Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Henry Dawson, a farm carter, born in the October quarter of 1868 in Upper Dean, Bedfordshire and baptised on the 22nd November 1868 in the Church of All Hallows, Dean (son of Robert Dawson, 1828-1870 and Susannah Elizabeth Sear, 1832-1884) and his wife Edith Emma Dawson (nee Ballard, married on the 18th September 1893 in the Church of St. James the Great, Birstall, Leicestershire), born on the 22nd October 1872 in Birstall and baptised on the 29th December 1872 in the Church of St. James the Great, Birstall (daughter of Joseph Ballard, 1837 and Sarah Smith, 1839). George Harry was born in in the April quarter of 1894 in Birstall, his siblings were, Susannah Elizabeth, born on the 29th September 1895, James Walter, born on the 15th April 1898 and Alice Sarah, born on the 23rd July 1900, all his siblings were born in Birstall, also residing with the family was an aunt, Susannah Smith, a boot trade machinist, born on the 19th August 1845 in Birstall and baptised on the 14th September 1845 in the Church of St. James the Great, Birstall (daughter of John Smith and Eunice Green), in March 1901 the family home was at Regent Cottages, Birstall.
In April 1911 George was employed as a garden labourer and was residing in the family home at 28, Main Street, Thurmaston, Leicestershire, together with his father, a farm waggoner, his mother and siblings, Susannah, a haberdashery stock room worker, James, a schoolboy, Alice, a schoolgirl, Cyril Alfred, born on the 21st August 1904 in Birstall and Edith Emma, born in the April quarter of 1910 in Thurmaston and baptised on the 5th June 1910 in the Church of St. Michael & All Angels, Thurmaston, also residing with the family was an aunt, Susannah Smith, a shoe trade machinist.
George married Nellie Warrington on the 13th July 1918 in the Church of St. Michael & All Angels, Belgrave, Leicester, Nellie was born on the 3rd May 1896 in Belgrave, Leicester and was baptised on the 4th October 1897 in the Church of St. Michael & All Angels, Belgrave (daughter of James Warrington, 1871 and Anna (Hannah) Barrow, 1872). George and Nellie resided at 30, Moores Road, Belgrave, Leicester.
George’s widow Nellie married Sydney Macdonald on the 17th April 1922 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave, Leicestershire.
MILITARY NOTE: No trace can be found of George having served overseas, he does not appear in the Medal Award Rolls, and his service record has not survived. In the Pension Records he is recorded to have served as a Gunner with the 7th Reserve Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (Territorial Force) and his cause of death is recorded as bronchial pneumonia contracted on active service.
George died on the 22nd January 1922 in the 5th Northern General Hospital, Leicester, his widow Nellie was nominated as his sole legatee.
On the 15th July 1919, George’s widow Nellie of 30, Moores Road, Belgrave, Leicester was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of thirteen shillings and nine pence commensurate on the 28th July 1919.
[recognitum I-XI-MMXXIII]