Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Captain H. E. Dawson, Lincolnshire Regiment, killed in action at the battle of the Aisne, 14 September 1914

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut. H. E. Dawson. Lincoln Rgt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt. H. E. Dawson. Linc. Rgt.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Capt: H. E. Dawson. Linc: R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. H. E. Dawson.) mounted court style, good very fine or better (5) £700-900

Herbert Edward Dawson was born on 3 May 1881 at Southsea, Hampshire. He was educated at Clifton College and was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the Lincolnshire Regiment on 20 January 1900; Lieutenant, 12 October 1901, and Captain, 12 February 1906. He accompanied the second draft of the 2/Lincolns to South Africa, as described in the regimental history:

‘The second draft, consisting of Second Lieutenant Dawson, Dugan, and French, and 100 N.C.O.’s and men, left England March 14th, 1900, and landed in South Africa April 5th, 1900. It first formed part of an escort to Ordnance Stores, and in June, 1900, was stationed at Kiljoen’s Drift. In July it was moved to Zuurfontein, near Pretoria. On the night of December 19th, Zuurfontein Station was attacked by a small commando of Boers, who were repulsed, and on the morning of January 12th, 1901, by General Beyers and 800 Boers. Fighting lasted for three hours, and the Boers were driven off. On both of these occasions Lord Kitchener, the Commander-in-Chief, congratulated the garrison on its plucky defence.

Captain Dawson accompanied the 2nd Lincolns to France on 13 August 1914 and served with the B.E.F. at Mons, the retreat from Mons, and the Marne. He was killed in action at the battle of the Aisne on 14 September 1914. The regimental history gives some background: ‘The Royal Fusiliers appealed to the Linc. Regt. for support and D and B companies made a spirited counter-attack which drove the enemy back to its starting point. The casualties of these two companies were heavy including the officer commanding B company Capt. Dawson.’

He was the only child of Colonel and Mrs H. C. Dawson, and husband of Blanche, and is commemorated by name on La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial.