Sapper WR/509742 George Dawson

Died on Friday, 8th November 1918, age 21.
Buried in Grave VI. E. 4. at Les Baraques Military Cemetery, Sangatte, Pas De Calais, France.

Royal Engineers, Inland Waterways and Docks.
Formerly 345408 Royal Engineers.

Son of Thomas and Caroline Dawson, of 143, Fazeley St., Birmingham.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Northampton, Resident: Braunston, Leics..

First landed France & Flanders, 15th December 1917.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial, but commemorated on the Braunston War Memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/85755/

Genealogical Data

Birth of George Dawson registered June quarter 1897 in Dudley.

1901 Census
4 Eagle Lane, Tipton, Staffs.
Thomas Dawson (36, Boatman - Captain, born Preston), his wife Caroline (36, born Warwick), and their 3 children: Caroline (10, born Northampton), Thomas (8, born Tipton), and George (4, born Tipton).

1911 Census
High Street, Braunston, Rugby, Warwickshire.
Caroline Dawson (46, Married, born Hatton), and 1 of her 3 surviving children of 7: George (13, Farm Labourer, born Great Bridge).

Personal Data

Under the terms of the 1916 Military Service Act, George Dawson was deemed to have enlisted on March 2nd 1916, and to have become a reservist awaiting his call-up. George presented himself at the recruitment office in Northampton on 2nd April 1917 but after the necessary formalities he was sent home and not called-up until 6th November 1917.

At his medical in April 1917, he was 19 years and 10 months old, 5 feet 9 inches tall with a 37-inch chest (expanding to 40-inches), and weighed 147 pounds. His Physical Development was ‘Very Good’, his teeth were good, although he was slightly deaf. His next-of-kin was his father, Mr Thomas Dawson, of High Street, Braunston, and George had been employed as a Boatman.

George was called-up on 6th November 1917, and on 20th November accepted into the Inland Waterways and Docks (IWD) Section of the Royal Engineers at Sandwich, Kent, a continuation of his civilian occupation. Just over a month later, on 15th December, he landed in France and was attached to the Calais Depot of the IWD.

In March 1918, George was allocated a new army number (WR/509742) on a reorganisation of the IWD creating Transportation Troops. He was likely employed as a boatman transporting the vast amount of stores from the coast to transportation hubs nearer to the war zone. He was well-regarded as in April 1918 he was re-assessed to “Skilled” rate of Engineers Pay, and then in August 1918 again re-assessed to “Superior” rate of Engineers Pay.

After George's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances plus his War Gratuity, amounted to £12/7/4d (12 pounds, 7 shillings and 4 pence). This was paid to his mother and sole legatee, Caroline, in October 1919. The War Gratuity was £5/10/0d (5 pounds 10 shillings); with his date of death and rank, this gives an approximate enlistment date of November 1917. By this time, George's parents had moved to 143 Fazeley Street, Birmingham. No pension was granted in respect of George.

Action resulting in his death

The Inland Waterways and Docks section of the Royal Engineers was formed in December 1914 to provide services to develop and operate transport on the canals and waterways of France and Flanders. For George this was a continuation of his civilian employment.

George was admitted to No. 30 General Hospital in Calais on 31st October 1918 and immediately put on the “Seriously ill” list. A medical report describes him as “Very quiet and apparently with mental torpor, also deaf and could give little account of his illness. Colour dusky, no Pulmonary valve stenosis (narrowing of heart valve). He seemed cold and the pulse weak.” Mental Torpor suggests lowered physiological activity – limited consciousness; the dusky colour suggests a lack of oxygen in the blood.

A week later, George had not improved. There was reduced air entry to the right lung. And he was placed on the “Dangerously ill” list. On the 7th November, George’s pulse was described as intermittent, and he died at 03.20 hours on 8th November 1918.

Death was diagnosed as due to Influenza, and was “contracted under Active service conditions”.

George died in the 30th General Hospital, Calais, on 8th November 1918 and is buried in Les Baraques Military Cemetery, Sangatte, near Calais.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.