Name
Alfred Dobbs
Circa 1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/10/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
98323
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
237th Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 154 to 159 and 163A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Roll of Honour, St Ippolyts Church, St Mary’s Church Lychgate, Great Wymondley
Pre War
Alfred was born in 1889, in Great Wymondley, Herts. Son of William Dobbs and Ellen Dobbs (nee Lake). The youngest of four children, he was Baptised on the 8th September 1889, in Great Wymondley, Herts. The 1891 Census records Alfred aged 1, living with his parents, brother George 11, sisters Elizabeth 8, and Eleanor 5, in Great Wymondley. 1901 was the same and in 1911 Alfred was 21, still living at home with his parents, and elder sister Elizabeth 28, in Great Wymondley and working as a farm labourer.
Alfred Married Elsie Emma Titmus (b 6/2/1890) on the 14th July 1915, in St Ippolyts, Herts. They had one son Noel William Dobbs.
Officially Alfred was recorded as born in Great Wymondley and was living there when he enlisted in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
Alfred enlisted in Hitchin and was initially posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 8665. He was later transferred to the Machine Gun Company, with the service number 98323.
The 237th Machine Gun Company was formed in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Moving to France in July 1917, joining the 21st Division.
Alfred was Killed in Action on the 1st October 1917. His death probably occurred during the German hurricane bombardment of the area from Reutelbeek to Polygon Wood back for 1,000 yards, followed by violent infantry attacks.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing, in Belgium.
The Hertfordshire Express published a "Tribute to a Great Wymondley Hero" on the 10th of November 1917:
"The lamented death in action on October 31, of Private Alfred Dobbs, has occasioned feelings of keen sorrow for the young widow and child, and also for his parents, who are old residents of Great Wymondley. Deceased was much respected. As a boy he was chorister at St. Mary's, Great Wymondley, and when he joined the Army in November, 1916, was a bell-ringer. From the Beds. Regiment he was transferred to the Machine Gun Crops and went to France six months ago. Second-Lieutenant H. Lane, writing to his wife, states that the officer under whom he was serving says, "that under intense fire he handled his gun with the coolness of a veteran." At one time deceased worked for Mr. F. Hailey, Great Wymondley, and later at Letchworth."
Additional Information
After his death £2 14s 2d was authorised to go to his widow, Elsie, on 20 February 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her on 3 March 1918 and then another £3 on 24 November 1919.
His pension cards record his widow as his next of kin, living in Great Wymondley, near Hitchin, but this was alter amended to The Sailor Boy (pub), Walsworth, near Hitchin. The card records their only child as Noel William, born 25 December 1915, She was awarded a pension of 20s 5d a week from 5 May 1918, plus a grant of £5.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners
Adrian Dunne, Stuart Osborne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
