William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Thomas William was born 7th December 1919, the son of Thomas William and Mary Annie (nee Brettwood) at Easington in 1919. The couple had married on January 30th 1915 and went on to have 3 children. Their first child, a daughter Frances Ann, died as an infant aged only 19 days on April 21st 1916. They later went on to have two sons Thomas and Ronald born 14th July 1923.
Thomas senior was a miner by trade however when WW1 broke out he enlisted with the Durham Light Infantry in 1915. By May 1916 he was posted to France but in September that same year he received a gunshot wound to his left buttock and was duly sent back home for treatment. At some point he returned to his battalion to continue his service. He is listed as having served on D41.06
The 1939 register shows the family living at 10 Seaham Street, Dawdon. Thomas senior had returned to the pits and worked as a coal hewer. His son Thomas also worked at the pit as a colliery screensman. Youngest son Ronald was employed in the colliery datal department.
Thomas junior joined the Tyneside Scottish Battalion but was killed in action on 28the June 1944.
The Allied offensive in NW Europe began with the Normandy landings on 6th June 1944. Most of the burials on Hottot-les-Bagues War Cemetery were brought in from the surrounding district, where there was much heavy fighting through June and July 1944 as the Commonwealth forces tried to press on from Bayeux in an encircling movement south of Caen.
The inscription on his headstone reads :- “At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember him” “At Rest”
The Newcastle Journal 08/12/1944 has a Roll of Honour entry:-
Dobinson (Dawson) Treasured memories of Pte. 'Tottie' Dobinson 25th Birthday December 7 As a flower he came to us. His memory will bloom in our hearts. Mother, father, Ronnie, aunt Bet uncle Billy.
Thomas is remembered on a family headstone at Princess Road Cemetery, Seaham Harbour.
Thomas William Dobinson is remembered at Seaham on S117.10 and S117.19
He is also shown on the UK Roll of Honour 1939-1945.
