The Sunderland vicar who survived as an RAF chaplain but died in an air raid

A Sunderland vicar suffered a tragic death in a 1943 air raid - just weeks after he left service in the RAF.

James Edgar Dobbie was 42 when he died in an attack by the Luftwaffe in Bromley in Kent.

Yet just months earlier, he had been serving as a chaplain in the air force.

And during peacetime, he was well known in Sunderland as being ‘little short of brilliant as a centre in the Ashbrooke Sports Club rugby team.

His story is the latest tribute to heroes who gave their lives for their country which has been prepared by historian Keith Gregson.

Keith has extensively researched the sacrifice which was made by members of the Ashbrooke Sports Club in the two world wars, including James Dobbie.

Keith said: “He had his birth registered in Durham in 1902. He played rugby in the centres for Durham University then for Sunderland and Durham County in the late 1920s.

His father was a grocer in Spennymoor and his brother was a teacher. He married into the sporting Jopling family in 1931.

“Before this, he had taken holy orders and had been a deacon at Belmont and curate at St Michael’s Bishopwearmouth (1928 -30). In the 1930s he founded Rock Lodge Preparatory School in Roker and while there coached a successful boys’ rugby side.

“He was with an evacuated school in Morpeth in 1939 but joined the RAF as a chaplain. As a youth he had been an officer in the territorial arm). His post was the equivalent of squadron leader.

“In 1943 he returned to life as a civilian and died from injuries suffered in an air raid on Bromley in 1943. As a centre, he was said to be ‘ a little short of brilliant’. He was also a successful boxer in the early ‘20s.”

James Dobbie’s story is the latest to be profiled by Keith in the run-up to Remembrance Day.

Others have included;

Joseph Robert Kayll whose Forces achievements were nothing short of remarkable.

He was in command of a squadron during the Battle of Britain and credited with over a dozen enemy aircraft shot down.

Harold Ashton Milburn who had not even reached his 20th birthday when he killed in 1942.

He was part of the famous 249 squadron which was defending Malta from the Luftwaffe.

And Captain John Browning Deas who was only 25 years old when he was killed in action in May 1940.

Capt Browning had been a member of the East Yorkshire Regiment for 3 years and was a company commander when tragedy struck.