This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who died during The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread. Gareth Dobbs, George Eric Burroughs Legion d’Honneur, played for England Internationals: 2: 1906 W- I- George Dobbs was born on 21 July 1884, the son of Joseph and Mary Dobbs. A native of Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny. Played as a Forward for: St Stephen’s Green School Dublin, Shrewsbury School, Royal Military Academy Woolwich, Plymouth Albion, Devonport Albion, Llanelli, Royal Engineers, The Army, Barbarians, Devon Profession: The Army Remarks: Captain Shrewsbury School football XI. Played for Barbarians: v Penarth (0-5) v Cardiff (0-38) in 1905. Played for the Officers of the Army v the Officers of the Royal Navy in February 1907 (14-15). War service: Lieutenant, Temporary Captain from 22 November 1914, later Major (brevet Lieutenant Colonel) Royal Engineers. Served at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914. Awarded Legion d’Honneur. Mentioned in Despatches three times. He died of wounds on 17 June 1917, at Poperinghe, and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinghe, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium [XIII. A. 5.].
Photos and an obituary available on the black sheep index !! http://www.blacksheepindex.co.uk/GREATWAR Dic-Dys.pdf
In Memory of Lieutenant Colonel GEORGE ERIC DOBBS Signal Corps (A.D. Sigs.), Royal Engineers who died age 32 on 17 June 1917 Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. Son of Joseph and Mary Dobbs, of The Chalet, Temple Rd., Dublin. Native of Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny. Remembered with honour LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY ROYAL ENGINEERS. The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets, from the Royal Military Academy, to be Second Lieu- tenants. Dated 23rd March, 1904 :— George Eric Burroughs Dobbs. John Phillips Rhodes. Percy Upnor Johnson. Philip Henry Sharpe THE LONDON GAZETTE, MARCH 22, 1904. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=dobbs&GScid=1992241&GRid=10773199&
