Dawlish World War One Project

We know that Frank Samuel Dart enlisted at Plymouth and that may have been soon after the outbreak of war.

12.05.1916 Joined the 14th Indian Division which engaged in various actions as part of The Mesopotamian campaign including;
Advance to the Hai and capture of the Khudaira Bend, Capture of the Hai Salient, Capture of Sannaiyat, Second Battle of Kut, Passage of the Tigris, Fall of Baghdad (1917), Passage of the ‘Adhaim, Action of the Shatt al Adhaim, Second action of Jabal Hamrin, Third action of Jabal Hamrin.
Once British interests in the oilfields had been secured, it was decided to consolidate our position by moving along the river banks to Baghdad which ultimately fell in 1917 but not without bloodshed. The Germans tried to foster a Jihad or holy war against the British forces and Turkey itself offered strong resistance to these incursions into its Empire.

Sept 1917 Moved to Amara to defend the Lines of Communication of the Tigris Defences.

It is not clear how or when Private Frank Samuel Dart was taken ill or wounded and brought back to Britain. The press reports show that he had “a long and painful illness” and had been treated at Moorlands Hospital, Manchester. He died there and was brought home to Dawlish for burial in the cemetery.

See Documents, below for further detail.

Frank Samuel Dart was the son of a well known fishmonger and the grand-son of a Dawlish farm worker, Robert Dart.

Robert and Anna Maria Dart had eight children and lived for many years in Park Row. Robert Dart was born in Dawlish ca 1828 and his wife Anna Maria (1832- ) came from Dartmouth. Their family comprised:

John Dart 1851-1909 born Dawlish father of Frank Samuel

Robert Dart 1853- “

William Dart 1855- “

Ann Maria Dart 1857- “ a.k.a. Hannah

Henry Dart 1865- “

Frederick James Dart 1868- “

Emily Louisa Dart 1872- “

John Dart married Mary Jane Woodrow (1854-1918) in the St Thomas district in Apr-June 1871. Mary Jane Woodrow was the daughter of William and Anna Woodrow of Dawlish. William was a naval pensioner and Mary Jane was born in East Stonehouse (now Plymouth).

John Dart was a well known fishmonger/ fish merchant in Dawlish.

John and Mary Jane Dart’s family included:

Henry James Woodrow 1869- born to Mary Jane Woodrow, father unknown

Ned Dart ca 1875 born Dawlish

Frederick John Dart 1876-1929 “

Alice (Maud) Dart 1877- born Dawlish

John Dart 1880- “

William Dart 1882- born Dawlish

Percy (Edward?) Dart 1884- “

Elizabeth (Lizzy) Dart 1886- “

Frank Samuel Dart 1893-1917 “

The census of 1911 show Frank Samuel Dart, 18, boarding with Martha Smith in Coventry where he was an apprentice engine fitter (motor cars). Other engine fitters were also boarding there.

See greater detail in Documents, a life story.