Private 275951

Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers). A Squad.

Died Wednesday 28th November 1917, Aged 20.

Grave Ref: Jerusalem Memorial, Israel

Panel 2

George Dobbs was born in 1897, the son of Samuel & Mary Dobbs who resided in  Alma Street, Selston (1901) and later on the Mansfield Road, Selston (1915).  His mother, Mary was born in 1873 and his father Samuel in 1872.  George had three sisters, Lucy b. 1895, Elizabeth b. 1899 and Hilda b. 1901. 

A local newspaper carried the following story about Private Dobbs death:-

SELSTON SOLDIER'S DEATH - PRIVATE G. DOBBS.

The following letters have been received by Mr S. Dobbs and family, of Selston, concerning the death of their son, George, who was killed in Palestine:- 

"It is with great sorrow that I write you this letter, telling you about poor George.  I expect you will have heard the terrible news before this reaches you.  He was killed early in the morning of November 28th.  We were in a rather warm corner and we were talking as we were firing.  I had my attention drawn to some of the enemy, and when I turned to speak to George again I saw he was dead.  He was shot through the neck and death was instantaneous.  The only consolation we have is that he suffered no pain.  It was a blow to me, as we had been chums ever since George came out.  All the troop miss him very much as he was always so jolly and cheerful under the worst circumstances, and we have had some rough ones together. We lost a lot of good lads that day, but I do not miss any as much as George, as I have lived and slept with him for nearly two years.  I took his letters and photos from him.  I burned the letters from home and I am sending you the photos as I know you will value them. I am sorry I could not be there when buried, but he was buried in a decent place on the hillside along with some more of the pals who paid the price.  I expect an officer has written to his mother, and I pray that God will give you the strength to bear your great sorrow.  It sounds like an insult to wish you a Merry Christmas, as I know it will be an awful time for you.  But please do not think too much about him, as it is God's will and God's will be done.  Please write and let me know if you get this, and tell your parents how sorry we all are" -   A. Ford.

"On behalf of myself and troop please allow me to express our deepest sympathy with you in the great loss you have sustained by the death of your dear son George.  Should you not have received full particulars as yet from the War Office, he was killed instantaneously by a bullet wound in the neck on the morning of 28th November.  We had only just got in action when poor George was hit.  I am sure it will be a little relief to you to know he suffered no pain.  I shall miss him very much in the troop.  He was much liked by all of us, and was always lively.  He looked after his horse better than anyone else in the troop and always got extra corn for it when possible.  Our troop had back luck indeed on the 28th, which it will never really recover from. I have enclosed two letters which came today.  Again we express our deepest heartfelt sympathy for you and your family in your sad bereavement." -  Sergeant Lambert.

"I regret to tell you that your son in the regiment (A Squad, Sherwood Rangers) was killed on 28th November.  I was his troop officer from June 1916, so I knew him well.  A more unselfish boy we never had, always ready to do anything for his pals, and under the most trying circumstances always cheerful.  His loss is a great one to the squadron and we shall miss him very much. Please accept my deepest sympathy in your sacrifice." - Herbert Perowne.

"Long before this you will have been notified by the War Office of the sad loss you have sustained in the death of your son, who was killed in action on November 28th, but I felt I must send you a line to assure you of my most sincere sympathy with you in your sorrow.  The loss of a good son is one of the heaviest trials which a parent is called upon to undergo, but I think you will be comforted to know that he was spared prolonged suffering and in the coming days I am sure you will find consolation in the proud realisation that he met a soldier's death, giving his all, even his life itself, in his country's service.  Again assuring you of my sincere sympathy in which I am sure all the regiment join." -  Edward J. Powell  - Chaplain.

A letter expressing deep regret as also been received from the deceased soldier's friend, Trooper Arthur Clowes.

Shortly after George Dobbs death on  9th Dec 1917,  the Turks surrendered to the Allies who took occupation of Jerusalem on 11th Dec 1917.  There had been fierce fighting from the 21st November up until the evening of 8th December 1917.  It was after the occupation of Jerusalem by the Allies, that the Jerusalem War Cemetery was started.  Private George Dobbs is listed on the Jerusalem Memorial within the cemetery, which commemorates 3,300 Commonwealth Servicemen  who died in military operations in Egypt and Palestine with no known grave.  His grave "in the decent place, on the hillside" perhaps lost forever.  

Last updated 23/12/02