We Remember

William Dawson

William Dawson
Rank: 
Private
Regimental number: 
10766
Unit at enlistment: 
4th Battalion
Force: 
C.E.F.
Volunteered or conscripted: 
Volunteered
Survived the war: 
Yes
Wounded: 
Yes
Cemetery: 
Mount Hope Cemetery, Soldiers' Plot, Brantford, Ontario
Birth country: 
England
Birth county: 
Greater London
Birth city: 
London
Address at enlistment: 
17 Morrell Street, Brantford, Ontario
Next of kin address: 
17 Morrell Street, Brantford, Ontario
Trade or calling: 
Coachman
Religious denominations: 
Church of England
Marital status: 
Married
Age at enlistment: 
38

Letters and documents

BX March 23, 1915

Artillery Doing Well – Sergt. Major Dawson, Formerly of Dragoons, Pays Tribute to the Work of the Gunners.

“Our artillery is doing splendidly,” is the tribute paid to the Canadian gunners and guns by former Squadron Sergt.-Major William Dawson of D. Squadron, Twenty-Fifth Brant Dragoons now Pte. Dawson of the 4th Battalion of the first Canadian contingent, British expeditionary force.

The letter was received this morning by Lieut.-Col. H.F. Leonard, officer commanding D. Squadron of the Dragoons. Dawson states that the men were all glad to leave the “mud island” at Salisbury and get into the trenches. He was the first man from D. Squadron to get into the trench on the firing line, and J. Brooks was second. D. Squadron is the only one in which all the men kept together, the remainder being scattered through the transport section and others. He states that the men have all behaved splendidly like soldiers.

He also states that the night before the men went into the trenches, Capt. Colquhoun, who became very sick, was sent to the south of France. The other company officers are in good shape, however and are well liked and respected by the men.

BX April 11, 1916

Hospital Hit by German Bombs – Pte. W. Dawson Was at Granville Hospital During Hun Air Raid – A Terrible Time – Local Soldiers Writes to Lt.-Col. H.F. Leonard Telling of the Excitement When Seaplanes raided Kentish Coast Towns – One Brought Down

Thrilling is the story of the recent daylight German seaplane raid over East Kent, England, told by Pte. William Dawson of the 4th Battalion, in a letter received today by Lieut.-Col. Harry Leonard, city clerk. Pte. Dawson is at present in the Granville Canadian special hospital at Ramsgate, being there when bombs were dropped on it. When Col. Leonard was officer commanding the 25th Brant Dragoons, Pte. Dawson was sergeant-major of D. Squadron.

The letter was written on March 21, and in the beginning of it the writer tells of having received a letter from Col. Leonard on Sunday, March 9. There are a number of other Brantford boys in the same hospital, and Dawson was reading the letter aloud to them when bombs were dropped on the middle of the hospital by the German raiders.

They quickly scattered to the street, he says, only to see another drop in a motor car, killing a man and several children. 

The sights were terrible. The seaplanes were quite low, and it was very exciting for a while. However, it was not a comfortable time for me, as I could not run very fast, as I had only done away with my walking stick and arm-sling two days before,” he writes.

It was like coming out of the hell of the battlefields into another hell caused by the air raids. I am not safe now from what I can see of it and my nerves are all shaken, as I only got out of bed again on Saturday from an attack of la grippe. But I am still alive and kicking and expect to go under another operation to get the bullet out of the muscle of my right arm. I suppose they will leave some of me behind when they have finished with me.

Nurse Ruddy was very kind to me during my operation. Then again, I am lucky, for my doctor here is Dr. Wilkes of Brantford. He is a captain here. You will remember he was medical sergeant of the 25th Brants. He is very good to all the Brantford boys, especially those who have been to the front.

Dawson expected to be able to go to London the week he wrote on sick leave. All the Brantford boys in the hospital, Jim Emmett, J. Knott Van Sickle and several others, all of whom have been wounded, desired to be remembered to Col. Leonard.

None of the patients in the Canadian hospital was injured. Only one bomb was dropped on the hospital, but quite a number were dropped on the town. Several British aeroplanes pursued the Germans and forced one to descend.

BX April 26, 1915

Is Confirmed

That Private William Dawson, late of the 25th Brant Dragoons, but a member of A. Company, 4th Battalion, First Canadian Contingent, had received a flesh wound from a bullet which came from the rifle of a sniper on the Belgian frontier was the news received in the city this morning in a letter to Lieutenant Colonel Harry F. Leonard from Private Herbert Verrell, of A. Company, a chum of Dawson’s.

Private Verrell stated that conditions at the front were such that they could never tell where a bullet was coming from owing to snipers and spies. He says that after being shot Dawson pluckily walked over to the doctor’s quarters, was operated on to extract the bullet, and was doing splendidly. Verrell also states that General Smith-Dorrien complimented the colonel on the physique and the luck of the 4th Battalion, which showed that while on the firing line, they were good intelligent and careful soldiers. General Alderson, commanding the Canadians was reported to have said that the Fourth Battalion was the best in the brigade.

BX May 6, 1915

Getting Better

Lieutenant-colonel H.F. Leonard this morning received a form postcard from Private William Dawson, who was wounded at the front. The card was mailed at the British field post office in France, as shown by the cancelation, but it bore a Canadian two cent stamp with the Toronto postmark, as if someone in Toronto had posted it. The lines on the card with the exception of the following were stricken off. “I am quite well, I am going on well, I was wounded, now better. I have received your letter dated April 3. Letter follows at first opportunity.”

Dawson was wounded by a bullet from a German sniper.

BX January 5, 1916

Pte. W. Dawson Is Badly Wounded – Admitted to Hospital With Wounds in Arm, Hand, Knee and Foot

Mrs. W. Dawson, wife of Pte. William Dawson of the 4th Battalion, now in France, this morning received a telegram from Ottawa officially reporting the admittance of her husband to No. 23 General Hospital, Etaples, on December 24.  His injuries consist of gunshot wounds in his arm, hand, knee and foot.  How serious the injuries are is not known.  Pte. Dawson, previous to his departure from the city, was Sergeant Major with the 25th Brant Dragoons.  He was one of the first men from Brantford to go to the front, and was a very well known soldier.

BX June 30, 1916

Two Veterans Welcomed home After Being Returned Invalided – Gunner E. Storor and Pte. William Dawson – Reception Given to Heroes by Local Citizens – Their Experiences – Address Given

Brantford welcomed two more of her soldier sons last evening, when Gunner Edgar Storor and Pte. William Dawson, who have been invalided home, arrived from Toronto on the 8.32 train. Hundreds of citizens had gathered at the station, as well as a body of returned soldiers and several hundred men from the local battalions. After heart touching greetings from relatives, the soldiers who arrived home were taken to the Market Square. A cheering crowd lined Market Street, and the square was packed with people.

Ex Mayor J.H. Spence, J.H. Ham, M.A.A. and Capt. S.E. McKegney of the 215th Battalion spoke briefly, expressing the pleasure all took in welcoming them home. Capt. McKegney made a short recruiting speech. Seeing the soldiers back, he said, would inspire those now in khaki to do their best and those not in the King’s uniform to don it. There were local battalions for them to join.

Tremendous ovations were given both heroes. At the station friends of Pte. Dawson lifted him to their shoulders and triumphantly carried him to a waiting automobile amidst the cheers of the crowd. When Capt. McKegney was speaking at the market and pointing out the fact that men were needed, a voice in the crowd called out “the 125th needs 40 men.”

Both Dawson and Storor spoke briefly, but they being tired out, their voices did not carry far through the crowd. Both looked remarkably well, but were thoroughly tanned. Pte. Dawson, in the course of his remarks referred to a number of Brantfordites, and particularly mentioned the good work Nurse Ruddy and Dr. Wilkes (sergeant in the 25th Dragoons when he left) were doing at the front. To the fact that they were in the hospital when he was taken to be operated on he claims he owes his life.

Brought Back Souvenirs

Two metal souvenirs were brought back by Pte. Dawson in his body. In all 18 pieces of shrapnel entered his body, but 16 pieces have been removed. One of the two left is in his knee, and the other the muscle of his right arm. He was wounded by shrapnel in six places.

Pte. Dawson crossed over with the First Contingent and was first wounded by a German sniper on March 21 of last year. From this wound he recovered and returned to the front to receive the casualties, from which he is now suffering, at Kemmel, Belgium, on December 19. Pte. Dawson is incapacitated by reason of incurable stiffness in the right arm. Otherwise he believes he is none the worse for his war injuries.

Gunner E. Storor

Gunner Edgar Storor, who walked with a cane having had one of his knees injured, is a veteran of the siege of Ladysmith in the South African war. He went to the front with the 32nd Battery. He is 40 years of age and resides at 15 Gordon Street. Gunner Storor has had extensive military experience, being for 13 years in the 3rd Bedford Regiment, and in both the Indian (Chitral) and South African campaigns. He went overseas in December 1914. Gunner Storer is a married man with a family of several children.

BX March 20, 1918

An Operation

Private William Dawson of the Fourth Battalion underwent an operation at the Hamilton Hospital this week for the removal of shrapnel from his arm. He is reported to be doing well.

BX June 7, 1921

Veteran of Two Wars Dies Here – Private William Dawson Had Many Miraculous Escapes in Great War – Was in South Africa

A Great War record is brought to mind with the death in this city shortly after noon yesterday of Pte. William Dawson, a veteran who saw service under many generals and in many fields.

He started his career with the Royal West Surrey Regiment and was transferred to the Royal Engineers because of his previous record and good character.  He was a picked man for the South African War and after some service he was invalided home with enteric fever and dysentery.  After three months’ treatment he was pronounced medically fit and his request for permission to come to Canada was granted.

He came to this city and here joined the 25th Brant Dragoons as a trooper and rose to the rank of squadron sergeant-major of “D” Squadron.  When the war broke out in 1914 he offered to go into action again and joined the 4th Battalion.  He was shot in the right thigh, but was again sent to the front in March, 1915.  He was recommended to General Mercer for galloper on his staff, but was finally transferred to General Garnet Hughes’ staff.  While in action a shell burst over his head and he and his horse were thrown six feet in the air by the concussion.  The horse was killed under him and he himself was severely wounded in six places and slightly gassed.  Private G. Verrett, of Toronto, came to his rescue only to be shot through the head.  Bleeding from six wounds he lay for two hours on the field and then Lieutenant Johnson of the 12th Field Battery came to his aid and got him out from under the horse.  As Lieutenant Johnson was taking him to a dugout for cover a shell burst behind them, killing Johnson.  Pte. Dawson knew no more until he awoke on a stretcher.  He was taken to a dressing station on Kemmell Road and eventually was sent to England in December 1915.  Some 16 pieces of shrapnel had been removed from his wounds.

When he returned to Canada he was discovered to be suffering from tuberculosis and for a time was at the Brant Sanatorium in Hamilton.  Some months ago he came to this city.

He served in his military career under Queen Victoria, King Edward and King George, and had seen service under the following generals: Earl Roberts, Lord Kitchener, General Brooks, Buller, Mathews, Paul Carew, Smith-Dorrien, James Hamilton, Mercer, Garnet Hughes, Galleracher, Douglas Haig and Kelly Henry.

BX June 10, 1921

William Dawson

From his home at 17 Morrell Street, the remains of the late William Dawson were taken yesterday afternoon, to St. Paul’s Church where services were held in the presence off a very large number of friends, including many veterans, who were present out of respect to a fallen comrade and a soldier of two wars.  Rev. F.B. Robinson, assisted by Rev. C.E. Jeakins, conducted the services and Rev. Mr. Jeakins preached a funeral oration, dwelling on the very creditable record of the late William Dawson in his war career.  The remains were laid to rest in the soldiers’ plot in Mount hope Cemetery, while a wide circle was made about the grave by members of the G.W.V.A.  The pallbearers were all soldiers, comrades H. Carey, S. Cara, A. Stalkins, T. Lockyer, P. Whelan, W. Jarvis, W. Babcock and G. Pilley.

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