DAWSON Allan 2/Lt

SKR/DAT/IP/20570

DAWSON Allan 2/Lt

2000-2024

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Surname: DAWSON;

Forename(s): Allan;

Initials: A;

Rank: 2/Lt;

Born in: Ashton-on-Mersey;

Enlistment Date: 13-Nov-1914;

Previous Number: 22976;

Previous Battalion: 4 of;

Previous Regiment: Liverpool Regt;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 22 Coy;

Date abroad: 19-Jun-1916;

Theatre of War: 1;

How killed: KIA;

Where: France;

When killed: 03-Sep-1916;

Other Data: Roll of Honour, Vol II, Sect 1, p 75/76 PORTRAIT: 3rd son of the late James Naismith Dawson of Manchester, by his wife Mary; born at Ashton-on-Mersey 26/5/1886; educ privately at Manchester and was later for many years connected with the Yorkshire and the State Insurance Companies, being app. Dist Manager of the N British Mercantile Ins Co at Preston in July 1914. He took a keen interest in work amongst lads especially in the Cadet movement and held a Commsn as a Captain in the Church Lads Brigade. Enlisted in 20(Service) Bn, King's Liverpool Regt in Nov 1914; was gazetted 2Lt in Jan 1915, served with the BEF in F&F from the following November; vol for MG work and took a special course of training at the MG School: took part in the advance on the Somme being subsequently transferred to the 22MG Coy and was KIA at Delville Wood on 3/9/1916 when, the infantry being surprised by a large force of the enemy concealed in a suncken road; they could neither advance or retire and were in danger of being destroyed; the MGs were ordered to come forward to cover their retirement and he was killed whilst directing the positions of his guns. His Captain wrote..,"Dawson was a brave man and as thorough a gentleman as we was a sound officer. My personal sense of his loss enables me to appreciate the extent of your bereavement. He was always keen and his high sense of duty enabled him to carry out the tasks unquestioningly and with a coolness and cheerfulness which always had a great effect on his men"….and the OC of his Company…"He was a very good officer and a man of very high principles which he always acted on. His men were devoted to him, as he was most considerate and thoughtful to them"….a Brother officer also wrote " it was to my section that he came when he joined the Coy and we were together constantly. We got on splendidly and the men liked him from the first; he was a wonderful fellow, in everything he did he showed the same characteristic. Nothing was too small to be conscientiously attended to and as a natural consequence nothing was too great". Unmarried.

WO339/22706: disch to Commsn 5/2/1915, 20th Liverpool Regt
letters of Administration granted to NOK (brother) Rev Colin Towers Dawson - £169/19/10d
Photo: MGC Photos
DAWSON, Second Lieutenant, ALLAN, 22nd Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Inf). 3rd September 1916. Age 30. Son of James Naismith Dawson and Mary Dawson, of Ashton-on-Mersey, Sale, Manchester. XIV. H. 2. Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval - Somme, France.

Born Ashton-on-Mersey 26/5/86. Son of Mary Dawson of Moss Lane, Orrell Park, nr Liverpool - she had died by October 1916. Brother of the Rev Colin Towers Dawson of SS John and James' Vicarage, Linacre Lane, Bootle later of St James Vicarage, 42 Huskisson St, Liverpool. Originally enlisted as No 22976 in 20 KLR in Liverpool on 13/11/14, height 5' 7", weight 126lbs, complexion fresh, eyes grey, hair black, religion CofE. Occupation inspector. He rose to the rank of acting platoon Sgt. His commission application for the Regular Army is dated 12/1/15. Address Moss Lane, Orrell Park, nr Liverpool, formerly employed by the State Assurance Company. Discharged to a commission in 20 KLR 5/2/15. To France 7/11/15 with 20 KLR. Posted to 22 Brigade MGC 19/6/16 joining 27/6/16. Killed in action 3/9/16 with 22 Brigade MGC. He left estate valued £169 19s 10d. (Officers Papers - PRO)

DAWSON Allan of the Vicarage Linacre Lane BootLe Lancashire. Lieutanant King's Liverpool Regiment died 3 September 1916 at Ginchy France. Administration London 31 October to the reverend Colin Towers Dawscn clerk. Effects £169 19s. Iod. (National Probate Calendar - Index of Wills and Administrations)

1911 Census RG14PN22334 RG78PN1319 RD455 SD2 ED4 SN396
Allan Dawson
Age: 24
Occupation : insurance clerk
Address: 'Glanville', Moss Lane, Orrell Park, Liverpool - the dwelling had 10 rooms
Estimated Birth Year: 1887
Where born: Ashton-on-Mersey
Mother's Name: Mary Dawson, 61, widow, b. Accrington
Colin Towers Dawson, 31, clergyman (Established Church), b. Ashton-on-Mersey
Nora Dawson, 29, b. Ashton-on-Mersey
Elsie Dawson, 27, b. Ashton-on-Mersey
Gordon Dawson, 21, shipper's buying assistant, b. Ashton-on-Mersey
Susanna Lewis, 26, cook
Six of his parent's eigtht children had survived

There is no obvious trace of Allan In the 1901 Census returns

1901 Census Class: RG13; Piece: 3771; Folio: 16; Page: 24.
James N Dawson
Age: 57
Address: 'Ingledene', Crumpsall Lane, Manchester
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1844
Relation: Head
Occupation: calico printer
Spouse's Name: Mary Dawson, 51, b. Accrington
Where born: Scotland
James N Dawson 26, dyer and printer, b. Cheshire
Mary G Dawson 23, b. Lancashire
Colin T Dawson 21, CofE clergyman, b. Cheshire
Nora Dawson 19, b. Cheshire
Elsie R Dawson 17, b. Cheshire
Adam Dawson 14, b. Cheshire
Gordon Dawson 11, b. Cheshire

He is commemorated on the war memorial in SS John & James Parish Church, Monfa Rd, Litherland
joined 22 Coy 27/6/1916 from 20 Bn Kings Liverpool Regt - war diary
death noted in war diary
Photo: GS Archives;

Other Notes: DAWSON, Second Lieutenant, ALLAN, 22nd Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Inf). 3rd September 1916. Age 30. Son of James Naismith Dawson and Mary Dawson, of Ashton-on-Mersey, Sale, Manchester. XIV. H. 2. Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval - Somme, France.;

Is photo available? Yes, see VMGCRA Patreon

END OF RECORD.

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