A soldier, visits the grave of VX15789 Sergeant (Sgt) Oliver R C Dossetor, 2/14th Battalion ...

A soldier, visits the grave of VX15789 Sergeant (Sgt) Oliver R C Dossetor, 2/14th Battalion (2/14Bn) who is buried in the Beirut War Cemetery, Lebanon. The soldier paying respects is probably his brother, QX6542 Captain Colin William Clerk Dossetor. Sgt Dossetor was killed in action at Jezzine, Syria on 24 June 1941. The 2/14Bn was brought in from the Syrian coast, to reinforce troops fighting the French Army in the Jezzine area. Between the 22nd and 24th June, 1941, two companies of the 2/14Bn were employed in a flanking attack under darkness, from Kharat across the intervening valley against the French positions on Hill 1332 and Hill 1284, two peaks on top of the escarpment. The platoon Sgt Dossetor was with, had advanced fast under fire from well-sited French machine guns and rifle fire on the steep slopes of Hill 1284. Sgt Dossetor was wounded, together with another two casualties. VX15730 Lance-Corporal Russell McConnell ran back to assist the wounded, set up his Bren gun on low ground and drew the fire of the French to enable the remainder of the platoon to get to a safer location. L/Cpl. McConnell then attempted to carry the fatally-wounded Sgt Dossetor, and was killed in the attempt. (M. Dossetor)