David Dobie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Dobie
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|---|---|
| Born |
David Theodore Dobie
21 October 1912 Tynemouth, United Kingdom
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| Died | 12 December 1971 (aged 59) Nairobi, Kenya
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| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Army officer |
| Years active | 1936–1971 |
| Spouse(s) | Rex |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Military Order of William (1947) |
David Theodore Dobie, DSO (born October 21, 1912, in Tynemouth, United Kingdom – died December 12, 1971, in Nairobi, Kenya) was a brave British Army officer. He played a key role during World War II, especially in the Battle of Arnhem. He also planned and led a daring rescue mission called Operation Pegasus I. This mission saved many soldiers who were stuck behind enemy lines.
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Early Army Days
Dobie joined the British Army in 1936. When World War II started, he was a lieutenant in the 50th Infantry Division. In January 1940, his division went to France. By June 1940, the British Army, including Dobie, had to be evacuated from Dunkirk.
Operation Torch (1942)
The next year, Dobie was promoted to Major. He volunteered for a new airborne division, which meant soldiers who jumped from planes. In September, he became a company commander. He then went to Tunisia and took part in Operation Torch. For his bravery there, he received his first Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in April 1943. After this, Dobie became sick and returned to England.
Battle of Arnhem (1944)
After he got better, Dobie joined the British 6th Airborne Division. Early in 1944, he returned to the 1st Airborne Division. He became a Lieutenant Colonel and led the 1st Battalion. This battalion was part of the Battle of Arnhem.
On September 17, 1944, Dobie's battalion landed near Ede. Their goal was to move through Arnhem and protect the northern part of the city. This would help other battalions reach the Arnhem Rhine Bridge. However, the German forces fought back much harder than expected. Only one battalion, led by John Frost, reached the bridge. They were then cut off from the rest of the division.
On their way to Arnhem, Dobie's battalion faced strong resistance. They tried to go around the German forces to reach the bridge. But they couldn't make much progress.
On September 19, Dobie's battalion suffered heavy losses in Arnhem. They were stuck near a hospital called Elisabeths Gasthuis. Dobie was injured and captured by the Germans. But he managed to escape! He was taken to the Sint Elisabeth hospital. When a German soldier took his watch, Dobie ran away. He found help from a Dutch doctor nearby. After two weeks, he was secretly moved out of the city. He tried to cross the Rhine River on his own, but there were too many German soldiers. Later, a woman named Elisabeth Spies found him. She took him to Ede, where he met Menno de Nooij, a leader of the Dutch resistance.
Operation Pegasus I (1944)
Through Menno de Nooij, Dobie reconnected with his commander, Gerald Lathbury, who was also hiding. He also met Derk Wildeboer, a local resistance leader. After the Battle of Arnhem, many British soldiers were still hiding in German-controlled areas. Dobie stayed with a resistance fighter named Henk Wildenburg in Ede.
Working with the Dutch resistance, Dobie created a plan to get these soldiers back to Allied lines. Dobie himself made his way to safety. He traveled by bicycle to Tiel and then by boat across the Waal River. After reaching Allied lines, he met with Lieutenant General Miles Dempsey. They agreed to launch a rescue mission.
On the night of October 22–23, 1944, one hundred and forty soldiers were successfully brought across the Rhine. For his brave actions in Operation Pegasus I, Dobie received a high honor. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands awarded him the Knight 4th Class of the Military Order of William in March 1947.
After the War
After World War II, Dobie started his own company called DT Dobie. This company became the main dealer for Mercedes-Benz cars in East Africa. Later, they also started selling the Nissan brand.
Personal Life
David Dobie had two daughters and a son with his wife, Rex. He sadly passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack in Kenya on December 12, 1971.
In Popular Culture
David Dobie appears briefly in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. He is played by John Light in the episode "Crossroads." In the show, he meets American soldiers from the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. These include Richard "Dick" Winters, Lewis Nixon, Frederick "Moose" Heyliger, and Colonel Robert Sink. Dobie explains Operation Pegasus and gets their help. Together, they rescue the 140 soldiers from behind German lines. In the book Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose and the miniseries credits, he is listed as Col. O Dobey.
