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Clarence Howard Dobson - Information

Clarence was a son of Edward William and Eliza Ann Dobson. The Dobsons lived in Picton, where Clarence was born c1888. He grew up in the area, before the family moved to Ryde Rd in Gladesville. Here, Clarence began working as a railway porter. In 1916, Clarence’s brothers Jack Raymond and Arthur Martin enlisted in the AIF and left for war. In 1917, Eliza had to say goodbye to another son. Clarence signed up on the 19th of March 1917 in Sydney. He trained at the Royal Showground Camp and Liverpool and was allotted to the 7th Reinforcements, 36th Battalion and the 25th Reinforcements, 2nd Battalion in May. Clarence left Sydney on the 14th of June 1917 on the Hororata.

Clarence arrived in Liverpool, England in late August. He was quickly marched out to the 1st Training Battalion in Durrington. Instructed in new tactics, he proceeded to the Western Front in mid February 1918. He joined the 2nd Battalion a month later. The Germans then began their grand offensive, with Operation Michael. This led to much bitter fighting, as the Germans broke the line and the Allies had to counter-attack. The 1st Division, therefore 2nd Battalion, reinforced the British line at Hazebrouck and stalled the German advance. Clarence was then wounded in action on the 24th of June 1918, shot in his left leg. On the 7th of July, he was invalided to the UK to the Central Hospital in Eastbourne. Unluckily, while stationed at Parkhouse, he reported back to hospital with the mumps in late August. He was still in England when the war ended due to his leg injury. On the 9th of December 1918, Clarence was shipped back to Australia.