Dawlish World War One Project

Enlistment records do not survive for Arthur George Dodge but it may be assumed that he was conscripted into the Royal Field Artillery. The 1086th Battery was one of the units of the 215th (CCXV) Brigade which was engaged in actions in Mesopotamia, as part of the Indian Army.

Various actions of The Mesopotamian campaign include: The capture of Tikrit, 5 November 1917.

In the Mesopotamia campaign more died of sickness than were killed in action. The manner of Dodge’s death is not known. The Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects often indicates the cause but none is shown here.

Arthur George Dodge was the son of Walter and Anne Dodge and the grand-son of John and Elizabeth Dodge. John (1822- ) was born in Kenton and Elizabeth (1821- ) was born in Spreyton.

They were living in Middlewood (Cofton parish) in 1871 and John had died by the next census in 1881.

Walter Henry Dodge (1858-1916 ) was born in Cofton and Annie Paddon (1865-1942 ) came from Iddesleigh. They married in the June quarter of 1890 (GRO ref N.A. vol 5b, p221). In 1891 they had their first child, Edith Mary (1891- ), and Walter’s widowed mother Elizabeth was living with them.
In 1901 they were living at Middlewood Cottages and Walter Henry Dodge was a market gardener. They had four children, born in Cofton.

A neice, Dorcas Dodge, (1878- ) was living with them as “Mother’s help”, and a brother-in-law, Bertie Paddon (1889- ) was also listed in the household.

The family had grown by 1911 when they are shown to have had six children, one of whom had died by the date of the census and that must have been P.A.Elizabeth, because the five survivors are listed in the household of Walter and Anne at Middlewood as:

Edith Mary Dodge (1891- ) single

Arthur George Dodge (1893-1917) single, working as market gardener

Walter Percival Valentine Dodge (1899- ) scholar

Lionel John Dodge (1902- ) “

Leonard Edward Dodge (1903- ) “

A neice, Mary Dodge (1890 -) is shown as a domestic servant, and Bertie Paddon, brother-in-law is now working in the market garden with Ralph Brooks (1891- ) who appears to be from a local (Cofton) family.