George Dowson
In the 1911 census he is a joiner and builders apprentice.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
George Dowson (junior) was born in 1894 at Worksop, The Dowson family lived in Worksop from 1891 to 1894 where the head of the household, George (senior) earned his living as a non domestic coachman he was born in 1867 at Grosmont, he died in 1902 aged 35 yrs, his mother Eliza Jane Cooper was born in 1870 at Drilington, Yorkshire they were married in 1888 at Bradford, Yorkshire.
George (the younger) was the only boy of five children in the family which lived in Cleckheaton with George (the elder) having died in the early years of the new century.
In the 1911 census the family are living at 2 Coach Lane, Cleckheaton, his widow mother Eliza Louisa 41 yrs is living with her children, Ellen 20 yrs a domestic servant, Mary Elizabeth 19 yrs a worsted spinner, George 17 yrs is a joiner and builders apprentice, Alice 16 yrs is a shirt maker and Louie 14 yrs is a worsted spinner.
Private George Dowson joined the Territorial Force when he signed up for the 1st/4th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment on 12 February 1914 at Cleckheaton, giving his age as 19 yrs and 110 days old, he was living at 45 Brook Street, At that time George was working for a Ralph Rogers of Cleckheaton as a joiner. He stood just under 5’ 7” high but was in good physical condition.
The battalion went to France in April 1915 as part of the 147th Brigade and whilst undertaking a routine tour of duty in the trenches, Pte Dawson appears to have been ‘sniped’ as he received a serious gunshot wound in the head on 17 October 1915. He was moved through the aid post to the Casualty Clearing Station and then by train to No. 13 General Hospital at Boulogne where he died of his wounds on 25 November aged 21. George is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.
Courtesy of Robert Illett
CWG additional information:- Son of Eliza Louisa Dowson, of 20, Howard Park, Cleckheaton, Yorks. and the late George Dowson
additional research and information Peter Gillings
Photo of George Dowson
Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France, courtesy of the cwgc