Dobbie, John

Person

Dobbie, John

John Dobbie, born 04/02/1895, began his studies at The Glasgow School of Art in 1912. He lived in Greenbank, Helensburgh, and he was a day student in Drawing and Painting until 1914.

At this point a note beside Dobbie's name in The Glasgow School of Art General Register states "2 mornings & 2 afternoons", whilst an administrative mark next to his name in the Alphabetical Register reads simply "M". There is no way to tell why he changed his pattern of study, or what the "M" means (it is not a mark employed elsewhere in the register in the next and previous few years), but we do know that Dobbie did not return to the school until the 1919-20 session. We can speculate that his absence was linked to the war.

A John Dobbie of Greenbank Cottage, Helensburgh joined up in 1917. He joined the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (regimental number 220004) on 20 March 1917 when he was 22. His enrolment paper describes him as a student.

His military record shows that he was wounded in action on 31 July 1917 with a gun shot wound to his right shoulder and arm. 'Deserted' appears to be written in pencil in the record.

He also appears to have been a private in the Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) with the number 202728. The medal cards index records "Deserted 10/9/17 Not rejoined". He was entitled to the British War Medal 1914-19 and the Victory Medal.

When Dobbie returned to The Glasgow School of Art in 1919, he was registered as living in Langside and his occupation was 'student'. He once again attended as a day student in Drawing and Painting and continued these studies until the 1922-23 session. At this point he stopped his day classes and instead became an evening student.

He is noted as having studied etching during this period and by the end of 1923 – his final year at GSA – he had gained his diploma qualifying him as a teacher.

In January 1927, aged 31 and with the occupation 'teacher', John Dobbie departed for Australia aboard the steamship 'Largs Bay'. However he clearly returned to Britain as he is noted in the Scottish National Probate Index as residing in Windsor Terrace, Helensburgh in 1934 when his father (John Dobbie, a retired joiner from Greenbank, Helensburgh) died.

In addition, records of paintings exhibited in Royal Scottish Academy Exhibitions show that Dobbie exhibited in 1920, 1921, 1923, 1932 and 1933. From 1920-23 he is listed as residing in Langside, and from 1932 in West Regent Street, Glasgow.

Records of works exhibited with the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts show Dobbie exhibiting 1924-25, and 1932-35. From 1924-25 Dobbie is listed as residing in West George Street (Glasgow), from 1932-34 in West Regent Street (Glasgow), then in 1935 –the year after his father's death – he returns to Greenbank, Helensburgh.

It is not clear why the addresses held by the Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts and the Scottish National Probate Index conflict for the year 1934.

From the name of his father, Dobbie's own date of birth, and his town of residence, we can infer more information about Dobbie's family from the 1901 census. It is likely that his mother was Catherine Dobbie and that in 1901 he resided in East Princes Street, Helensburgh, with his four brothers and two sisters.

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Sources: Ancestry.com. (UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 [database on-line]; Scotland, National Probate Index Calendar of Confirmations and Inventories), 1876-1936; Scotland, National Probate Index (Calendar of Confirmations and Inventories), 1876-1936); The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts 1861-1989 (A dictionary of exhibitors at the annual exhibitions of the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, Volume 1), Roger Billcliffe; Royal Scottish Academy Exhibitors 1826-1990 Vo1 1 A-D, Charles Baile de Laperriere; The Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections: General and Alphabetical Registers

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