3289 Sergeant David Dobson – Cassilis Killed in Action 19 July 1916

….. had been a teacher for 25 years before enlisting

Image from Education Department’s Record of War Service 1914-1919

David Dobson was teaching at SS3021 Cassilis in 1891when he requested the Department of Education assist him with somewhere to live otherwise he would need to resort to a tent – accommodation being elusive for the teacher. He was well regarded and remembered in the local community and after he left the district taught at Nine Mile Creek, Avonmore, Miner’s Rest and Colac. He had previously served in South Africa for two years. At the age of 45 he enlisted on 24 July 1915 and embarked for Egypt just over two months later on the Nestor on 11 October 1915. Promoted to Sergeant five months later, Dobson embarked for Marseilles with the 59 th   Battalion and proceeded to the front. With many other East Gippsland men he lost his life in the first 24 hours of Fromelles and was buried at Military Cemetery at Rue de Bois, Fleurbaix. David Dobson had been a teacher for 25 years before enlisting and carried his South African campaign medallion with him in 1915. This medallion was eventually returned to his wife Eliza.