Dowsett, George Thomas
Biographical
| Surname(s) | Dowsett |
|---|---|
| First name(s) | George Thomas |
| Date of birth | 22 October 1907 |
| Family details | Son of George and Emma Dowsett; husband of Edith C. Dowsett, of New Malden, Surrey. |
| Previous education | Woolwich Polytechnic |
| College | King's College London and/or King's College London Hospital |
| Dates at college | 1927-1930 |
| Dept / course | Faculty of Arts |
| Qualifications | B.A. |
| Military unit | The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey), 1/5th Bn. |
| Service number | 6105783 |
| War / conflict | World War Two (1939-1945) |
| Date of death | 14/11/1942 |
| Age at death | 35 |
| Rank at death | Lance Corporal |
| Cause of death | POW in North Africa – subsequently killed by R.N. action during transfer to Italy |
| Commemoration(s) | King’ s College Chapel, Alamein Memorial; Roll of the Fallen, University of London O.T.C. & S.T.C. |
| Notes | Letter from his widow, living at 19 Glebe Gardens, New Malden, Surrey dated 23 September 1946:
Dear Mr. Lister I would like to thank you so very much for your kind message of sympathy regarding the loss of my husband, George T. Dowsett. My husband was in the Queen’s Royal Regt, was lance-corporal & was presumed killed on Nov 14th ’42. I do hope the undermentioned details regarding his very short period in the Forces is what you require. My husband was “called up” on Jan,. 8th ’42, sent abroad May 24th ’42 arrived in Egypt early Aug and within a fortnight was fighting with the 8th army and doing patrol work. On Sept. 30th ’42 in a battle at Alamein he was taken prisoner. On Nov. 14th ’42 the Italian ship it is presumed he was on, with 800 other P.O.W. was torpedoed and sunk by one of our own submarines. His son, Christopher, was born the month after he was killed. Perhaps, one day, Christopher will enter King’s College & will feel proud to see his father’s name on the Roll of Honour, perhaps this will be a consolation to him for it appears, that, once a man has given his life for his country he is forgotten, his child not only loses his father but also the means to feed, clothe & give him a good education.. I’m sorry to bore you with this but life makes me too bitter. I really do appreciate your sympathy and am so pleased that someone has remembered my husband. Yours truly Edith C. Dowsett |
| Sources | King’ s College London Archives, Commonwealth War Graves Commission |