Tyne Cot Memorial
Tyne Cot Memorial: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George Dodds was born at Quebec, District of Lanchester, County Durham, one of 9 children of whom only 6 survived, he was the eldest of 2 sons and had 4 younger sisters. His father Alexander Allan Dodds native of Crook was born 1865, however, his mother Jane Huddert Nicholson was born at Cockermouth, Cumberland, the daughter of police officer John Nicholson and his wife Margaret. They had migrated to the north east between 1871 and 1881 and were living at Clavering Lodge, Annfield Plain, County Durham where Jane was a pupil teacher. Alexander and Jane were married in the district of Lanchester in 1885. George was born in 1886 his brother John, September 1st 1887, sisters Eleanor, Margaret and Audrey May, 1890, 1892 and 1900 respectively. The family occupied 3, Front Street, Esh in 1901 from where Alexander ran a butcher’s shop for his own account assisted by George (15) and John (13). Youngest daughter Nora was born in 1903. By 1911 the family had moved to 9, Front Street, Quebec, their father now worked for his own account from home as an inn keeper, his sons were employed as butchers.
During the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1912 George married at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Bertha Ingham of Stanley, County Durham, born July 6th 1884. They do not appear to have had any children.
When war with Germany was declared George Dodds enlisted at Consett assigned to the 1st/4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers as Private 9414. In peacetime the 4th with the 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions formed the Northumbria Brigade, Northumbrian Division. Once mobilised they were posted to the Tyne Defences and redesigned as 1st/4th with the creation of the 2nd/4th in November 1914. As well as serving at home they also trained for the draft overseas. The Battalion sailed for France as part of the Northumbrian Division April 20th 1915 disembarking at Boulogne and marched to St. Martins Rest Camp near the docks. The following day they left the camp arriving at the railway station at Pont de Briques they departed for Bavinchove spending the night in billets. The Division departed April 22nd marching through Cassel to Oudezeele where they were divided into platoons and marched to billets at small farms. The morning of April 23rd 1915 news arrived of the German gas attack near Langemark 20 miles away. They were immediately sent to the Ypres salient in Belgium where unfortunately they suffered heavy casualties. In May 1915 they became the 149th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division taking part in the Second Battle of Ypres before moving to the Somme in 1916. Private Dodds departed to France joining his regiment in the field in 1916. Their first major offensive was during the Battle of Fleurs-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd 1916. In 1917 Private Dodds was renumbered as 235080. His regiment participated during the Battle of Arras, April 9th-May 16th and having returned to Belgium, the Third Battle of Ypres, July 31st-November 10th 1917, also known as the Battle of Passchendaele.
Private 235080 George Dodds was reported as missing and after extensive investigations as to his whereabouts was struck off and is presumed to have died on or since October 26th 1917. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 35,002 names inscribed on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing which forms the perimeter wall of Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, Belgium, commemorating British and New Zealand servicemen who have no known grave who died between August 1917 and November 1918.
His widow received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at The Board Inn, Hilltop, Esh, County Durham. Bertha Dodds nee Ingham died aged 73 years in 1953, registered in the district of Durham C.
It should be noted the St. John the Baptist Memorial lists George in error under the surname of Dodd.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George Dodds is remembered at Quebec on Q2.06 and at Esh on E75.01
