Frederick William Dobson

Who was Frederick William Dobson?

Frederick William Dobson was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Dobson was 27 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, British Army during the First World War when the following deed at the First Battle of the Aisne took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 28 September 1914 at Chavonne, Aisne, France, Private Dobson twice volunteered to go out under heavy fire to bring in two wounded men. This undertaking involved crossing a good deal of open ground in full view of the enemy. Private Dobson, however, crawled out and found one of the men dead and the other wounded. He dressed the wounds and then crawled back, to return with a corporal and a stretcher, on to which they put the wounded man and then dragged him back to safety.

He later achieved the rank of lance-corporal. His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Guards Regimental Headquarters, Wellington Barracks in London.