William Ernest Dawson was accidentally killed on this day in 1918
William was born in Newport on 2 June 1894, the son of William Frederick Dawson (a Timber Importer) and Margaret (née Simkin) of Llantarnam Hall (now Rougemont School) near Newport.
At the 1901 Census, when William was 6 years old, he was at home with his parents, his 4 siblings, a niece and aunt, 2 visitors (timber merchants) and 4 servants. They were living in the large Victorian mansion of Llantarnam Hall in 50 acres of land.
William was educated at the Priory School, Malvern, Charterhouse and Guilds Engineering College in London.
At the 1911 Census, when he was 16 years old, he was unwell in the Sanatorium at Charterhouse School.
In September 1914, he was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery.
From early in 1915, he served in France and Flanders, then proceeded to Egypt in November 1915 and was attached to the Royal Flying Corps in the summer of 1916.
After a period of training at Salisbury Plain, he was again sent to France. He was wounded in aerial action at Ypres and invalided back to England.
On recovering, he was posted to Worthy Down Camp, Winchester where he was killed on 16 September 1918 as a result of an aeroplane accident.
He was buried at Malpas Churchyard, Monmouthshire.
Captain William Ernest Dawson, 4th Welsh Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, attached to the Royal Air Force