Name
Arthur Albert Doling
1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/10/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
44432
Manchester Regiment
20th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POMMEREUIL BRITISH CEMETERY
D. 23.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Arthur was born in 1890 in Southampton, and his parents were Charles and Sarah Dowling.
In 1891 the family were living at Burgess Street, South Stoneham, Hampshire. Present were both parents: Charles (38), working as a general labourer, and Sarah (29) working as a dressmaker. Their children at this time were: (Edwin) George (8) , Sidney (6), (Alfred) Frank (3) and Arthur Albert (10 months).
In 1901 the family were living at 11 Burgess Street, South Stoneham, Hamps. Present were both parents, with Charles still working as a general labourer. Their children now listed were William (20), George, Sidney, Frank, Arthur, and Agnes (2).
By 1911 Arthur had left the family home and was boarding in the home of his brother Sidney and his wife and two young children at 13 Gaping Lane, Hitchin. Arthur was, now 20, and working as a green grocer’s assistant.
Arthur attested in Hitchin under the Lord Derby Scheme*1 on the 29th May 1915 and appears to have requested the 4th Bedfordshire Regiment. He was 24 years and 19=0 months old and working as a butcher, living at 13 Gaping Lane, Hitchin. He was described as 5’ 3” tall. He gave his next of kin as his father Charles Doling of Burges Street, Bassett, Southampton, but this was amended to his wife after their marriage on 26 December 1915. He married Ida Susan Squires of 17 Florence Street, Hitchin (b 17/10/1885) in Hitchin Parish Church (St Mary’s Church) on that date.
Before being called up he was employed as a butcher by Mr File of Bucklersbury in Hitchin.
Officially Arthur was recorded as born in Southampton, Hants., and enlisted in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
After he attested he was posted to Bedfordshire Regiment Depot with the service number 20834 on 2 June 1915 and the 4th Battalion on the 5th. He was then transferred 53rd Bn. Loyal North Lancashires on 26 June 1916 with the service number 83480.
After training he posted to France landing at Etaples on 1 July 1916 and was attached to the 20th Bn. Manchester Regiment on 8 July 1916 and then transferred to them on 28 September 1916
He was attached as an officer’s servant on 22 August 1917 and was given leave between 18 October to 28th October 1917. The 20th Bn. Manchester Regiment went to Italy in November 1917. It is not clear if Arthur was with them as his service record only records that he was with them on 28 February 1918 and in Italy with ‘C’ Company on 28 April 1918, but it seems likely that he would have been.
The Battalion returned left for to France 13 September 1918 and on arrival joined 7th Brigade in 25th Division. Arthur was wounded in action on 9 October 1918 and then killed in action on 23 October 1918.
His date of death coincides with the Battle of the Selle near the western edge of Mormal Forest. By 11.30am on that day the 25th Division was crashing through the Bois L'Eveque, but further progress was difficult due to the enemy wire and the exhaustion of our troops.
The officer commanding Private Doling’s company wrote “Private A Doling was killed in action on October 23 instantaneously while helping his battalion in attack on a village. The attack was of vast importance and its result was of far reaching value. Private Doling did his duty well and faithfully, and was one of the best men that we had. He was buried by his comrades, with other members of the battalion who fell in action on the same day. The officers and men of the company unite with me in sending our sincerest sympathy to you in your trouble.”
He was buried in Row D, Grave 23 in the Pommereuil British Cemetery east of Cambrai in France.
Additional Information
After his death £8 15s 10d was authorised to go to his widow, Ida Susan Doling , on 15 February 1919. Later, a war gratuity of £15 10s was authorised to be paid to her, on 13 December 1919.
His pension cards record Ida Susan Doling, his widow/father/mother, as his next of kin/dependant, living at 17 Florence Street, Hitchin. She was awarded a grant of £5 on 6 December 1918 and then a pension of 13s 9d a week from 12 May 1919.
It is believed that after his death his widow, Ida Susan Doling, lived with her parents at 17 Florence Street, Hitchin and later married Tom Coppack on 2 July 1921 and possible went to Australia.
*1 The Lord Derby Scheme encouraged men to voluntarily register their name on the principle that once registered they would be called up for service only when necessary. As an added incentive married men were advised that they would only be called up once the supply of single men was exhausted.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
