George Eric Burroughs Dobbs (21 July 1884 – 17 June 1917) was an Irish-born international rugby union player for England (2 caps as a flanker in the

1906 Home Nations Championship The 1906 Home Nations Championship was the twenty-fourth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 13 January and 17 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The 1906 Championshi ...

), and served with the

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

from 1904. He served during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He was killed at

Poperinge Poperinge (; , ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of West Flanders, Flemish Region, and has a history going back to medieval times. The municipality comprises ...

in 1917 while surveying a cable trench when a stray artillery shell fatally wounded him. He

died of wounds Killed in action (KIA) is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their personnel at the hands of enemy or hostile forces at the moment of action. The United States Department of Defense, for example, say ...

later that day.

References

1884 births 1917 deaths British military personnel killed in World War I British Army personnel of World War I Royal Engineers officers Irish rugby union players Rugby union flankers Military personnel from County Kilkenny England international rugby union players Burials at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery Rugby union players from County Kilkenny English rugby union players Devon RFU players 20th-century English sportsmen {{UK-sport-bio-stub