Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Civil Division, O.B.E.; British War Medal (CHARLES DOBSON); Mercantile Marine War Medal (CHARLES DOBSON); 1939-45 Star - unnamed as awarded
Interned during the fall of Norway and again after the failure of the second Gothenburg Convoy having volunteered to serve with it despite being in his sixties
He was awarded the O.B.E. in the London Gazette 16 October 1945 for Gallantry and Initiative in Hazardous Circumstances.
Charles Dobson was born on 16 March 1883 at Hartlepool, Durham, the son of Charles Dobson Senior. He was married in Hartlepool to Winnifred Hobbin before the war. He served in the Merchant Navy and was a Chief Engineer during the Great War serving aboard S.S. War Jackdaw in July 1918.
When WWII broke out he served in the Merchant Navy once again. On 9 April 1940 he was aboard the S.S. Romanby as it loaded Iron Ore in Narvik, Norway. An account from his diary quoted in the Liverpool Echo, 1 May 1940, states:
'April 9 - Just going to load at 5 a.m. German destroyers entered harbour. Three additional German destroyers landed troops. Took charge of harbour. Came swarming aboard our five ships.
We were all lined up on deck, arrested and taken ashore about five o'clock that afternoon to a school. Slept on floor without blankets.
April 10.- About 5 p.m. five British destroyers entered the port, and a great naval battle took place, Several Merchant ships which the Germans had anchored in front of their destroyers as protection were blown out of the water by the British destroyers
Two German Destroyers were sunk. Our ships was sent to the bottom as well as the other four merchant ships. That day we were moved from the school to Iris Cafe, right on the waterfront. German marines were put in charge of us.'
His account continues noting air raids on 12-13 April resulting in three German destroyers sunk as well as a bombardment of the shore by British ships. It was decided to inter the British crews in Sweden and on 23 April, Dobson was one of those who endured a 36 mile march through a blizzard to their place of confinement. Despite being in his sixties at the time Dobson survived to be repatriated, although he did suffer from frostbite to both his hands and feet. He continued to operate in the Baltic despite this experience and was one of the crewmen at Gothenburg in March 1942 who volunteered to bring a convoy of merchant vessels to Britain. There odds were slim and the convoy were intercepted by German Warships. The official report states:
'The "Gudvang made a very spirited attempt to break out from the Skagerrak and was sailing for 22 hours before she was overhauled and forced to blow herself up'
Dobson had volunteered to serve as Chief Engineer aboard the S.S. Gudvang and was again interned. The official report does credit to his bravery, stating:
'Mr. Dobson gave particularly helpful and exemplary service. In spite of being an elderly man he gladly assumed responsibility in this hazardous operation, the risks of which he fully appreciated. All these Officers volunteered to run the enemy blockade knowing that the enemy were fully aware of the proposed operation and had, in view of the success of a previous similar operation, taken exceptional counter measures. Although the ships were unsuccessful in running the blockade, it was due to the determination and co-operation of these Officers that the ships were prevented from falling into the hands of the enemy.'
Their situation was not improved by the captains of several of the ships including the Gudvang scuttling their charges to prevent the resources falling into German hands. Taken to Camp Milag, Bremen, not all of Dobson's compatriots were able to last the rough conditions with his skipper, Captain Nicholson dying of disease. They were liberated in May 1944 by an elements of the Welsh and Scots Guards.
Returning to Hartlepool Dobson lived at 170 Durham Street, West Hartlepool. He was visiting his son on 27 February 1948 at 5 Welldeck Gardens, Hartlepool, when he suffered a heart attack and died.
Sold with some copied research.
