THE EXECUTION OF WALTER DOSSETT (1896 - 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 |
Notes
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 Volume 9C Page 453). Walter was born in the June quarter of 1896 (PRO Ref Sheffield Volume 9C page 499).
The 1911 Census has the following information on Walter
Name Walter Dossett
Relationship to Head of Household Son
Condition Single
Gender Male
Age 15
Estimated Year of Birth 1896
Occupation Assist Chair Works
Employed Yes 0Working at Home No
Industry Furniture Works
Place of Birth Yorkshire Sheffield
Enumerator Information
Address 44 Martin St Sheffield Parish Ecclesall Town Sheffield
Type of Building Private House Number of Rooms 5 Rooms
Inhabited Yes
Reference RG14PN27726 RG78PN1588 RD509 SD2 ED6 SN188
Administrative County Yorkshire (West Riding) Registration District Ecclesall
Bierlow Registration Sub District Ecclesall West Central Enumeration District 6
SURNAME | Age | Rel | Occupation | Place of Birth |
DOSSETT William | 44 | Married | Razor Hafter | Sheffield, Yorkshire, England |
DOSSETT Lily | 43 | Married | ||
DOSSETT George | 22 | Son | Iron Worker | |
DOSSETT Lily | 16 | Daughter | Umbrella Rib Maker | |
DOSSETT Walter | 15 | Son | Asst Chair Worker | |
DOSSETT Linda | 13 | Daughter | Assistant at home | |
DOSSETT Julia | 11 | Daughter | School | |
DOSSETT James | 8 | Son | School | |
DOSSETT Mary Ann | 6 | School | ||
DOSSETT Albert | 3 | Son | ||
DOSSETT Florence | 6mths |
According to the information on the form William and Lily had 13 children in total, 9 of which were living in 1911
Martin Street Sheffield 1902
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. This is correct. His service record states that
he enlisted in Sheffield on 9th December 1915 and gives his occupation as
"Labourer" . Walter served with three different machine gun
companies 143rd (part of 48 Division), 118th (part of 39
Division) and 63rd (part of 21 Division) before being transferred
to 1 / 4 Battalion Yorks and Lancs
There is a newspaper report from the Yorkshire Telegraph and Star dated 3rd February 1917 which shows Walter in the local magistrates court as a deserter
The following year 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 25th 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.
Walter's grave in Hagle Dump Cemetery
Sources
Unquiet Graves Guide Execution sites of the First World War in Flanders - Piet Chielens and Julian Putkowski
Shot at Dawn - Julian Putkowski and Julian Sykes - The standard reference work about soldiers executed under the British Army Act in the First World War (1989).
Rusteloze graven gids – Executieplaatsen uit de Eerste Wereldoorlog in de Westhoek
The Guide is centred on the countryside around Ieper (Ypres) and Poperinge in the Westhoek of Flanders and visits the places of execution and graves of men 'shot at dawn' by the British Army in the Great War.Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Yorkshire Telegraph and Star dated 3rd February 1917
Notes
National Archives Reference - Pte Walter Dossett - 25th June 1918 - age 22 WO71/650
This page was last updated on 13/05/15 17:43