Name
George Alfred Dobbs
Conflict
Second World War
Date of Death / Age
22/07/1944
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
14346844
Royal Artillery
323 Bty., 94 Lt. A.A. Regt.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY
VIII. F. 15.
France
Headstone Inscription
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Royal British Legion Plaque, Payne’s Park, Hitchin, St. Mark’s Church Memorial, Hitchin, Hitchin Roll of Honour 1939 – 1945 (Book) St Mary’s Church, Hitchin
Biography
He joined up in November 1942 having been employed as foreman plumber at Messrs S. G. Docking of Letchworth. Previously he had been apprenticed to F. Newton of Hitchin. He was also an Assistant Scoutmaster at St. Mary's Scout Troop and a member of Toc-H. He was described as a good and cheery companion.
His Service Number was 14346844 and he was in 323 Battery of the 94th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment which was part of the Guards Armoured Division in VIII Corps. His death came about six weeks after the landings in Normandy towards the end of Operation ‘Goodwood’ southeast of Caen in the Cagny area near Ranville. This operation was designed to help the British and Canadian forces to break out of Normandy to the east and they were assisted by some very heavy bombing.
He is buried in Ranville War Cemetery, France in Plot 8, Row F, Grave 15 and his headstone bears the additional private inscription "Greater love hath no man than this".
He had lived with his wife Hilda Marjorie at 155, Bedford Rd, Hitchin and he was the eldest son of Laban George and Gertrude Augusta Dobbs of the same address. He had been married for five years, and the couple had no children.
Additional Information
CWGC records his name as Alfred George Dobbs
Acknowledgments
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, Paul Johnson - local historian, ‘Victory in the West’ by L.F. Ellis, ‘Orders of Battle 1939-1945’ by H.F. Joslen, Herts & Beds Express dated 5th Aug 1944
