Royal Armoured Corps News

Major Edwin Dolby passes away after a distinguished life

15th December 2008

Major ‘Eddie’ – the photographic ambassador of York has passed away recently...

One of the most successful Majors of the Royal Armoured Corps – the man who was once described as “York’s ambassador” for promoting the city through his photography and slideshows has died at the age of 92.

The funeral of Major Edwin Robert Dolby, on Monday, marked the end of a life which saw a distinguished Army career and a love of the city which he called home for many years.

The war saw Mr Dolby serving as an officer with the Royal Armoured Corps – a career which would last 20 years.

His daughter, Valerie Lee, said it was while taking part in the Normandy D-Day landings that her father had a lucky escape that would affect him for the rest of his life.

She explained: “In 1943, he was posted to the 7th Royal Tank Regiment as a reconnaissance officer in charge of 11 tanks and crew.

“When he was in Normandy he went off to get some instructions and while he was away his tank received a direct hit. Everyone inside was killed.

“This resulted in my mother being told he had been killed and for a fortnight she thought she was a widow.”

Mr Dolby went on to fight at Bremen and Le Havre, but the thought of the comrades who died that day stayed with him for the rest of his life and motivated him to appreciate his own life. “Even in his 80s he would go to the war cemetery, in Harrogate, to visit the graves,” said Mrs Lee.

But in was in his latter years that Major Dolby really explored his passion for travel and adventure. Originally starting with his exploration of his immediate surroundings, he found a passion for photographing his beloved City of York.

Speaking in 1968, when his hobby saw him featured in the Yorkshire Evening Press, Mr Dolby said: “There are many beautiful scenes of York which the person just passing through the city has no chance to see.”

Mr Dolby’s spirit of adventure never left him and at the age of 59 he travelled with his wife across land to India in a VW van – making good friends on the year-long trip.

Following the death of his wife, he returned to York in 2003, after spells living in Reading, Suffolk and Leeds.

He died following a short illness at Rosevale Care Home, in Wigginton.

He leaves behind a daughter, two grandchildren and one great grandchild.

 

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