Robert Clatworthy Dawson (1896-1968)
Bede scholar discharged from the army suffering with neurasthenia
Born in Hartlepool on 18 October 1896, Robert Clatworthy Dawson was the younger of two sons born to John Robert Dawson and Emily Dawson who had married in 1894. Robert’s father John worked as a joiner. Robert is listed as being at school on the 1911 census and later he went on to study at Saint Bede’s College, a teacher training college in Durham.
Robert attested to the army on 3 December 1915 and was initially appointed to the 21st Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) with the service number 3601. At the time of his attestation he was living on West Auckland Road, Darlington and is listed as a student. Initially being posted as a private, Robert was promoted through the ranks until he became acting corporal on 1 July 1916. On joining the British Expeditionary Force on 23 December 1916 he was transferred to the 6th Battalion Yorkshire and Lancaster regiment to serve as a private with the service number 39885.
Robert served in France until 12 November 1918 before returning to England and being admitted to Wallasey Town Hall, Cheshire, which had been converted into a military hospital. He was suffering from “neurasthenia”, a term which was often used for shell shock. He was discharged to the reserve on 11 February 1919. At the time of this discharge, he is listed as serving the 3rd Battalion Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment.
A year after being discharged from the army Robert returned to teaching, becoming assistant master at Dean Bank Council Boys’ School in Ferryhill. He remained teaching here until moving to work as a head teacher at Thorton-Le-Fen Council School, near Boston in Lincolnshire in 1927. He was still working at this school at the time of the 1939 register. He was living with his wife Alice Dawson with the register suggesting they had at least one child.
Civil Parish: Durham St. Giles
Birth date: 18-Oct-1896
Death date: 1968
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 38 Corporation Road, Hartlepool (1901 census)
23 Bell Street, Hartlepool (1911 census)
West Auckland Road, Darlington (Service Records)
Gipsy Bridge, Boston, Lincolnshire (1939 Register)
Education: St Bede’s College, Durham 1915-1917
Religion: Church of England
Employment: Assistant Master: Dean Bank Council Boys’ School, Ferryhill 1920-1927
Head teacher: Thorton-Le-Fen Council School, near Boston, Lincolnshire, 1927
Family: Parents: John Robert Dawson, Emily Dawson nee Clatworthy
Siblings: John William Dawson
Wife: Alice E Dawson
Military service:
21st Battalion DLI
Private
Service Number 3601
6th Battalion Yorkshire and Lancaster Regiment
Private
Service Number 39885
Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal
Gender: Male
Contributed by Fiona Johnson - Durham
