Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Biography -
- Bernard Dabell -

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY PRESS

Saturday 7 November 1914

ISLANDER IN NEW ZEALAND FRONTIERS-MEN FOR THE FRONT
Mr. Bernard Dabell, son of Mr. Charles Dabell, of Blackgang, is serving in the Legion of Frontiersmen, a fine intelligence corps of the New Zealand Command, and the whole command have offered their services at the Front, finding their own horses, saddlery, and equipment, and a part of the ammunition.

Isle of Wight County Press, Saturday, September 18 1915

[obituary]

MR CHARLES DABELL'S BEREAVEMENT
SERGT. BERNARD DABELL DIES OF WOUNDS
The sad sequel to the receipt of a telegram, conveying "bad news" of his soldier son, by Mr. Charles Dabell, J.P., whilst presiding at the Rural District Council on Thursday, was made known later in the day, when it was announced that the following cablegram had been received by Mr. and Mrs. Dabell from Wellington, New Zealand :
"Regret to advise you cable received today that your son Sergt. Bernard Dabell, died of wounds August 24th. Please accept my sincerest sympathy in the loss that you and New Zealand have suffered. - J. Allan, Minister of Defence."
Sergt. Bernard Dabell had been fighting in Gallipoli for a considerable time with the New Zealand force, and was last heard of by his parents at Beauchops, Anzac, Gallipoli. He was the younger son of Mr. Charles Dabell, and brother of Mr. C. Morris Dabell of Newport, and his age was 27. After serving an apprenticeship with the well-known engineering firm of Lankester's, Southampton, he emigrated to Australia, and most interesting articles by him on sheep farming, &c, in the Antipodes appeared in this paper. He afterwards went to New Zealand, where he was about to start sheep farming on his own account last year, but on the outbreak of war he joined the Otago Mounted Rifles, with whom he went to Egypt and then to Gallipoli. Prior to the war he was member of the League of Frontiersmen in New Zealand, and he was seen in the Isle of Wight in the uniform of that corps not many months before the outbreak of war. On returning to New Zealand he married, and the greatest sympathy is felt with the young widow and his parents and other relatives in the loss of one whom his many Island friends remember with feelings of pride and admiration as in every way worthy of association with the splendidly patriotic overseas Britons, in whose ranks he has laid down his promising life for King, country and Empire.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, December 3, 1915 Page 4

Mr. Charles Dabell, J.P., of Blackgang, chairman of the Isle of Wight Rural District Council, has recently received news of the death of his son, Sergeant Bernard Dabell, of the New Zealand (Otago) Mounted Rifles, who succumbed to wounds received in the Anzac fighting, in which the Colonials took such a distinguished part. Sergeant Dabell, although very unwell, persisted in returning to duty before he had fully recovered. He was severely wounded in the leg, died on his way from Gallipoli on a hospital ship, and was buried at sea. The day before he was wounded he was offered and accepted promotion to a commission in an English regiment for his distinguished service in the field.