J Dormer

[r m doughty]

 
 Hi i am trying to find some information re a distant relative ,John Dormer S/59 1st batt the Buffs east Kent Reg . killed 13th july 1915 buried La Brique cemetry no1.He lived in Hackney Wick east London his name is on the ww1 memorial in Victoria park. I would like to know if he was killed in battle  my gandmother said he was killed by a sniper, I just wonder if he was in the 1st battle of Ypes. I would be grateful for any help on this subject.
   
        Many Thanks
                                   Marie

[candleflame]

I'm no military expert but unitil one comes along here, which they will soon I'm sure ,his medal card says K in A  13.7.15 which means killed in action. 

[mmm45]

If his service record doesnt survive I would try and get the War Diary from The NA Kew that covers date of death...It may not name him but should give you an idea what was happening at the time and where they were

Ady

[candleflame]

There are some papers of his service record on a***** subscription site

[r m doughty]

 Many thanks for all your reply's  it seems i have a bit more information
  to look into
       
                       Regards
                                      Marie.
 

[scobie79]

Hi there.

A quick glance at John Dormer's service record shows him as enlisting on the outbreak of war and being posted to the 1st Battalion in France in March 1915. He then suffered a bout of influenza and a spell in hospital, then rejoined his battalion.

1st Ypres was in 1914, so John would not have been there for that battle. 2nd Ypres took place in the spring of the following year, officially ending May 25th. John may well have been involved in that second battle - he would certainly have seen action at Ypres around the time of his death.

"The Historical Records of the Buffs 1914-1919" by R.S.H. Moody has a reference to John Dormer.
"On 2nd July Corpl. John Dormer of A Company, who had covered himself with glory as a scout, paid the last penalty."
There is obviously some error with this as rank and date of death do not tally. It seems possible that, although John Dormer is definitely mentioned by name, he may be confused with Corporal L. Dorman of the same battalion who DID die on 2nd July 1915. Although soldier's names do not often appear in war diaries of the time, perhaps this is one of those rare occasions and may clarify this. It would being interesting to know which is correct.

I hope you are managing to find all the information you need,
Regards,
Scobie

[r m doughty]

  Hi Scobie
                        many thanks for your reply  I did asume that John had enlisted the early part of the war which by his service number ,which you have confirmed  he was my grandmothers brother and as a child i can remember her often talking about her brother jack he would have been about 35 when he died,but you have been able to tell me some of what happend to him before his death,the confusion with the name of l Dorman must be an error, I will continue seaching  will post again if i do have more information ,
   
                 Kind regards
                                      Marie.

[Buzancy18]

John Dormer, who  died 13 Jul 1915, was Killed in action according to his records. He also got 8 days Field Punishment No 1 on 2nd March 1915.
His widow got a pension of 18/6 for herself and two children with effect from January 1916.
There is also a letter from her thanking them and querying some details but it gives her address as
Mrs D Dormer, 16 Wallis Road, Victoria Park, London.

Buzancy18

[r m doughty]

 
   Hi Buzancy
                          thank you for your reply,  Field Punishment must have been awlful so i am sorry he had to endure that , i knew he was married with two children  and cant believe his widow (i have a snapshot of her )had to wait so long for her pension and then she thanked them, is this letter in Johns records? The address she gave is near to where they lived at the time of the 1911 census .
     
      Regards
                                Marie.