DOBREE, GEORGE, Lieutenant, was born
10 May 1873, at St Andrew's Rectory, Guernsey, son of the Reverend Henry
Lissignol Dobree, BA, late Rector of St Andrew's, Guernsey, and of Amelia,
daughter of the Reverend Peter Carey, MA, sometime Rector of St Saviour's,
Guernsey. He was left an orphan at the age of six, and was educated at King
William's College, Isle of Man, and at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich,
which he entered straight from school; but owing to
circumstances he resigned his cadetship and went to the Continent to study
modern languages. Returning to England in 1893, he entered Caius College,
Cambridge, and obtained a third-class in the Modern Languages Tripos in 1896.
Throughout his Cambridge career, 1893-96, he was a very keen and enthusiastic
member of the Cambridge University Rifle Volunteers, and when Captain of C
Troop raised it to a high state of efficiency. It was inspected by King
Edward (then Prince of Wales) in May 1896. After leaving Cambridge he studied
for the Guernsey Bar at Caen University, and volunteered, while a student
there, for the South African War. He joined Paget's Horse, January 1900 as
Corporal in the first section of the first company, and on arrival in South
Africa was gazetted to Kitchener's Horse, as Lieutenant, 12 May 1900, and took
part in the engagements at Klipriversdorp, Six Mile Spruit and Diamond Hill.
On 12 June, 1900, he was appointed ADC to Lieutenant Colonel Legge, DSO, 6th
Mounted Infantry Corps, and served in the operations in the Orange Free State
against De Wet. Returning to the Transvaal, the Corps became attached to the
Column under General Clements, and took part in the action at Doornkloof. On
13 December 1900, at Nooitgedacht, the camp was surprised in the early morning
by Delarey, and Colonel Legge and other officers killed and wounded.
Lieutenant Dobree assisted Colonel Legge to reinforce the piquets under heavy
fire continuously (this appears in the 'Times History of the War', page 96),
and helped materially in initiating and facilitating the safe retirement of
the Column. It was for gallantry in this action that he received his DSO
[London Gazette, 31 October 1902]: "George Dobree, Lieutenant, South African
Mounted Irregular Forces. In recognition of services during the operations in
South Africa". He was invested by King Edward. After further service under
General French he was recommended for leave, and returned to England in
January 1901. In addition to the DSO he received mention in Lord Kitchener's
Despatch of 9 March, 1901, published in the London Gazette of 7 May 1901, and
received the Queen's Medal with clasps for Wittebergen, Diamond Hill,
Johannesburg and Cape Colony. During his residence in Guernsey he became an
enthusiastic officer in the Guernsey Militia Artillery, obtaining the rank of
Captain. He died in Guernsey 20 July 1907. Captain Dobree was a keen
sportsman and an accomplished musician. He played the violin, piano and
organ, but his chief forte was as a conductor. He was conductor of the
Guernsey Orchestral Society. He was one of the founders of the Stade
Franchise, RUFC, and arranged for their first visit to Cambridge in 1894.
