Wilfred Charles Dawson

A Corporal with B Battery, 190th Brigade, Wilfred died on 26th of September 1916 at the age of 34. 

Wilfred was born at Great Yarmouth in 1882, a son of Charles William and Margaret Rachael Dawson. In 1891 his family lived at 14 Wellesley Road, Great Yarmouth, and this was still their home in 1901. 

Wilfred attended the University of Birmingham and then became a teacher at West Street School, Farnham. By 1911 he was the headteacher at Shackleford School, Surrey, and then became headmaster of a Carshalton School. 

On 6 July 1912 Wilfred married Marion Williams at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley. Wilfred was living at Shackleford and Marion lived at Kirkley. By September 1915 they were living at 96 Park Lane, Wallington, Surrey. Later Marion lived at Florence House, Pakefield, Lowestoft. In 1930 she married William Mitchell.

Wilfred enlisted in the Army at Wallington, Surrey. He joined the Royal Field Artillery, service number L/46262. Wilfred served with 190 Battery, known as ‘Wimbledon’s Own.’ Wilfred was already a Corporal when he went to France on 6 May 1916. 

In September 1916 190 Brigade were near Longueval. Their role was to provide a barrage to support attacks in the Gueudecourt area. The war diary for 26 September has:

Ordinary day firing 1683 rounds 18 pounder and 565 rounds 4.5 inch howitzer fired. Casualties: Second Lieutenant A.K. Andrews wounded Four other ranks wounded. 

Wilfred was among those wounded. The following report of Wilfred’s death was published in the Yarmouth Independent, 14 October 1916, page 5:

THE LATE CORPORAL WILFRED DAWSON

Corporal Wilfred Charles Dawson, R.F.A., elder son of Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Dawson, “Avillion”, Wellesley Road, whose deeply regretted death was reported last week, was educated first at the Priory School, and subsequently became a pupil teacher at Cobholm, after which he went to Birmingham University. He obtained a headmastership at Godalming, and ultimately at Carshalton, where he was associated with the Rev. Bowyer Vaux, son of the Rev. B. Vaux, who was incumbent of Saint Peter’s, Yarmouth. Whilst he was at Yarmouth he was closely associated with the Rev. Zouch Thurton, of Saint Mary’s Church, where he helped in the choir and at the organ. He was married and leaves a widow and a child at Wallington. He voluntarily enlisted in October 1915. 

The Wallington and Carshalton Herald says:

There will be very great regret expressed especially by the boys of Camden Road School, at the death in action of Mr. Wilfred Charles Dawson, late headmaster of the school. The sad news was received by Mrs. Dawson on Wednesday morning, when on opening a letter from the front, she found it was form the captain of her husband’s battery, and stated:- “It is with extreme regret that I write this letter offering you not only my own condolences, but those of every man in the battery, on your husband’s death. He was killed in action by a shell splinter, and was buried by the parson of the dressing station. His loss is felt by all; we miss a friend.” A second-lieutenant also wrote:- “ He was a fine man and we regret the sad loss.” A fellow-corporal wrote: - “Will was deeply respected by the N.C.O.’s and men in the battery. He was a fine chum.” His death was painless and instantaneous.  
Mr. Dawson came to Carshalton as headmaster of Camden Road School in the early part of 1915, and voluntarily offered his services to his country in October of the same year. He had a wonderful influence with boys, and considering the few months he was among them it was remarkable the high place he had in their affection and esteem. He was a musician of undoubted talent, both as organist and singer. Besides being a member of the choir, he was actively interested in the work generally of the Parish Church. Previous to his coming to this district he was for ten years headmaster o Shackelford Schools, and also organist of the Parish Church there. He was a graduate of Birmingham University and a very promising life was cut short by his untimely end. He belonged to Great Yarmouth, being the elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dawson of that town. He was a corporal in the mayor of Wimbledon’s R.F.A., and acted as quarter-master-sergeant before his battery was sent into the trenches. 
The Rev. J. Montgomerie, Shackelford Rectory, Godalming, writes to Mr. C.W. Dawson:- “I had great affection for your son, with whom I worked for ten years. He was so manly, thoughtful, high principled, and religious. We were all the poorer when he left us. The dear fellow has willingly given his life for his King and country in this righteous cause. The School – staff and scholars – are very grieved to hear of your son’s death as they all loved him.
Corporal Hector, R.F.A., writes to Mrs. Dawson that Corporal Dawson was killed instantly. “Will was deeply respected in the Battery. A finer chum no man could want to have.”
Two officers, sending their condolences, speak of Corporal Dawson in similarly high terms.
Letters addressed to his father and his wife were found upon Corporal Dawson after he fell and have been sent home. They were written in a most cheerful, patriotic spirit, and in one of them he says, “I don’t think there is any reason to fear a land raid. It would be a hopeless enterprise and I don’t believe Fritz has the men to do it.”      

Wilfred is commemorated with a memorial plaque at All Saints’ Church, Carshalton, and the war memorial at the University of Birmingham.