David Theodore Dobie, (21 October 1912 in Tynemouth, United Kingdom – 12 December 1971 in Nairobi, Kenya) was a British Army officer who fought during the Second World War. He had a leading role during the Battle of Arnhem (Operation Market–Garden) and was the architect of Operation Pegasus I, successfully evacuating a large group of men trapped in German-occupied territory who had been in hiding since the Battle of Arnhem. Early military career Dobie joined the British Army in 1936. When the Second World War began Dobie was a lieutenant in the 50th infantry division. In January 1940 the division was sent to France. In June 1940 the British Army, with Dobie, was evacuated at Dunkirk. Operation Torch (8–16 November 1942) Next year Dobie was promoted to Major. He volunteered for the newly-formed airborne division. In September he was appointed company commander of B-Company of the 3rd Battalion. He was then sent to Tunisia and participated in Operation Torch. For this action he was awarded his first Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in April 1943. Dobie was sick when he returned to England. Battle of Arnhem (Operation Market-Garden) After his recovery Dobie joined the British 6th Airborne Division. Early 1944 he returned to the 1st Airborne Division and commanded the 1st Battalion of the 1st Brigade in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The 1st battalion was deployed during the Battle of Arnhem. After landing on the near Ede on 17 September 1944, it was ordered to advance through the Ede-Arnhem road and to occupy the high, northern part of Arnhem, in order to protect the 2nd and 3rd battalion with the Arnhemse Rijnbrug as objective. The 2nd battalion led by John Frost was the only one to reach the Rhine Bridge. German opposition was much tougher than expected, cutting him off from the rest of the division. On the way to Arnhem, Dobie's battalion met with fierce resistance at the Amsterdamseweg near Wolfheze. Dobie led his men off the road and tried to head towards the bridge in a circumferential motion. However, the British did not make much progress. The 1st battalion suffered heavy losses on 19 September during fighting in Arnhem, where they got stuck on the way to the Rijnbrug near the Elisabeths Gasthuis. Dobie was injured and captured by the Germans, but later managed to escape. He was taken to the Sint Elisabeth hospital. Dobie ran away when