Name
Harry Dawson (1)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Pirton School Memorial
Biography
Note: Read Bertie Dawson (Harry’s nephew) for details of the tragedies affecting the extended family of Harry.
The School War Memorial lists two Harry Dawsons who served and confirms that both attended the school and survived.
This Harry Dawson was born on October 6th 1879 to William and Emma Dawson, and so he would have been about thirty-four at the outbreak of war. Baptism records list nine children: Edgar (bapt 1863), Christopher (bapt 1864), Pamela (bapt 1867), Ralph (bapt 1869), Arthur (bapt 1871), Percy (bapt 1872), Minnie (bapt 1874), Reginald (bapt 1876) and Harry (b 1879). In the 1901 census, along with his brother Percy, he is listed as the farmer’s son; presumably both were working on their father’s farm.
The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records him being ‘called up’ since March 2nd 1916 and serving in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. This article also reports him as wounded.
More information for Harry was obtained from the family’s unfortunate situation, which was reported in the local newspaper. Harry’s father, William, died on June 24th 1912, leaving his wife, Emma (née Bottoms) as a widow. The Hertfordshire Express of July 7th and August 4th 1917 provide further information; Percy and Harry, two of the brothers, were executors of William’s will. The article mentions that Harry was serving with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in Salonika, confirming that he is the right man. The house was occupied by Harry's wife and five children and possibly his mother, but was mortgaged to Mr Franklin (Walnut Tree Farm). Apparently the interest had not been paid for thirty months and the property was falling into a state of poor repair. It is not clear whether Harry was in attendance; after all, he was serving King and Country, but he had been wounded recently so it is possible that he was on leave. Either way, it must have been a terrible worry for him knowing that his family was struggling financially. Mr Franklin must have been sympathetic because he stated that ‘he did not wish to be hard on people and didn't want to action’, ‘but payments had not been paid and he had to protect his interest’. Bertie Dawson (probably the brother, rather than the nephew who served) offered to pay the year’s interest and some of the arrears, and the outcome seems to have been reasonable with time being given to pay.
Acknowledgments
Text from the book “The Pride of Pirton” by Jonty Wild, Tony French & Chris Ryan used with author's permission.
