Isaac Dodsworth
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Isaac Dodsworth was the son of William and Ann Dodsworth (née Scholey). Both his parents were born in Metheringham, Lincolnshire. His father William was the son of Isaac Dodsworth and his mother Ann was the daughter of George and Ann (Nancy) Scholey. William and Ann were married at Metheringham parish church on 17 May 1892, William was 27 years old and Ann 19. They had three children, Isaac b. Scopwick 1895, William b. Metheringham birth registered 1901 (J/F/M Lincoln) and Eva Annie b. Metheringham birth registered 1907 (J/F/M Lincoln). In 1901 William (36), a farm labourer, and Ann (27) were living at The Fen, Metheringham, with their second child, William (3 months). Isaac (5) was recorded in the home of his maternal grandparents, George Scholey, whose occupation was given as 'small farmer', and Nancy, at the National School, Village Street, Scopwick. Also in the household was George and Nancy's son, Edward (14). Ten years later Isaac was living at Ash House Farm, Southrey, Lincolnshire, with his parents and siblings William (10) and Eva (4). Also in the household was his uncle, Francis Dodsworth (39 b. Metheringham). William snr. was a farm labourer as was Isaac and his uncle was a (stationary) engine driver on a farm. The later CWGC record gave his parents address as Ash House Farm. Isaac's mother, Ann, died in 1924. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled his widowed father William was living in The Fen, Tanvats, with his married daughter Eva Humphrey (m. 1930) and her husband Frank (b. 1892), a farmer. William died in October 1943.
1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters Isaac enlisted at Retford. He was killed in action, probably on the Hozenzollern Redoubt, on 14 October 1915. The battalion lost three officers and 25 other ranks killed that date and its commanding officer, Lieut Col. GH Fowler, was killed the following morning as the battalion was being relieved. Isaac has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France (Panel 87 to 89). He was one of three Tanvats parishioners who died in the war who were remembered at a memorial service at the mission church in November 1915. He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of the Loos Memorial (extract): 'Dud Corner Cemetery stands almost on the site of a German strong point, the Lens Road Redoubt, captured by the 15th (Scottish) Division on the first day of the battle. The name "Dud Corner" is believed to be due to the large number of unexploded enemy shells found in the neighbourhood after the Armistice. The Loos Memorial commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay, from the first day of the Battle of Loos to the end of the war.' (www.cwgc.org)
There is no other Isaac Dodsworth listed on military casualty records and although long connected with Lincolnshire, Isaac enlisted in Retford and may have worked in or near Sutton cum Lound before enlisting and was thus included on its memorial. CWGC Additional information: 'Son of William and Annie Dodsworth, of Ash House Farm, Southrey, Lincoln.' Isaac Dodsworth is also commemorated on: Metheringham WW1 & WW2: High Street, Metheringham – Pte Dodsworth I WMR59683: 'Men of Metheringham': Primitive Methodist Chapel, Drury Lane, Metheringham. Now in Methodist Chapel, High Street, Metheringham – Dodsworth I Lincolnshire Chronicle, ‘Deaths’, 23 October 1915: ‘Dodsworth. Isaac, son of Mr and Mrs William Dodsworth, of Metheringham Fen, aged 20, who was killed in action in France, Saturday, October 16th.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Lincolnshire Chronicle, 30 October 1915 (photograph): ‘The Late Pte. Dodsworth. Herewith we give a photo of Private Isaac Dodsworth, son of Mr and Mrs Wm Dodsworth, Metheringham Fen, whose death was reported in last week’s issue.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Lincolnshire Chronicle, 20 November 1915: ‘Tanvats. A memorial service wes held on Sunday afternoon in commemoration of three soldiers – parishioners in the fen – who had fallen in active service, viz. George Halkes, GW Carr and Isaac Dodsworth. The mission church was crowded, not less than 80 being present. The Vicar preached an impressive sermon, and paid a high tribute to all those brave fellows who had given their life for King and country and died heroes.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Original research by Colin Dannatt
