DAWSON, Forbes Campbell
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 May 1915, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 58th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia, 11 June 1888 |
| Home Town: | St Kilda, Port Phillip, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Newington College, Sydney |
| Occupation: | Engineer |
| Died: | Natural causes, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia, 15 December 1972, aged 84 years |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne Cremated remains were collected |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 20 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Sep 1915: | Involvement Lieutenant, 6th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of Victoria embarkation_ship_number: A16 public_note: '' | |
| 10 Sep 1915: | Embarked Lieutenant, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of Victoria, Melbourne | |
| 4 Apr 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 56th Infantry Battalion | |
| 12 Jun 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 58th Infantry Battalion | |
| 6 Apr 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 58th Infantry Battalion | |
| 22 Jun 1917: | Honoured Military Cross, Bullecourt (Second), 'For conspicuous gallantry when in charge of an attack on an enemy strong point...' | |
| 31 Jul 1918: | Honoured Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, "Peaceful Penetration - Low-Cost, High-Gain Tactics on the Western Front", 'For conspicuous gallantry and a fine display of tactical skill during an attack...' | |
| 30 Sep 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Captain, 58th Infantry Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days", GSW (thigh and elbow) | |
| 8 Nov 1918: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, For conspicuous services rendered as per Sir Douglas Haig's Despatches. | |
| 26 Apr 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, 58th Infantry Battalion, Appointment terminated |
Help us honour Forbes Campbell Dawson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul Trevor
'Victorian Wins D.S.O.
Captain Forbes C. Dawson, of the 58th Battalion, A.I.F., has been awarded the Distinguished Service Order. His father, Mr. W. F. Dawson, of "Woodford," Dandenong road, East Malvern, received a cable to that effect today. It is three years since his son, then second lieutenant, left Melbourne for tho front. He is fighting under the command of Brigadier-General Elliott in Northern France. The brigade was formed in Egypt.' from The Herald 2 Sep 1918 (nla.gov.au)
Awarded the Military Cross (www.awm.gov.au)
'For conspicuous gallantry when in charge of an attack on an enemy strong point. He was temporarily driven back with heavy losses, but prevented the semblance of a retreat and although, after being reinforced, his party did not exceed fifty men, with a final effort he drove the enemy from their position, capturing 184 prisoners and four machine guns.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 189 Date: 8 November 1917
Awarded the Distinguish Service Cross (www.awm.gov.au)
'For conpicuous gallantry and a fine display of tactical skill during an attack over difficult ground covered with undegrrwoth and deep shell holes, many of which the enemy had turned into machine gun posts. He mopped up each post and secured his objective, accounting for 50 killed, 30 prisoners, and 10 machine guns. Though wounded he remained at duty for forty six hours. All the captured guns were at once mounted, turned on the enemy, and kept in action during the fight, materially assisting in repelling enemy counter attacks.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 23 Date: 12 February 1919
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