I have been contacted by Alcwyn Howells who is the son of Arthur Dobbs’ sister, Florence Winifred. He informs me that some detail included into the Military and CWGC records may not be accurate. Previously this page included those inaccuracies, but, with the information provided by Mr Howells, I have been able to amend some information. [Updated 1st June 2008]

Arthur Henry Dobbs was the eldest child to William and Jessie Quick. Arthur was born in Pontypridd, Glamorgan in 1892.

He had a sister, Florence Winifred who was a year younger than Arthur. Alcwyn Howells tells me that his mother married a Jonathan David Howells who himself was in the Welsh Guards during the First World War, having joined in 1915. When he heard that Arthur had been killed, he gave up his home leave in order to search the area for his grave. He did not find it.

Alcwyn tells me that William’s wife died in childbirth when Florence was born and that William re-married, to a cousin of Jessie, a Sarah Jenks. Through this marriage, Elizabeth was born, her being seven years younger than Arthur.

Following Arthur’s death during the War, his widow, Annie also re-married, to an Arthur Burrows, who, in World War Two served in the Pioneer Corps.

Alcwyn tells me that Arthur Burrows annoyed family members when he wore Arthur Dobbs’ war medals during an armistice parade.

Around the turn of the 20th Century, the Dobbs family lived at 120 Hafod Road, Hafod in the Rhondda (I believe the village is now known as Trehafod)

William Dobbs had no doubt travelled from his home area of Gloucester purely to work in the coal mines as a coal hewer. Sarah on the other hand had travelled from her birthplace of Cardiff.

Like many families that worked in general labour duties in the coal mines, the Dobbs’ accommodated a lodger, Charles Simmonds who also worked in the coal mines.

At the time that the latest available census data was collected, there was a Florence Quick shown as living with William at Fell Street, Treharris. Alcwyn informs me that she would have been his mother’s Aunt Florrie, a sister to Arthur Dobbs’ mother Jessie, and would probably have been staying there when the census information was compiled.

Alcwyn has informed me that he has more family information and photographs too.

News:

August 12^th 1916

Reported killed

Mrs Dobbs, High Street, Nelson has received a letter from France stating that her husband, Private Arthur Dobbs, 34493, 10^th Welsh Regiment was killed in action on 12^th July 1916. Accompanying the letter were a number of Private Dobbs’ personal effects.
Private Dobbs is a son-in-law of Mr Walter Daunton, G.W.R. cartage agent, and formerly worked at Treharris Colliery.

[Source: Merthyr Express]