The Execution of Pte walter Dossett 1918

The following information was obtained from the web-site of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The first table gives the bare details of Walter's military career and his place of burial

Nationality:	United Kingdom
Rank:	Private
Regiment:	York and Lancaster Regiment
Unit Text:	1st/4th Battalion.
Age:	22
Date of Death:	25/06/1918
Service No:	45980
Additional information:	Son of William and Lily Dossett, of Sheffield.
Casualty Type:	Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:	I. E. 7.
Cemetery:	HAGLE DUMP CEMETERY

The Hagle Dump Cemetery is located 7.5 km west of Ieper town centre on the Sint Pietersstraat, a road leading from the N308 Poperingseweg, connecting Ieper to Poperinge. From Ieper town centre the Poperingseweg (N308), is reached via Elverdingsestraat then directly over two small roundabouts in the J. Capronstraat. The Poperingseweg is a continuation of the J. Capronstraat and begins after a prominent railway level crossing. 6 km along the Poperingseweg, after passing through the villages of Vlamertinge and Brandhoek, lies the right hand turning onto Galgestraat. 1 km along the Galgestraat lies a staggered crossroads. The cemetery lies 300 metres after this crossroads on Sint Pietersstraat.

The 1901 Census shows Walter's father William as a 34 year old Razor Hafter . He was born in Sheffield as was his wife Lily (nee Dale) who was a year younger than her husband. They had married in the June quarter of 1888 (PRO Ref Vol 9C 509)> The 1901 Census living in House 3 Court 14 Edward Street in the Hollis Croft area of Sheffield - PRO Ref RG13/4365 entry 127. The housing was in one of the poorest and most overcrowded areas of the city. There is a photo that was taken in 1940 that shows Court 3 prior to demolition.

SURNAME	Age	Rel	Occupation	Place of Birth
DOSSETT William	34	Married	Razor Hafter	Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
DOSSETT Lily	33	Married
DOSSETT George	12	Son
DOSSETT Lily	6	Daughter
DOSSETT Walter	5	Son
DOSSETT Linda	3	Daughter
DOSSETT Julia	1	Daughter

Lily who presumably was named after her mother was born in the September quarter of 1894 (PRO Ref Vol 9C 453). Walter was born in the June quarter of 1896 (PRO Ref sheffield Volume 9C page 499).

Julian Putkowski and Julian Sykes in their book offer the opinion that Walter may have been a volunteer who did not serve abroad until 1916. Walter served with three different machine gun companies 143^rd (part of 48 Division), 118^th (part of 39 Division) and 63^rd (part of 21 Division) before being transferred to 1 / 4 Battalion Yorks and Lancs . Walter went absent during the Ludendorff Offensive of 1918 and was sentenced to death. Private Scullin of 49 Division Ammunition Column recorded the execution in his diary from the recollections of a colleague who witnessed it. The execution took place near Vlamertinghe in the Ypres Salient on 25^th of June 1918. An ambulance drew up and Walter was led out under escort to a nearby rifle range. He was then bound to a chair, blindfolded and a piece of white paper placed over his heart. The firing squad consisted of machine gunners from the 21 Division who then executed their fellow soldier in arms.

His grave bears the inscription “Until we meet again”. The grave is in the same cemetery as another Sheffield soldier who was executed George Ainley