Private Thomas Dobson
The background of this man is not known at present.
Thomas Dobson enlisted in the Hussars of the Line prior to the war (No.8042) and was posted to the 3rd (King's Own) Hussars. He embarked for France with his regiment on 16 August 1914.
In September 1917, as part of a general reduction in the size of the cavalry, a number of men of the 3rd Hussars left the regiment. The war diary of 15 September records that:
56 other ranks of the regiment proceeded by rail from Hesdin to the Rouen Base for transfer to Infantry on the reduction of the 100 dismounted men allowed to Cavalry regiments.
Between twenty-eight and thirty-four of these men, including Dobson, were transferred to the North Irish Horse, joining the 1st (NIH) Regiment in the field on 11 October. Dobson was issued regimental number 2719.
In February-March 1918 the regiment, which had been serving as corps cavalry to V Corps, was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit. This meant a 25 per cent reduction in the regiment's numbers. It is probable that Dobson was one of those transferred out, joining the 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars in April.
On 7 February 1919 Dobson was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.