James Telford Dobson was born in Ballarat and was a Farmer by trade when he enlisted in the 24th Battalion, 18th Reinforcement on 9 July 1916 at the age of 20. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 23 November 1916. He was initially attached to the 24th Battalion then transferred to the 6th Light Trench Mortar Battery in France in June 1917. In early October 1918 he was wounded in action and was evacuated to the Reading War Hospital in England suffering from ægas shell poisoning, severe'. He was returned to Australia on the Royal Mail Steamer Karmala and discharged as æmedically unfit – gas burns'.
Tree No 1218