The battalion were in the Ypres Salient (so far the exact place has not been found) and it appears that the 20th July was more active for them as they had 7 killed that day in the middle of an 8 day period when only 11 men died.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
