A Sunderland Digger's Australian Imperial Force, 'Gallipoli' Killed-in-Action medal group of 3 for night attack at Battle of Leane's Trench, 31 July - 1 August, 1915. Private John Mitchell Dawson, 11th Battalion Australian Imperial Force

- 1914-15 Star: 1065 Pte. J. H. Dawson. 11/Bn. A.I.F.
- British War Medal. Silver issue: 1065 Pte. J. H. Dawson. 11-Bn. A.I.F.
- Interallied Victory Medal: 1065 Pte. J. H. Dawson. 11-Bn. A.I.F.

Killed-in-Action Gallipoli: No.1065 Private John Mitchell Dawson, 11th Battalion Australian Imperial Force is confirmed having been killed-in-action in a night attack on Ottoman Turkish trenches at Gallipoli, on 1 August 1915.

The body of John Mitchell Dawson were recovered from the battlefield, and he now lies buried with his fallen comrades in Turkey. The memory of the life and supreme sacrifice of Private John Mitchell Dawson, 11th Battalion Australian Imperial Force is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at the Shell Green Cemtery, where he lies buried

Medals Verification: The recipient's entitlement to all 3 x medals is confirmed in his extant service papers which are held and accessible at the National Archives of Australia

John Mitchell Dawson was the second son of Edward Dawson (a Foreman Marine Engineer Fitter) and Mary Jane Dawson (nee Mitchell) was a native of Sunderland, Co. Durham, England, where he was born in 1888. John was the youngest of seven children born to his parents, of which he had one older brother and five elder sisters. John migrated to Australia sometime prior to 1911, and in 1914, was employed as an 'Engineer' at Blackboy Hill, Western Australia. John enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 17 September 1914, and was posted to his local Western Australia infantry battalion, viz 11th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, Australian Imperial Force. On 2 March 1915, John embarked in Australia on the H.M.T. 'Suffolk' via Alexandria, Egypt for destination 'Gallipoli Peninsula' He was killed in action on 1 August 1915, during the Battle of Leane's Trench, a night attack fought during the evening of 31 July -1 August 1915

Battle of Leane's Trench: Was fought on the evening of 31 July / 01 Augus 1915: On the evening of the 31st and morning of the 1st August 1915, the 11th Battalion launched a night attack on the Turkish Trenches. The attack was to be initiated by 4 mines being blown under the enemy trenches some 30 yards away, two of the mines went off as planned which left the attackers with the problem of waiting for the other two to blow or to attack and risk being killed by their own mines. As more and more Turks were starting to recover from the initial shock of the explosion the decision was made to proceed. The trenches were taken at the point of the bayonetted and held against the Turkish counter attacks. The Australians were at great disadvantage due to the lack of hand grenades. Private John Dawson was one of the 36 Australians killed, another 73 being wounded. The fallen were buried at 'Shell Green'. Recommended reading ‘Game to the last’ The 11th Australian Infantry Battalion at Gallipoli, which devotes an entire chapter to the night battle

Condition: Mostly EF

Code: 24948