'Corporal James L. Dawson V.C.', 1915

Cigarette card published by Gallaher Limited, Belfast and Liverpool, Number 91 from the 4th series of the 'The Great War Victoria Cross Heroes' series; a set of 200 cigarette cards, 1915.

On the obverse, a portrait of James Lennox Dawson (1891-1967), Royal Engineers, wearing his Victoria Cross. On the reverse a summary of the act of gallantry that resulted in his award, 'Corpl. J. L. Dawson, V.C. (Royal Engineers) won this honour at Hohenzollern Redoubt on Oct. 13th, 1915. During a gas attack he walked along the top of the trenches under heavy fire, to direct his sappers. He rolled three leak-ing gas cylinders away from the trenches and shot holes in them to let the gas escape. He saved many from being gassed'.

The Hohenzollern Redoubt was a German defensive position at Auchy-les-Mines on the Loos front in France. Consisting of old slag heaps and mine shafts, it witnessed heavy fighting during the Battle of Loos in September-October 1915 and again in March 1916.

James Dawson rose from the ranks, eventually becoming a colonel. He served with the Army Education Corps after World War One and transferred to the Indian Army Ordnance Corps in 1931.

Cigarette cards were produced from the mid 1870s until the end of World War Two (1939-1945). Used to strengthen thin cigarette packs the cards were quickly developed into advertising devices. Series of cards covering every conceivable subject, from sportsmen to flora and fauna, were produced to encourage collectors and potential smokers alike.