Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Sapper Frederick Allan Dobson (Service No:18448) enlisted in the AIF on 19 October 1916 as a Private (having served five years with the Militia: 91st Infantry), attached to 10th Depot Battalion Claremont. Sapper Dobson was attached to 5th Divisional Signal Coy on 21 June 1917 when he embarked with his Unit from Melbourne for Liverpool on board HMAT A29 Suevic. Sapper Dobson served in France, embarking from England for Melbourne on 22 July 1919 on board HT Ulysses. Sapper Dobson was attached to 5th Divisional Signal Coy at Discharge on 10 October 1919. Younger brother Louis enlisted in the AIF in September 1918, but was 'not called up for duty' (NAA).

Fred was born in Launceston, Tasmania in 1895, eldest of three children of Andrew Edward Dobson (b1870 in Westmoreland, England) and Dora Elizabeth Nicholas (b1864 in Franklin, Tasmania). Andrew immigrated with his parents and siblings in 1883, arriving in Melbourne, Victoria on board the Siren, and was an Electrical Engineer in 1895 in Launceston when he and Dora married. Andrew and Dora lived in Launceston, Darwin and Queenstown, where they raised their family and Andrew worked as an Electrical Engineer until his death in 1929.

Fred worked as a Moulder in Queenstown, Tasmania before moving in the mid 1920's to Melbourne, where in 1928 he married Olive Maude Dawson (b1894 in Ringarooma, Tasmania) - Olive was a Nurse. Fred (a Mechanic) and Olive settled in Melbourne, where they raised their family and, from the mid 1930's, Fred worked as a Fitter. Olive died in 1972 and Fred in 1975.