19-8-1916 ADMITTED TO LORD DERBY WAR HOSPITAL –
WARRINGTON – GUN SHOT WOUND TO ARM AND
CONCUSSION OF SPINE
14-9-1917 TRANSFERRED FROM LORD DERBY WAR HOSPITAL
TO 1ST AUXILARY FUR AND REPATRIATION HOSPITAL
WEYMOUTH ENGLAND – GUN SHOT WOUND TO RIGHT FOREARM AND CONCUSSION OF SPINE
26-10-1917 DISCHARGED FROM 1ST AUXILARY TO FUR AND
REPATRIATION – WEYMOUTH ENGLAND
20-12-1917 EMBARKED PER “A.54” FROM ENGLAND FOR RETURN
TO AUSTRALIA FOR CONC OF SPINE PARTIAL
(STS 50TH BATTALION)
26-7-1918 DISCHARGED A.I.F. EX 4TH MEDICAL DISTRICT EX
“RUNIC” DISEMBARKED 12-2-1918 AUSTRALIA


Albert Edward Dobson was discharged from the A.I.F. due to being medically unfit on the 26th of July 1918 in Adelaide, South Australia. Albert Dobson served 3 years and 236 days. Service Abroad was 3 years, 11 days.

Albert married Annie in England. Annie’s address was 34 Clifford Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, England.

Albert Edward Dobson, 1331, Private, 2nd/10th Battalion and 50th Battalion was granted a pension of three pounds p.f. as from 27th of July 1918. His address was 6 Ballara Street, Mile End, South Australia.

ALBERT EDWARD DOBSON was born in Kinlochbeg, Ballachulish, Scotland to ISAAC DOBSON AND ELSIE YOUNG.

Albert Edward Dobson enlisted in World War One in Oaklands, South Australia on the 3rd of December 1914.

Albert was described as being 20 years and 11 months old, height - 5 feet 6 inches, weight - 134 pounds, chest measurement - 34 inches, complexion - fair, eyes - hazel, hair - brown, religion - Church of England.

Albert’s parents, Isaac and Elsie Dobson gave their permission for Albert to join the expeditionary forces to leave Australia on the 24th of November 1914. Albert was sent to France and was wounded in action with gun shot wound to his right forearm. He was sent to England to be admitted to hospital their. When he was discharged from hospital he was sent back to France where he received another injury, which was a concussion of spine partial. Albert was discharged from World War One due to his spinal injuries and was sent back to Australia.

When Albert was in England he married and when he was discharged from the War he bought his wife and children back to Broken Hill, NSW, Australia, where his wife worked at the Tickalara Private Hospital and did a good deal of fine work as a masseuse. When Albert and his wife split up, his wife and his two children returned to England and Albert went to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia where he passed away on the 22nd of June 1973.

ALBERT EDWARD DOBSON served as a Private with the 50th Battalion in World War One and his War Records are to follow.

BROKEN HILL MAN’S STORY
RESCUED AND RESCUES
Private Albert Dobson (known locally as “Scotty” Dobson), writes as follows from Alexandria on September 29 to his mother, Mrs I Dobson, Wolfram Street, North Broken Hill:-
“Our ship (the Southland) was torpedoed on September 2 while on the way from here to the Dardanelles. We were about four days out, and everything was going well until about 9.45am when the guard suddenly called out. I did not hear what he said, but I observed a white wash about 100 yards away. A few rushed to the side to have a look, but I thought it much better to get a life belt. Next came a terrific explosion, tearing a hole in our side, 9 x 26. Some of those who had gone to have a look were injured; one fellow lost half his face. My pal also got a lifebelt. The excitement soon cooled down, and the boats were filled and lowered. A few were upset. I was in the third boat which overturned. I came up under the boat after having been under five seconds which I thought were hours. Then someone put his foot on my shoulder and pushed me down, and when I came up again I caught a rope that kept me afloat until I got my breath. Another fellow came up and caught hold of the same rope. As it would not keep two of us up we let go and made for a small boat about 30 yards away, which had only a few in it. I was so exhausted that I could not pull myself into the boat, but with the help of a New Zealander I got aboard. I was just beginning to feel myself again when another boat was upset, and all who were in it. We pulled them into our boat, which was thus overcrowded, and it went over again. By good luck I met the same New Zealander again in the water, and we swam away from the boat as fast as we could in case any more boats were put off. We got into another boat full of water, and after we had got all in that she would fit, got out the oars and rowed away for a few hundred yards. We all got our boots off to bail her out with, but met with little success at first as the waves washed in as much as we got out. After another good look around, we found a bucket. When she was nearly empty we found that both plugs were out, and we could not get them in again. However, we managed ??????(can not read) and they stopped the water coming in a little. We rowed back to the ship and picked up as many as we could. We got about 30 men and two officers aboard. The boat could have held more only we had about six sick, and they had to lie down and took up the room. Everyone who could do anything was bailing out or rowing. I stuck to my oar because I was wet and cold, and thought that if I did not keep moving, I would catch a cold. We started for an island about 30 miles away, and when we covered about four miles, rescue ships were soon coming from every direction, so we made for a battleship which was nearest us. It was about 1.15pm, making about 3 ½ hours since we were struck. The one thing that was worrying me most was that I had lost Stan when the boat upset, but he was the first person I saw when we drew near the ship. He had been picked up half an hour before. We got off very luckily. Stan lost his coat and hat and boots, and I just only my hat and boots. We were soon made comfortable aboard the battleship. The meal we had was the best since I left home and the sailors treated us like lords.
After a few days rest at Lemnos Island, we left for the front. I had nine days in the trenches, and at Alexandria, but not for long. I am well, and getting on first rate. I am at Mustanhia camp, and there are quite a number of fellows here that I know. I saw M’Iver at Gallipolli; he was looking well. Mrs Pike’s husband, has a very good billet, and she should not worry about him. We have a good band here; I was asked to join, but I wanted to go back to the front, so did not do so. Private Tonkin is band sergeant.”