Arthur Harold Dawson
1901 -
1911 - manager warp lace factory
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Arthur Harold was the son of Arthur Alfred Dawson and Harriet Eleanor Dawson (née Pearson).
Both parents were born in Nottingham, his father in 1855 and his mother in abou 1853. They were married in 1878 and had six children: Arthur Harold b. 1879, Percy Alfred b. 1880, Mabel Ethel b. 1881, Violet Evelyn b. 1884, Claude Reginald b. 1890 and Leonard Leslie (Leslie) b. 1892.
In 1881 Arthur snr., a lace warehouseman and his wife were living at Holles Crescent, Standard Hill, with their two sons, Arthur and Percy. Arthur employed a general domestic servant and a nursemaid.
By the time of the 1891 Census, Arthur was a lace warehouse manager. He and his wife had five children, the youngest, Claude, aged one year. Also in the household were a cook, housemaid and a domestic nurse, Mary Ann Walker (28, b. Newark).
Their fourth son and sixth child, Leonard, was born the following year, but their eldest daughter, Violet, died aged 15 on 22 July 1899.
The family had moved to Cavendish Road East, Nottingham, by 1901. Arthur. snr was a lace merchant. Only his wife and three of their children, Mabel (no occupation), Claude and Leslie, were in the home on the night of the census; Arthur now employed two domestic servants, a housemaid and a nurse domestic, Mary Ann Walker (38). His two sons, Arthur (occupation illegible) and Percy an architect's apprentice, were living with their widowed maternal grandmother, Sarah Dawson, at 11 Park Valley, Nottingham.
Mabel Ethel married Arthur Morley at St James's Church on 16 June 1904. Her husband died on 28 October 1904 at Falmouth, Cornwall (home address Hamilton Drive, the Park). Ethel married secondly Samuel William Carding, a timber merchant, from Boston, Lincolnshire, at Nottingham St Nicholas on 22 December 1906.
Arthur snr. died on 6 March 1905.
His widow, Harriet Eleanor, of 'independent means' was recorded at Bute Court, Belgrave Road, Torquay, at the time of the 1911 Census; she has not yet been traced on the 1921 Census. She died on 23 March 1926; home address Araleun, Warwick Road, Mapperley Park.
Arthur Harold, a manager (warp lace factory), and Leonard, a clerk to a chartered accountant, were living with their grandmother, Sarah Dawson, at 11 Park Valley, The Park.
Percy had married Florence Morley (b. 1879) in 1908 and they had a daughter, Violet May, in 1910. Percy, an architect and surveyor, and his family were living in Long Eaton in 1911. However, by 1939 they had moved to 52 Sutton Passeys Crescent, Wollaton. Percy, whose wife had died in 1943, continued to live at the same address until his death in July 1957. He was survived by his married daughter Violet Stocks (m. 1930 Bertram Frederick Stocks).
In 1911 Mabel, her husband and their son Gerald Raymond were living in Lincoln; they had a daughter, Olive Rita, in 1918. Samuel Carding died in July 1927, residence Balmoral Avenue, West Bridgford, and his widow and their daughter were still living at the same address in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Her son Gerald, who had married Edith Barker in 1934, was a director/warehouse manager and a member of the Auxiliary Fire Service and living on Wollaton Road, West Bridgford. Mabel Ethel, of 23 Ellesmere Road West Bridgford, died in 1959; she was survived by her two children.
Claude, a timber traveller, was living at 21 Balmoral Road, West Bridgford, a boarder in the home of Isaac and Eliza McGann. Claude married Florence H Wood in 1913; there were probably no children of the marriage. In 1939 they were living on Davies Road, West Bridgford, Claude was a timber merchant (own account). He died in 1965.
Leonard married Ethel Gauntley at St Giles Church, West Bridgford, on 1 December 1916. He was killed in action in France on 27 May 1918. The probate record gave his home address as
'Araluen', Warwick Road, Mapperley Park, his mother's home.
Arthur Harold Dawson attested on 9 December 1915 at Nottingham. He was living at 33 Watcombe Circus, Carrington, age 36y. 6m. and unemployed. He named his mother, Harriett Eleanor Dawson, of Warwick Street, Mapperley, as his next of kin.
Arthur was posted to the Army Reserve then mobilised on 25 March 1916 and posted to the Royal Garrison Artillery (Gunner). He embarked at Southampton on 3 August 1916 and landed at Le Havre the following day.
He was admitted to the 7th Canadian Hospital, Etaples, on 25 March 1917 with an acute diffuse carbuncle on his neck. He developed septicaemia and died on 2 April 1917. Arthur was buried in Etaples Military Cemetery (grave ref. MC.XXII.E.19A).
He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His brother, Lieutenant Leonard Leslie Dawson, 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment, was killed in action in France on 27 May 1918 and is buried in Jonchery-sur-Vesle British Cemetery, France. (See record on this Roll of Honour)
Nottingham General Cemetery: headstone with inscription: (Face 1) In loving memory of Arthur Alfred Dawson. Died March 6th 1905 aged 49 years, Also of his wife Harriet Eleanor died March 23rd 1926. Also of Mary Ann Walker, devoted & faithful friend of the late Mr & Mrs AA Dawson & family. Died July 20th 1937 aged 73 years. (Face 2) Also of their beloved sons Gunner Arthur Harold died April 2nd 1917 at Etaples, France, age 37 years. And of Lieut. Leonard Leslie killed in action May 27th 1918 at Berry-Au-Bac France aged 26 years. (Face 3) Also of Florence, the beloved wife of Percy Alfred Dawson who died March 6th 1943, aged 64 years. (Face 4) Also of their beloved daughter, Violet Evelyn, died July 22nd 1899, aged 15 years. Note: Mary Ann Walker was recorded on the 1891 and 1901 Census as the family's nursmaid.
CWGC Additional information: Son of Arthur Alfred and Harriet Eleanor Dawson, of Warwick Rd., Mapperley Park, Nottingham.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Also in memory of Lieut LL Dawson Notts & Derby Regiment killed in action 27 May 1918.' (See record Lieut Leonard Leslie Dawson on this Roll of Honour)
Nottinghamshire Weekly Express, ‘Marriages’, 24 June 1904: ‘Morley-Dawson. On June 16th at St James’s Church, by the Rev Bingley Cass, BA, Arthur, second son of the late Frederick Morley, of Sherwood-rise, to Mabel Ethel, only daughter of Arthur A Dawson, Elmhurst, The Park.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Marriage: Nottingham St Nicholas 22 December 1906. Mabel Ethel Morley (25) widow of Elmhurst Cavendish Rd E. Nottm father Arthur Alfred Dawson (decd) lace manf. To Samuel William Carding (27) timber merchant of High Street Boston father Frank farmer.
Nottingham Evening Post. ‘Roll of Honour’, 14, 16, 18 & 19 April 1917: ‘Dawson. On April 2nd, Gunner Harold A Dawson RGA, dearly-loved eldest son of Mrs and the late AA Dawson, Mapperley Park.’ (wwwbritishnespaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post. ‘Roll of Honour’, 17 April 1917: ‘Dawson. On April 2nd, in hospital, A. Harold Dawson RGA, dearly-loved eldest son of Mrs and the late AA Dawson, Mapperley Park.’ (wwwbritishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Probate Dawson Arthur Harold of Watcome-sic Circus Nottingham private in HM Army died 2 April 1917 in France. Probate Nottingham 23 May to Arthur William Dickens solicitor, Percy Alfred Dawson [brother] commercial traveller and Robert Alexander Page chartered accountant. Effects £2911 16s. 3d.
Probate Dawson Leonard Leslie of Araluen Warwick-road Mapperley Park Nottingham second-lieutenant in HM Army died 27 May 1918 in France Probate Nottingham 27 January to Ethel Dawson widow Edward Thomas Norris gentleman and Charles Cheeseman solicitor. Effects £2043 19s 10d
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 25 March 1926: ‘Dawson. On March 23rd, at ‘Araluen’ Warwick-road, Mapperley Park, Harriett Eleanor, widow of the late Arthur Alfred Dawson. Funeral General Cemetery (Derby-road entrance), Friday 12.30.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Probate Dawson Harriett Eleanor of Araleun Warwick-road Mapperley Park Nottingham widow died 23 March 1926 Probate Nottingham 24 September to Robert Alexander Page chartered accountant Claude Reginald Dawson timber merchant and Leonard Norman Tuck house furnisher. Effects £11082 2s 5d.
Additional information Peter Gillings. Further research/record updated RF (Nov. 2025)
Arthur Harold Dawson
Grave, Etaples Military Cemetery, France. Photograph Murray Biddle
Photo of Arthur Harold Dawson
Family grave/headstone, Nottingham General Cemetery (part cleared). Photograph Rachel Farrand (14 Nov. 2025)
Photo of Arthur Harold Dawson
Family grave/headstone, Nottingham General Cemetery (cleared). Photograph Rachel Farrand (15 Nov. 2025)
Photo of Arthur Harold Dawson
Family grave/headstone, Nottingham General Cemetery (part cleared). Photograph Rachel Farrand (14 Nov. 2025)