An India General Service Medal 1895-1902, 2 Clasps: Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 awarded to Lance Corporal C. Dobson, 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry who saw service during the Punjab Frontier operations which lasted from 10th June 1897 until 6th April 1898 as well as the operations with the Tirah Field Force. Later serving during the Boer War he would be wounded in the action at Magersfontein on 12th December 1899. Having been discharged, he would re-join for the Great War seeing service with the West Yorkshire Regiment and Royal Defence Corps, being awarded a Meritorious Service Medal on 22nd February 1919.
India General Service Medal 1895-1902, 2 Clasps: Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98; (4448 Lce Corpl. C. Dobson, 2nd Bn. K.O. Yorks Lt Infy.)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Charles Dobson saw service as a Private (No. 4448) with the 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry during the Punjab Frontier operations which lasted from 10th June 1897 to 6th April 1898 as well as the operations with the Tirah Field Force, and would subsequently be present in South Africa during the Boer War and was present in the actions at Belmont and at Modder River, being wounded on 12th December 1899 during the fighting Magersfontein. The Battle of Magersfontein was fought on 11 December 1899, at Magersfontein, near Kimberley, South Africa, on the borders of the Cape Colony and the independent republic of the Orange Free State. British forces under Lieutenant General Lord Methuen were advancing north along the railway line from the Cape to relieve the siege of Kimberley, but their path was blocked at Magersfontein by a Boer force that was entrenched in the surrounding hills. The British had already fought a series of battles with the Boers, most recently at Modder River, where the advance was temporarily halted.
Lord Methuen failed to perform adequate reconnaissance in preparation for the impending battle and was unaware that Boer Vecht-generaal (Combat General) De la Rey had entrenched his forces at the foot of the hills, rather than the forward slopes, as was the accepted practice. That allowed the Boers to survive the initial British artillery bombardment, and when the British troops failed to deploy from a compact formation during their advance, the defenders inflicted heavy casualties. The Highland Brigade suffered the worst casualties, and on the Boer side, the Scandinavian Corps was destroyed. The Boers attained a tactical victory and succeeded in holding the British in their advance on Kimberley. The battle was the second of three battles during what became known as the Black Week of the Second Boer War: Stormberg on Sunday 10 December, Magersfontein on Monday 11 December and Colenso on Friday 15 December 1899.
Dobson would subsequently return to the UK and would be discharge to Section D Army Reserve on 6th November 1919.
Recalled for the Great War he joined the West Yorkshire Regiment on 4th September as a Private (No. 8250) being promoted to Colour Sergeant on 16th November 1914. Subsequently transferred to the Royal Defence Corps on 29th April 1916, serving with 154th Company. He would be promoted Acting Company Serjeant Major on 7th July 1916 and was appointed paid Acting Regimental Serjeant Major on 10th February 1919.
He would receive a Meritorious Service Medal on 22nd February 1919 being finally discharged on 26th December 1919.