Description

Offered is a 1914/15 Star, impressed named 2148 PTE. W. J. DOBSON. 6/BN. A.I.F.

Sergeant William John Dobson a native of Benalla, Victoria, attested for the Australian Imperial Force 20/4/1915 and served with the 6th Infantry Battalion at Gallipoli from 8/8/915, hospital with frost bite 5/12/1915, subsequently transferred to ‘A’ Coy of the 58th Infantry Battalion. He died of wounds at Fromelles, France on 20th July 1916, and is buried in Estaires Communal Cemetery, France.

Having only arrived in France on 23 June 1916, the 58th Battalion became embroiled in its first major battle on the Western Front at Fromelles on 19 July. The battle was a disaster. The 58th had the dual role of providing carrying parties and a reserve force. The reserve force (approximately half of the battalion) was ordered to attack late in the battle and was virtually annihilated by machine-gun fire; as a whole, the 58th suffered casualties equal to almost a third of its strength.