[1] At thirteen, young William won a scholarship to Charterhouse School[2] and became a top-ranking classical scholar and a keen student of ancient military campaigns.

[3] Dobbie joined the Second Boer War shortly after the funeral of Queen Victoria in February 1901, and was promoted to lieutenant while in South Africa, on 1 April 1902.

[13][14][15][16] During the First World War, Dobbie happened to have been the staff officer on duty in November 1918 and his is the only signature on the cease-fire telegram that was sent to all troops.

[26] Dobbie, then holding the rank of major general, was informed that after Malaya he would be retired, because new War Office regulations deemed him too old for a further position.

On the day Italy declared war Dobbie issued a statement to the garrison: Despite being a Protestant on a Catholic island, his faith became an asset.

The complete and calm faith shown in the broadcasts he made nearly every evening contributed immensely towards keeping up the morale of the people".

Churchill responded to Dobbie's requests for planes and reinforcements and the Malta Fortress played a key part in reducing the German supply lines in North Africa, until the Luftwaffe joined in the most intense bombardment of the war in early 1942.

[33] Two attempts to relieve the island failed when supply ships were bombed in the harbour and a succession of Spitfires were picked off on the ground shortly after delivery.

They also had two sons, Arthur William Granville Dobbie who died on the 19th of June 1944 aged 38 and was a member of the Royal Engineers 237th Field Company.

[37] Both Dobbie and Percival made it clear that Singapore could no longer be seen as a self-contained naval base, and that its survival rested on the defence of mainland Malaya.

So in May 1938, Dobbie wrote to the Chief of Staff: It is an attack from the northward that I regard as the greatest potential danger to the Fortress (Singapore).

[38]Dobbie added that an attack might be possible between the months of November and March, despite high winds and waves produced by the northeast monsoon.