Casualties: Leslie Dawson,William Dawson,Dora Dawson- Brothers and Sister

any further info greatly appreciated thank you

Aircraftwoman 2nd Class DORA RHODA DAWSON

2037954, Women's Auxiliary Air Force
who died age 21
on 29 February 1944
Daughter of James W. Dawson and Jane Dawson, of Ashington. Her brothers, Leslie and William James Dawson, also died on service.
Remembered with honour
ASHINGTON (HOLY SEPULCHRE) CHURCHYARD



Gunner LESLIE DAWSON

554079, 102 (The Northumberland Hussars) Lt. A.A./Anti-Tank Regt., Royal Artillery
who died age 26
on 02 July 1940
Son of James W Dawson and Jane Dawson, of Ashington, Northumberland; husband of Jane Dawson, of Ashington. His sister Dora Rhoda and brother William James Dawson, also died on service.
Remembered with honour
BROOKWOOD MEMORIAL

Fourth Engineer Officer WILLIAM JAMES DAWSON

S.S. Rosalia (Netherlands), Merchant Navy
who died age 33
on 28 July 1943
Son of James W. Dawson and Jane Dawson, of Askington, Northumberland. His sister and brother, Dora Rhoda and Leslie, also died on service.
Remembered with honour
TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

 

Hello Clive,

I noted the fact that the Dawson's were from Ashington, Northumberland and that Leslie Dawson had served with the 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-tank Regiment, RA; both getting my interest. This Regiment was with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division from 8 October 1942 to 30 November 1944.

Leslie Dawson is reported killed on the 2 July 1940, but I was pretty certain that the 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-tank Regiment, RA, were not in 'theatre' on that date. Reseach has shown this to be correct, with the best analysis I found being on this same forum.

Copied from the thread: Northumberland Hussars - Ellis Race 1134883

...As the history of this unit is quite complicated, i will list approximate dates, unit names and whereabouts.

At the outbreak of war in 1939, the northumberland hussars yeomanry were a territorial cavalry unit. There were a, b & c squadrons.

In february 1940, the unit were told they were to be converted into a royal artillery unit. They chose to become an anti-tank unit. They were allowed to continue to wear the northumberland hussar badges and for the name to be incorporated into it’s new title. By april 1940, all of the horses were gone.

They came under command 2nd armoured division and due to the type of set-up became the 102nd (northumberland hussars) anti-tank and light anti-aircraft regiment, royal artillery. A & b batteries became laa gunners and c & d batteries, anti-tank gunners.

From november 1940 to february 1941 they were in egypt. Due to a further reorganisation, "a" battery, which became 274 (northumberland hussars) light anti-aircraft battery, were taken away from them and moved to the 25th laa regiment, but retained the nh moniker within their title. "b" battery was then retrained to become an anti-tank battery and the entire unit became anti-tank until the end of the war...


As well as Leslie Dawson's date of death being odd, I noticed that he is only commemorated by the CWGC on the Brookwood Memorial; which usually commemorates those killed where no body was found and who were not in a theatre of war. So, what happened to this soldier?

It could be he was lost at sea on the journey from the UK to Egypt, but I could be wrong... Would this journey take four months or more i.e. from July to November 1940?

The other thing is that another soldier from the 'Noodles' is also listed killed on the same date and is also commemorated on the Brookwood Memorial.

Name: ALLISON, ALBERT WILLIAM
Initials: A W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Unit Text: 102 (The Northumberland Hussars) Lt. A.A./Anti-Tank Regt.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 02/07/1940
Service No: 556505
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pane 14.Column 2.
Memorial: BROOKWOOD MEMORIAL

I think I will look into this more...

Best,

Steve.

 

Steve thanks mate

Leslie Dawson was on ARANDORA STAR
as was Albert William Allison
thanks to BFBSM (Mark)
http://www.colonsay.org.uk/ASMilitary%20Guard%20B&C.pdf

regards
Clive

 

Steve thanks mate

Leslie Dawson was on ARANDORA STAR
as was Albert William Allison
thanks to BFBSM (Mark)
http://www.colonsay.org.uk/ASMilitary%20Guard%20B&C.pdf

regards
Clive

That was a good spot Clive, given that Mark only posted the link yesterday!

Another mystery. What was he doing escorting prisoners to Canada? I would have thought he would be training ready for deployment to North Africa... Bizarre!!

Best,

Steve.

 

Just found this:

http://www.mariner.ie/history/articles/ships/the-sinking-of-arandora-star

"Gunner Bell of the Royal Artillery reported seeing Gunner Leslie Dawson ‘standing on the deck … right up to the time the vessel sank … he does not consider there was much hope of his being saved.’ Dawson’s wife, Jane, was, even by November 1940, still holding out hope that her twenty-six year old husband was still alive, writing to the military that ‘I may yet receive word from the Red Cross’. His body was never found."

Best,

Steve.