'Pot Hound' Dawson
Of all the soldiers our father and Uncle Jim served with during WWI, the only one that Don and I recall our father mentioning when we were growing up was 'Pot Hound' Dawson. Until his grandson contacted us, nearly a hundred years after our ancestors served in the 4th Trench Mortar Battery together in France, we never knew that Pot Hound's real name was Hubert, and his family never knew that their relative's nickname was 'Pot Hound'. Below is the initial correspondence between history professor Rick Meixsel and me. - Russ Mason
Hubert Dawson
|
Russ Mason & JMU Professor Rick Meixsel (Hubert
Dawson's grandson) in Harrisonburg, VA (June, 2021) |
May 2nd, 2014
Dear Mr. Mason:
This email is an inquiry about the late James Mason, whom I read about on your family website.
My late grandfather, H A Dawson, served in the 4-th Trench Mortar Battery during World War I. James Mason was supposedly the only fellow soldier with whom he kept in touch after the war. In 1977-1980, Mr. Mason wrote to my grandfather asking if he could recall some details about their wartime experiences, and my grandfather wrote several letters to Mr. Mason in response. (These letters also mention David Mason.)
Mr. Mason was supposedly planning to write something about the war. I do not know if he ever did so. I am writing to ask if you have the copies of the letters he sent to H A Dawson, and would you be willing to share them with me? I’d like to learn more about my grandfather’s experiences in World War I. I’d also like to learn more about their commanding officer, Captain Robert Ennis, with whose grandchildren I have been corresponding.
I’ve attached a copy of something James Mason wrote to one of my aunts. As you will read, he retained granddad’s original letters, but we’ve never seen Mr. Mason’s letters, nor whatever it is he ended up writing.
Sincerely,
Richard Meixsel
Charlottesville, Virginia
Dear Mr. Mason:
This email is an inquiry about the late James Mason, whom I read about on your family website.
My late grandfather, H A Dawson, served in the 4-th Trench Mortar Battery during World War I. James Mason was supposedly the only fellow soldier with whom he kept in touch after the war. In 1977-1980, Mr. Mason wrote to my grandfather asking if he could recall some details about their wartime experiences, and my grandfather wrote several letters to Mr. Mason in response. (These letters also mention David Mason.)
Mr. Mason was supposedly planning to write something about the war. I do not know if he ever did so. I am writing to ask if you have the copies of the letters he sent to H A Dawson, and would you be willing to share them with me? I’d like to learn more about my grandfather’s experiences in World War I. I’d also like to learn more about their commanding officer, Captain Robert Ennis, with whose grandchildren I have been corresponding.
I’ve attached a copy of something James Mason wrote to one of my aunts. As you will read, he retained granddad’s original letters, but we’ve never seen Mr. Mason’s letters, nor whatever it is he ended up writing.
Sincerely,
Richard Meixsel
Charlottesville, Virginia
May 2nd, 2014
Dear Richard,
How wonderful to hear from you about your grandfather's connection to our father Dave Mason and our Uncle Jim. I can recall when I was a child my father sometimes mentioning your grandfather, who he always referred to as 'Pot Hound' Dawson, so I've always been curious to know more about him. James Mason's three children are still living and may know something about James and Hubert's correspondence, but this afternoon I've written to a couple of their children, because I think they may be more likely to know whether the letters you're interested in have survived. I don't think that James ever got around to writing anything about the war, but I'd love to find out that I'm wrong bout that.
I have a large photograph of the 4th Trench Mortar Battery, and would be happy to share a copy of it with you if you don't have one yourself. Hopefully you can tell us which soldier was your grandfather.
Unfortunately, our father didn't talk about his war experiences very much (he died in 1974 when Don and I were in our early twenties). In fact, in the note that you attached from my Uncle Jim to your aunt, his mention that our dad was slightly wounded by a shell fragment is new information to us. I'm not certain whether you found us though ancestry.com or the family website we created last year to collect photos and stories about our family, but if it's the latter then perhaps you've already seen this letter that our father wrote to his mother describing their combat experience at St. Mihiel...
http://ourfamilyhistory1.weebly.com/david-masons-letters.html
You might also want to look at some photos we've posted on the website that our dad and uncle took. I wonder if your grandfather is in any of them?
Thanks so much for writing to us. We look forward to seeing more of what you have, and hope we'll be able to find and share those letters that you've mentioned.
All the best to you and your family,
Russ Mason
Nashville, TN
Dear Richard,
How wonderful to hear from you about your grandfather's connection to our father Dave Mason and our Uncle Jim. I can recall when I was a child my father sometimes mentioning your grandfather, who he always referred to as 'Pot Hound' Dawson, so I've always been curious to know more about him. James Mason's three children are still living and may know something about James and Hubert's correspondence, but this afternoon I've written to a couple of their children, because I think they may be more likely to know whether the letters you're interested in have survived. I don't think that James ever got around to writing anything about the war, but I'd love to find out that I'm wrong bout that.
I have a large photograph of the 4th Trench Mortar Battery, and would be happy to share a copy of it with you if you don't have one yourself. Hopefully you can tell us which soldier was your grandfather.
Unfortunately, our father didn't talk about his war experiences very much (he died in 1974 when Don and I were in our early twenties). In fact, in the note that you attached from my Uncle Jim to your aunt, his mention that our dad was slightly wounded by a shell fragment is new information to us. I'm not certain whether you found us though ancestry.com or the family website we created last year to collect photos and stories about our family, but if it's the latter then perhaps you've already seen this letter that our father wrote to his mother describing their combat experience at St. Mihiel...
http://ourfamilyhistory1.weebly.com/david-masons-letters.html
You might also want to look at some photos we've posted on the website that our dad and uncle took. I wonder if your grandfather is in any of them?
Thanks so much for writing to us. We look forward to seeing more of what you have, and hope we'll be able to find and share those letters that you've mentioned.
All the best to you and your family,
Russ Mason
Nashville, TN
May 3rd, 2014
Dear Russ,
Thanks very much for replying to my email. It was your "our family history website" that I came across. I did look at the photos on there but as far as I could tell, Grandpa did not appear to be in any of them. I will ask some cousins to look, too. Please do send a copy of the mortar battery photo.
You are welcome to copies of the letters, though presumably your cousins have the originals and much more along the same line, if their dad was gathering information for a book or article? Regrettably, the grandchildren of Capt Ennis, the battery commander (who died as a prisoner of war in the Philippines in 1943), know almost nothing of his military service.
"Pot Hound"? I had not heard that. Maybe he was the first in line at the chow hall? I'll share that with some cousins and grandpa's daughters (the oldest, age 92, and youngest, age 80, of his many children are still alive) and see if anyone knows how he got that nickname.
Thanks, again,
Richard Meixsel
Dear Russ,
Thanks very much for replying to my email. It was your "our family history website" that I came across. I did look at the photos on there but as far as I could tell, Grandpa did not appear to be in any of them. I will ask some cousins to look, too. Please do send a copy of the mortar battery photo.
You are welcome to copies of the letters, though presumably your cousins have the originals and much more along the same line, if their dad was gathering information for a book or article? Regrettably, the grandchildren of Capt Ennis, the battery commander (who died as a prisoner of war in the Philippines in 1943), know almost nothing of his military service.
"Pot Hound"? I had not heard that. Maybe he was the first in line at the chow hall? I'll share that with some cousins and grandpa's daughters (the oldest, age 92, and youngest, age 80, of his many children are still alive) and see if anyone knows how he got that nickname.
Thanks, again,
Richard Meixsel
May 5th, 2014
Hi Richard,
As it turned out, my brother had that mortar battery photo, and another panoramic one as well, which took him several hours to scan properly. But it's was definitely worth it, because now we can share them with everyone.
As you'll see, the smaller one has handwritten names under each soldier, none of which are obviously Dawson, though there is one Corporal to the left of our Uncle Jim who's listed as what looks more like "Cpl. Ranson"...or something like that. But perhaps you'll recognize your grandfather regardless of the labeling. If not, then maybe you'll spot him in the larger photo. Our Uncle Jim is in the back row of that one, the tall soldier ninth from the left, and our father 'Little Red' is also in the back row, fourth from the right.
I spoke to one of James' daughters over the weekend, but she didn't know anything about her father's correspondence with your grandfather. I'll keep asking his various descendants to see if one of them knows something more, or perhaps even has the letters we're hoping to locate. Meanwhile, we'd love to see what you have. If it's easier for you to send copies in the mail than scan them, here's my address:
Russ Mason
203 S. Wilson Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37205
Have you asked anyone in your family whether they knew that your grandfather's nickname was 'Pot Hound'? My vague recollection about it from my childhood is along the lines you suggested: First in the chow line, and probably willing to eat whatever they put in front of him, as well as anything somebody else didn't want to finish. I also suspect that your grandfather must have been a likable, memorable character, since he was the one soldier my father talked about (wish I could remember specifics, but that was over fifty years ago), and the one soldier that my Uncle Jim kept in touch with after the war.
I'll let you know what I'm able to find out in the coming weeks...
Russ
Hi Richard,
As it turned out, my brother had that mortar battery photo, and another panoramic one as well, which took him several hours to scan properly. But it's was definitely worth it, because now we can share them with everyone.
As you'll see, the smaller one has handwritten names under each soldier, none of which are obviously Dawson, though there is one Corporal to the left of our Uncle Jim who's listed as what looks more like "Cpl. Ranson"...or something like that. But perhaps you'll recognize your grandfather regardless of the labeling. If not, then maybe you'll spot him in the larger photo. Our Uncle Jim is in the back row of that one, the tall soldier ninth from the left, and our father 'Little Red' is also in the back row, fourth from the right.
I spoke to one of James' daughters over the weekend, but she didn't know anything about her father's correspondence with your grandfather. I'll keep asking his various descendants to see if one of them knows something more, or perhaps even has the letters we're hoping to locate. Meanwhile, we'd love to see what you have. If it's easier for you to send copies in the mail than scan them, here's my address:
Russ Mason
203 S. Wilson Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37205
Have you asked anyone in your family whether they knew that your grandfather's nickname was 'Pot Hound'? My vague recollection about it from my childhood is along the lines you suggested: First in the chow line, and probably willing to eat whatever they put in front of him, as well as anything somebody else didn't want to finish. I also suspect that your grandfather must have been a likable, memorable character, since he was the one soldier my father talked about (wish I could remember specifics, but that was over fifty years ago), and the one soldier that my Uncle Jim kept in touch with after the war.
I'll let you know what I'm able to find out in the coming weeks...
Russ
The recollections first shared by Hubert Dawson with James Mason between 1977 and 1980, and then shared by Rick Meixsel with our family in 2014, are available on the previous page.