Photo: Brian Pirrie

Newcastle Journal Friday 20/08/1915

The headstone reads:-

In Loving Memory of
William
The beloved son
George & Ann Dawson
Of New Lambton
Who died 19th August 1915
Aged 24 years

The rest of the headstone inscription is covered with the broken cross.

William Dawson was born in January, February March quarter, 1891 at 32 Chapel Row, New Lambton, Durham, one of seven children to George Dawson, [born 1855, Burnmoor], Coal Miner Hewer, and his wife Anne, (Annie), [born 1861, Great Lumley, Durham], they were married in 1884.

The other children were Alice born 1885, Isabella born 1887, Robert born 1889, John born 1890, George born 1893 and Mary Jane Dawson born 1897, all born at Burnmoor.

William was a Coal Cutter in the Coal Mine below ground. He suffered poor health.

William did not serve overseas, he was based in the UK.

He joined the RAMC about February 1915, but had spent a lot of time in hospital himself due to failing health.

He died on the 19th August 1915, by his own hand, opposite 32 Chapel Row, New Lumley, Fencehouses, Durham, by a gun shot.

With Thanks to Lynn

He is not remembered on a North East War Memorial.

William however is listed in the RAMC Golden Roll of Honour book 1 on page 12, and the Royal Army Medical Corps web site.

Archive Material RAMC
RAMC in WW1
Royal Army Medical Corps
The CWGC entry for Private Dawson