William Dobbins 2

This name is on St Mark's War Memorial, Kennington Oval, London SE11W. Dobbins (William Dobbins)Service no A/3469Rifleman, King's Royal Rifle Corps, 2nd BattalionDied of wounds on 14 April 1916 Remembered at Lillers Communal Cemetery, France and at St Mark's Church Lived at Upper Kennington LaneWilliam Dobbins' brother Robert is not on the memorialR. Dobbins(Robert Dobbins)(Dobbins, R.)Service no 27608Private, Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's), 1st BattalionKilled in action on 31 August 1918

Enlisted at Camberwell

Formerly 6239 London Regiment

Remembered at Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Pas de Calais, France

William Dobbins - the good bad boy

Continuing the story of William Dobbins.

William Dobbins' effects were carefully listed:

• prayer book
• photo
• razor
• lighter
• cap badge
• handkerchief
• shaving brush
• rosary and crucifx
• tin of tobacco

Robert died on 21 August 1918, killed in action while serving as a private with the Somerset Light Infantry. He is not listed on the memorial.

By the time William and Robert's parents applied for their separation allowance from the Army in 1919 or 1920 (the date has been lost), all of their sons were dead. Joseph also appears to have been lost, although we don't know when, where or how. The only remaining living siblings of William were his married sisters: Mary [Jane] Gard, 28, Ellen James, 30, and Katie (Catherine) Burley. The elder Mary, who was working as a domestic servant, has also gone. Mary Jane and Ellen were living with their parents, and presumably their husbands and children, at 3 Shepherds Place, Upper Kennington Lane (now gone - it was where Tesco's car park is now). Ellen signed the form with her mark. Evidently, she could not write.

Information from British Army Service Records 1914-1920, 1891 and 1911 census