BORN HUGGET ,YORKS, 1887. ENLISTED BEVERLEY. SON OF REUBEN AND ALICE DAWSON, POCKLINGTON. A FORMER NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY WORKER, AND EMPLOYED BY THE HULL’ STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY, PRINCES DOCK. HE LIVED WITH HIS WIFE SARAH AT 9 CLEO TERRACE, WESTMORELAND STREET, HULL.
CHARLES DAWSON WAS HULL’S FIRST WINNER OF THE DCM. HE WON THE MEDAL ON 28/02/1915, FOR DELIVERING A MESSAGE UNDER HEAVY FIRE, WHEN THE TELEPHONE WIRES HAD BEEN CUT. HE VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE THE MESSAGE, IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, UNDER HEAVY BOMBARDMENT, TO RELIEVE HIS COMPANY. HIS ACTION SAVED MANY LIVES OF THE MEN STRANDED IN A FORWARD TRENCH. HE WAS PRESENTED WITH HIS MEDAL AT THE GUILDHALL BY THE LORD MAYOR OF HULL. ON THE 21ST JANUARY 1916, (YORKSHIRE POST 22/01/1916).
HE DIED WITH THE 9TH NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS, AT MAMETZ, ON THE 8TH AUGUST 1916, AGED 29. HE IS BURIED AT THE SOMME. HE LEFT A WIDOW AND THREE CHILDREN.
HIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS PRINTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL ON 23RD JUNE 1915. * HIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS LATER PRINTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL ON THE 18TH AUGUST 1915. * HE IS LISTED ON THE SPENCER STREET AND HODGSON STREET MEMORIALS (HDM 20/10/1916)
HIS BROTHER, FRED G. DAWSON DIED OF WOUNDS, ON 10/12/1914. ANOTHER BROTHER SERVED IN THE NAVY.
For more family information please contact steve.sorsby@clear.net.nz
