54611: Photograph of the commemorative silk "memento" sent to my great grandmother.

My father found this with his mothers possessions when he cleared her house out. It was in a little brass coloured "Christmas 1914" tin. The silk is in poor condition but most of it can still be read. I assume it was sent by the government forces to my great grandmother a little time after her son had been killed. I believe she lost three sons in the First World War.

Editor's Comment:
A private silk memorial keepsake, including photograph of Pte. Dobson in full dress. He wears the Queens South Africa medal with four bars, indicating that he was a veteran of the Boer War.

Pte. 6426 Harry Dobson, 1st Bn. Cheshire Regiment, died on 9th March 1915 according to Commonwealth War Graves Commission records (10th March according to the Silk), and is buried in the Ramparts Cemetery, Lille Gate, Ypres. The discrepancy between the dates of death of the memorial silk and official records may be explained by the 1st Bn. being heavily engaged in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle as part of the 5th Division on the 10th March, and records becoming confused in the upheaval. As Pte. Dobson is buried at Ypres, it seems likely that he was brought back wounded from the engagement and subsequently died in a Casualty Clearing Station.