Charles Macpherson Dobell

Born in Quebec City, the son of Richard Reid Dobell, an MP, and a grandson of Senator Sir David Lewis Macpherson, Dobell was educated at the Rev. Canon Von Iffland's Private School, the Quebec High School and Charterhouse School in England.

He graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada (college #221) in 1890. He was a lieutenant in the Hazara expedition of 1891 and took part with the International Forces in the occupation of the island of Crete, where he was promoted to major. Before that, he had been made a captain, dated May 1899.^[1]

He served during the Second Boer War, where he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. After serving in Nigeria, he was made a general staff officer, grade 3, in succession to Major Clifford Coffin,^[2] and was promoted to brevet lieutenant colonel in September.^[3] He served in China during the Boxer Rebellion. After serving as a general staff officer, grade 2 (GSO2) at the War Office, he was promoted to brevet colonel and became an aide-de-camp to King George V in November 1910.^[4] In September 1913 he was promoted to colonel and was also granted the temporary rank of brigadier general while employed as inspector general of the West African Frontier Force.^[5]

During the First World War, Dobell fought in the Kamerun campaign, was promoted to major general in June 1915,^[6] and was later promoted to lieutenant general. He served with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the Sinai and Palestine campaign under General Sir Archibald Murray, but they were both replaced in 1917.

In the 1915 New Year Honours, Dobell was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. He was also made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.

He retired from the army in October 1923 and was granted the honorary rank of lieutenant general.^[7] He was appointed colonel of the Royal Welch Fusiliers in February 1926, in succession to Lieutenant General Sir Francis Lloyd.^[8]