Personnel Index - Detail
In the North or far left-hand corner.
The present day CWGC headstone.
Sgt Dobbie used to have a private memorial.
Picture courtesy of Barry Cuttell
On the 15th July 1918 Sgt Dobbie received a wound to his head whilst an Observer in a DH9 serial D2872.
The DH9 was hit by AA fire near Montmort during an Observer orientation flight.
The pilot, Lt C.C Conover was uninjured.
Sgt Dobbie died of his wounds on the 23rd July 1918 and is buried in the communal cemetery at St Martin d'Ablois, Marne........near Épernay.
A resident of the village reports that there was a military hospital in the area.....this would explain the location of his burial.
Additional information from Russell MacGillivray:
Date of birth.......11/11/1892
Address.............Hopedale, Larbert.
Educated...........Falkirk High School; Stewart’s College, Edinburgh (a fee-paying school, now known as Stewart’s Melville)
Occupation........Bank Clerk
28/05/1917........served as a Private with "Inns of Court" Officer Training Corps No: 11375
12/11/1917........fit for Military Service in the Royal Flying Corps.
22/11/1917........examined for fitness as a pilot but graded fit as Observer.
11/02/1918........recommended to become a Non-Commissioned Officer in Royal Flying Corps.
The location of his burial and date of death indicate that he was killed during the Allied response to "Operation Friedensturm" when the Squadron has just moved to Rozay-en-Brie