Name
Alfred George Dawson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/06/1916
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Driver
20263
Royal Field Artillery
8th Bty.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BASRA MEMORIAL
Panel 3 and 60.
Iraq
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
East Barnet Valley Memorial, New Barnet, St James the Great Church Memorial, Friern Barnet, St James Church Memorial, New Barnet Not on the Cockfosters memorials
Pre War
Alfred George was born in East Barnet in 1883 to George Dawson, a gardener, and Annie Elizabeth (nee Dadds).
On the 1891 Census the family of Parents, Daisy, Mabel, Alfred, Edith, Lucy, and Ethel were living at . By the 1901 Census the 3 older had left home (29, Fergusson Road, East Barnet) but there were additions of Kate, Rose, Arthur and Ivan and Alfred was employed as a housepainter.
Alfred married Maud Ellen Parish in early 1910 and on the 1911 Census they were living at 8, East Barnet Terrace, East Barnet with their son John. There would be other children Herbert and Winifred. His widow later lived at The Common, Cockfosters, Barnet, Herts.
Wartime Service
Alfred had been on Reserve when he married in 1910 so must have served an engagement in the Army (not found at this stage) and was called forward as Driver 20263 Royal Field Artillery on the outbreak of War and went France on 19 Aug 1914.
At some time he posted to 8 Battery, XIII Brigade R F A.XIII (13) Brigade RFA was allocated to 7th (Meerut) Division of the Indian Army which arrived from India at Marseilles, France on 12-14 Oct 1914 and went into action at La Bassee, Messines and Armentieres in Oct/Nov 1914. The division was transferred to Mesopotamia arriving in Spring 1915 and took part in battles at the Sheikh Sa'ad, Wadi, Hanna, Dujailia, and the Sannaiyat.
Alfred died on 20 Jun 1916 probably as the result of disease. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Basra Memorial.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £10 10s and arrears of £19 5s 9d was paid to his widow. Brother Ernest James served as Driver M2/100802 609 Coy, Army Service Corps going to France Apr 1916 and was demobilised May 1919. Brother Arthur Edward also served in Army service Corps as T4/03848 from Nov 1914 going to France 19 Dec 1914 to 29 Apr 1918 and survived the war.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
