William George Dawson... Whatever did you do ?

[Daisycakes]

I have found my grandmothers ,sister Ediths husband William George Dawson born 1876 in Norfolk. He was in the Royal Artillery Boer War and met and married Edith in 1897 in Pembroke Dock .Up to 1908 he seem to have had an exemplary service rising through the ranks and serving in South Africa ((medals)) Gibraltar Malta. However in1908 things change and on his records a lot of scribbles in red and in 1909 he is discharged no longer required ....Ive downloaded all the bumf and going to try and post the red scribble bit, and wondered if one of the crew maybe able to decipher the reason for his dismissal.
Thanks in anticipation
Ann

[dickiesam]

Hi Ann,
I'll try and find him and have a go for you. What search parameters did you use to find him?

[Daisycakes]

I just put william george dawson born 1876 and world it then led me to the boer war 1899 -1902 and he was the only one.
Thanks DS

[dickiesam]

I just put william george dawson born 1876 and world it then led me to the boer war 1899 -1902 and he was the only one.
Thanks DS

Hi Ann,
Can you confirm this is your man?
WILLIAM GEORGE DAWSON
Birth year: 1876; Birth parish: WYMONDHAM, NORFOLK
Service number: 7254
Regiment: Royal Artillery

[dickiesam]

If the above is your man..... I read from your info....

"Awaiting trial - 14 Dec 1908"
"Forgery, 3 charges"
"Tried and sentenced to be reduced to Gunner and discharged with ignominy - 6 Jan 1909"

In red...
"Proceedings and Court Martial quashed. Authority - War Office telegram dated 15/02/09"

There is a red ink entry dated the same date as the trial, 6 Jan 1909, which has been crossed out as a result of the proceedings etc being quashed. I believe it reads 'Ceased to draw S? Pay'.

So William would have had his rank and service pay restored before his discharge and the Ignominious Discharge had been expunged from his record. The entry "Discharged - Services no longer required - 8 April 1909" may have been, in the circumstances, a convenient way for William and the Army to part company. It would appear he may have been falsely accused or even 'framed'.

Edited to add: There is a column on that record where 23 days service while awaiting trial is entered and these would not count towards his pension. This was also expunged and he received the benefit of all his days of service.

[Daisycakes]

That is William... What an awful shame if he was falsely accused or even framed after such a good career. I have done a search on 1911 for William 1876 Norfolk and Edith Nicholas(maiden) born 1877 Pembroke Dock without success ,they seem to have vanished maybe because of what happened. I cannot find any children born to Edith from 1897 right up to 1918

As Ever... thanks so much for your help and your excellent eyesight

[yappie]

Hi Daisycakes - is it possible this is your William on the 1911 Cencus - RG14 Piece 182 - living in London with Edith Mary. He is a Railway Station Master at a Tube Station.
Good Luck
yappie

[Bertieone]

For the crew,

Marriage,
William George Dawson
Edith Elizabeth Nicholas
1897, Pembroke, 11a 1333.

[Daisycakes]

Yappie That's not him... but thank you for looking Ann

[Daisycakes]

That's them I have copy of marriage lines...Ediths father Thomas Corkhill Nicholas shipwright and Williams father Charles Dawson Trouper RA

Thanks Bert Ann